STARTING ANEW
Chapter Forty-Four

Jack was concentrating on a sketch he was making. Rose was standing near the small rowboat, about to get in it.

"Jack, shouldn't we start back?" she asked him.

"What," he said, his mind still on his drawing.

"Shouldn't we go back? The sunset is over and it's getting dark quickly now. You won't be able to see where you are going," said Rose with anxiety in her voice.

Jack put down his pencil and sketch book and came over to where Rose stood. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"We aren't going back," he told her.

"What?" she gasped. "What do you mean we aren't going back?"

"At least not tonight."

Rose's eyes opened wider as she digested Jack's news.

"Why did you forget to take us back?" she questioned again. "We should have left a long time ago."

"I didn't forget. This is part of our trip. I know what you must be thinking and before you say anything you might be sorry for, let me show you. You probably think I have gone mad."

Jack sensed that Rose was becoming angry and had misunderstood what his plans were.

"Put your camera down. Come on, let me show you," he repeated.

Jack had rowed them over to Stevenson Island in the middle of Lake Yellowstone earlier in the afternoon. They had seen some moose along the shore and had spent a quiet time enjoying each other's company. Now Jack had something else in mind.

"Come on," he said, taking her by the hand.

"Jack are you mad? We can't stay here."

"Shh," was all he would answer.

They walked a ways from the shore to a clearing of trees. There, Rose saw that a small camp had been set up. There was a little tent with several piles of pillows and blankets, two wooden camp stools, a box of food, and several large glass bottles filled with water. A small pile of chopped wood lay neatly in the middle of the campsite.

Rose looked at him and asked, "When did you do all this?"

"I had a little help," he admitted. "Gus the boatman fixed this all up for me. He even brought our jackets over."

So that what was going on when she had heard someone at the door of their room this morning. And it explained Jack's mysterious errand when they first arrived yesterday.

"I hope you're not mad at me. But I would like you to try this just once Rose. It's how I used to live when I was on the road. I wanted you to know about that. If you don't like it, you don't ever have to do it again."

Rose looked into his eyes. She could see how much he wanted her approval of his plan.

"No, not angry. Surprised maybe and a little nervous. But not angry."

"Good," he said smiling. "Well then, since you decided to stay, we've got things to do. Tonight I will be your chef."

Rose laughed and said, "So, monsieur, what is on the menu?"

"To tell the truth, I don't know. It kind of depends on what Gus brought over. But I think I can handle most anything over a campfire."

Jack knelt down and looked into a wooden box. It contained a loaf of bread, several cans of fruit, some canned beans, a well wrapped package of sausages, and a small bowl of eggs. Another smaller container held plates, utensils, cups, coffee, two pans, matches and a small lantern.

"First we have to start a fire," said Jack.

He explained all the steps as he went along. Rose watched as Jack heated the beans and fried the sausages. She sliced the bread. Then she took one of the blankets and set a place for them to eat.

Jack dished up the food and lit the little lantern. They settled down on the blanket and with their plates.

"I don't think I've even eaten in a more beautiful place. I never imagined anything like this. I'm sorry if I seemed upset before," said Rose.

"That's okay. I know it was a bit of a surprise. Maybe I should have told you, but I really wanted to surprise you. We are really lucky with the weather. Most years it would still be too cold to do something like this. We might have to cuddle pretty close tonight," smiled Jack.

"I don't think I'll mind that," agreed Rose.

"No, I didn't think so," said Jack. "What do you think of my cooking?"

Rose pretended to give this some serious thought.

"Well, I guess if my soufflés flop and I ruin the coq au vin, this will do nicely. But seriously, it's wonderful Jack."

"They say that eating outside makes everything taste better."

"Mmm," said Rose. "I wonder if that goes for other things as well."

Jack laughed and reached over and took her hand.

"Honestly Rose, I know you told me that I know nothing about the minds of first class girls. When I first met you, I didn't think you thought about those things."

Rose lowered her eyes, "To tell the truth Jack, before I met you, I didn't think like that. You must have brought that out in me."

They smiled tenderly at each other.

"Let's clean this up," suggested Jack.

When the dishes were rinsed and put away, Jack carried the blanket and spread it out by one of the tree trunks not too far away from the fire. From here they could lean back and see the sky and the water.

"Whatever gave you the idea to do this," asked Rose.

Jack looked into her eyes and said, "Once a long time ago, a beautiful woman commanded me to take her to the stars. I decided that tonight I would do it the right way."

"Oh, Jack," she said softly, as she touched his face. "I can't imagine my life without you. I know I have changed so much. I feel like I have been reborn and given a new chance in life."

"We've both changed," he replied seriously. "And in ways that at first I never thought possible. When I first saw you, I never imagined that you would be happy to be here, doing these simple things with me. But after we danced and spoke, I realized that there was much more depth to you, than I first realized. Much, much more."

He kissed the top of her head and squeezed her hand. Rose curled closer to him.

"But I've changed too. Being with you is the only thing that is important to me. That's all I want. I've had enough of adventure and wandering."

"Jack, I've been wanting to ask you something for a long time."

"What," he said, "you worried about something?"

"Not exactly. But you've been all over Jack. You've been wandering for five years now. You've had no roots, no place of your own. Now you're going to be with me in a house, going to work, keeping regular hours. How can you go from one way of life to another, so quickly. I want you to be happy. Is that really going to make you happy?"

Jack thought for a moment.

"I left Chippewa Falls because I just couldn't live with those memories. Everything I saw reminded me of my folks. I've told you that before. I couldn't stay there. I left for that reason only. If nothing had happened to them, I would have stayed there. I was alone for a long time. I only met Fabrizio a year or so ago. But by then, I was getting pretty lonely. When I would be wandering, I would see inside the houses at night. Mothers and fathers would be at their tables with their children. Friends and neighbors would be visiting each other. I longed to be part of someone's family. At night, I would dream of being in one of those houses. Dream of belonging. No, it won't be hard to settle down at all. It's really what I've wanted for a long time. It just wasn't possible until I met you. I'm ready. I was getting tired of not knowing where my next meal was coming from or where and if I would find a place to sleep. Don't worry. This is what I want. I'm sure."

Rose felt relieved after Jack confided all this to her. She had been concerned that he wouldn't be happy in the way they were going to live. Now, she was not going to give that another thought. Jack had calmed her fears.

She lay her head against his chest.

"Oh, Jack, I know I keep saying this, but I can't believe how lucky we are. It's so special, what we have. I don't want anything to ever spoil or happiness."

"If that's what you want Rose, then nothing ever will. I promise."

Chapter Forty-Five
Stories