And the Morning Mists Shall Rise

The cabin, the moonlight, the outside world vanished in a limbo containing only the two of them. Richard had no idea how long that kiss lasted. He only knew it was very long and very, very good.

He held her and his hands stroked up and down her back, feeling the firm flesh and hard muscle through the thin linen. Katie began to unbutton his shirt and soon her hands were exploring him. Her hands weren't soft like many women's, but not really rough either. They were hands that did a lot of work but whose owner still took care of them. She let them glide over his back and make gentle circles on his chest while her head rested against the hollow of his neck. Richard held her close, moving only his own hands, letting them seek out and admire her planes and hollows. He ran his palm down her back and softly moved it over the curve of her rounded buttocks. Katie responded by pressing herself closer to him. She looked up into his eyes and, almost too faintly to hear, said, "Make love to me, Richard."

To Richard this was all unreal. He had never been a spur of the moment type of person. He had never taken a girl to bed on a first date and, in fact, had rarely kissed on a first date. This wasn't even a date. This woman had offered him shelter and food but beyond that they knew nothing of each other. Richard pulled his head back slightly and said, "Are you sure? You don't even know me."

Katie smiled up at him. "I know you more than you know. Yes, I'm sure. Take me into the bed and make love to me."

Almost in a trance Richard scooped the girl up into his arms. He was in good shape and the girl was slender so he was able to carry her with little effort. She put her arms around his neck and he could feel her body pulling against him as they moved across the cabin. He carried her through the doorway and saw the second room for the first time. There was bed and a small bedside table, a single chair, and a wardrobe. All looked to be handmade as was everything else he had seen in the cabin. The bed was a double and Richard guessed this had been her parent's room before they were killed. A small window allowed the silver moonlight to softly illuminate the space.

He lowered her to her feet and she stood, her arms still around his neck. Feeling somewhat confused and a little awkward, Richard hesitated. "Yes," Katie urged him on. "I do want this." She raised her arms above her head, pulling off her nightgown. She wore nothing beneath it and Richard stared. Her skin was pale in the moonlight, but not a pasty white. Instead it looked almost a light gold color. Her breasts were not large, but were firm and her nipples erect. Her face and form were maybe not what would be considered classic beauty, but she was certainly pretty. Her arms and legs were slender and tapered, and well muscled. There were slight crinkles at the corners of her mouth and eyes, as though she spent a lot of time outdoors, or perhaps just that she smiled a lot. To Richard she was more lovely than anyone he had ever seen.

For several seconds she stood still as he caressed her with his eyes, neither ashamed or nor especially proud of her nudity, but merely accepting it as natural. Then she reached for the waist of Richard's pants and began to unbutton them. She let them fall to the floor and he stepped out of them as she reached to grasp his manhood, now rigid with desire. Richard forgot his confusion and pulled her to him, cupping her buttocks and kissing her deeply. A hand rose to slide over a firmly rounded breast and his fingers brushed a stiff nipple. A soft moan escaped her lips and emerged into his throat where it joined a groan of his own.

He lifted her and laid her on the bed. For several seconds he stood looking down at the play of light and shadow on her form, her golden skin seeming to glow even brighter than the moonlight itself. Then he knelt on the bed and bent to slowly kiss her lips, her eyes, her throat, her breasts. For a long time he kissed and caressed and she returned measure for measure. Then when they could wait no longer, urged on and guided by her small fingers, he began that most wonderful of motions, penetrating and bringing pleasure as unreal in its own way as the mist and moonlight visible through the window.

Later they lay together spent, not speaking, hardly moving, drifting into the twilight world that was neither sleeping nor waking. They must have slept for after awhile Richard began to emerge from a world of strange dreams back to the equally strange reality of finding himself clinging together with a women he really didn't know at all. But feeling something for her he couldn't explain or even really believe. In all the time he had gone with Brenda, their many times of lovemaking, he had never had such a feeling before. He stared down at her, skin a pale gold, hair a darker gold. Her breathing was slow and regular, her eyes closed in relaxed sleep. As he looked at her he felt a contentment greater than any he had ever known. The idea that he was in love with her, knowing her for only a few hours, seemed silly. More than silly. It wasn't just that they had made love. He had slept with girls a lot more skilled and more passionate, but had never felt like this. He had bought Brenda a ring and planned to spend his life with her, yet she had never cast such a spell, never evoked the emotions that now seemed to engulf him.

Just then she stirred slightly and in a couple of seconds her eyes blinked open. She was immediately awake and smiled up at him. He opened his mouth to say something and she placed a finger across his lips, shaking her head slightly from side to side. Then she pulled him down into another kiss and soon the wonder of the previous hour was repeated.

And twice more it was repeated. As they lay together following the last time, their breathing returning to normal, the room darkened as if a cloud had crossed the moon. Richard looked towards the window and could see that the sky still looked clear, stars making hard points of bright white in the blue-black. Then a tendril of mist slid across the landscape and the moonlight dimmed. More and more of the fog continued to flow until only occasionally would the moon shine into the room as he drifted back to sleep.

Morning. Gray light filtered through the window illuminating the small room. A blanket had been pulled up over him and Katie was gone. He looked around for her but she wasn't in the room and through the window he could see nothing but gray mist and the shadow of nearby trees.

Then he heard small sounds from the main room. He got up and looked for the wool pants he had been wearing the previous evening. Instead he saw his own clothes, now dry, lying on the chair. Richard quickly dressed and went out to the main room.

Katie, wearing a dress of dark blue wool, was bending over the fireplace, pulling a cast iron Dutch oven from the heat. Another iron kettle, emitting a trail of steamy vapor, hung near the flames. Richard stopped. He had been moving towards her to take her in his arms. Then suddenly he began to wonder if he had imagined the entire episode. Had she really made love to him or was it all a dream induced by his worn state and an unfulfilled desire in his life? No, he couldn't believe that. It had to have been real. If, for no other reason, than the way he now felt about her. He remembered the all consuming feeling from the night and it was still with him. Unlike anything he had ever felt for any woman. That had to be real.

As he stood there, Katie straightened and turned towards him. She set the Dutch oven down and in one fluid movement came to him and melted against him. Yes, it had been real. His arms moved to encircle her as hers wrapped around his neck and their lips found their way to each other. When the kiss ended she spoke. "Good morning, Richard."

The kiss had been warm and loving. The greeting seemed somewhat reserved, almost regretful or maybe apprehensive. "Good morning," he answered, and his own voice seemed to echo the tone of hers.

She moved from him back to the fireplace where she opened the hanging pot and ladled out two bowls of what looked like oatmeal. She set these on the table and returned to the Dutch oven which was revealed to contain cornbread. She placed several pieces of the hot bread on a plate and set it on the table along with a small crock butter and another of honey. "Breakfast," was all she said.

Richard moved to the table and held her chair as she sat and then took another chair himself. They ate in silence, Richard wondering if something was wrong or if everything was exactly right. He felt confused, mixed up, baffled, disorientated. He had never felt like this about any woman and he thought Katie felt the same about him - but her reserved actions and silence left him wondering.

Finally he could take it no longer and said, "Katie. Last night was more wonderful than any I've ever known. And you make me feel - I don't know - I guess, more emotional about you than I ever have about anyone. I'm not saying I've fallen in love with you because I'm not sure what love is. But I think I may have. Katie, I don't want to leave you. I hope you feel something for me, too."

She smiled at him, a kind of joyous, but at the same time, sad smile. "I do know what love is and I have fallen in love with you. Richard, I wish we could be together, but I know we can't."

"Why not? Why not just leave here today and come back to Norfolk with me.? I have money enough to take care of both of us. Come with me, Katie."

"I can't," she replied in anguished tones. "I know you won't understand, Richard, but I can't leave here, no matter how much I want." Then her face changed slightly, losing a little of its unhappy look, becoming slightly hopeful. "Could you stay here? Here with me?"

"You mean right here? In this cabin?" She nodded. "What would we live on? My job is in Norfolk, Katie. Come with me instead."

She shook her head back and forth in anguish. "I can't! You don't understand, but I just can't. But I do love you, Richard."

Richard was now both confused and a little hurt. "You can't come with me but you want me to just stay here? Why can't you come?"

Katie was shaking her head back and forth and he could see tears escaping from her eyes. "You won't understand. I just can't go."

Richard swallowed his resentment. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't tell him what the problem was, but he could see it was hurting her also. Slowly he got control of his own mixed up emotions and suddenly it came to him what he really wanted to do about everything. His own shock at the realization was tremendous. But he knew it was - finally - what he really wanted. "All right. But tell me one thing, Katie. Do you really love me and want me here?"

She visibly regained her composure. The tears stopped and she dabbed at her eyes to dry them. A slight smile appeared. "Yes, Richard, I love you. I want you here with me."

Richard made a decision. It was probably the biggest decision of his life and he - a man who never did anything on impulse, but carefully planned each move - decided to change his future because of a woman he had known less than twelve hours. He suddenly felt as though a heavy weight had slipped from his shoulders and felt his muscles really relax for the first time in months. Shaking his head slightly at the new emotions overwhelming him, he said, "All right. I don't know what I'll do. I don't understand what's happened to me, but I know this is what I want, too. I'll come here to you." Her face had brightened into a smile that seemed to light the gray morning. She started to come to him as he continued, "I'll have to go back to Norfolk to quit my job and clear everything up. But I'll be back here in less than a month. To stay."

At his last words Katie had frozen. The smile slipped and her face became tight as though she was forcing herself to hide some great sadness. Dully, she said, "If you go, you'll never come back here. Stay now. Please, Richard."

Richard couldn't understand this sudden change. "Of course I'll come back. I can't just disappear out of my old life. I have a job and I have to take care of financial things. Sell my house and so on. But I'll be back."

Katie was shaking her head slowly back and forth. "No, if you leave I'll never see you again. Please stay."

Richard was ready to completely change his life for her, but she didn't want to concede anything. He felt he was being pushed too far and said, "I can't do that. But I promise I'll come back. I'll be here in a month. By the next full moon, I promise. Will you be here when I come?"

A sad and resigned look flowed over Katie's face. "I promise I'll wait. You won't come back, Richard. But I'll wait."

Both now fell into silence and soon Richard decided it was best if he started back. He collected his jacket and daypack. When he was ready Katie went with him to the door. He held her in his arms and hugged her to him. "I love you, Katie, and I'll be back," he murmured. "By the next full moon."

Katie clung to him, her face buried against his throat. "I love you. But you won't come back. It will be too late and our chance will be gone."

"I promise I'll be back. Wait for me."

"I'll wait. But I'll never see you again. Kiss me, Richard. Kiss me, and then go. I love you."

They kissed deeply, holding the tight embrace for many minutes. When they pulled apart Richard started to say something, but Katie placed her fingers across his lips. "Go," she whispered.

Richard looked longingly into her eyes and then nodded slightly before turning and starting down the path he had come up only last night. By the time he had gone fifty yards the gray mists had cloaked the cabin and all he could see was the trail close to him, the gray fog, and the shadows of nearby trees. The cabin had disappeared from his view.

Richard walked at a quick pace. He felt a great emptiness at leaving Katie but also felt happy with his decision to change his life and come back to her. There was no doubt of that. Come October he would return here, free of obligations, ready to spend his life with Katie Branden.

He walked on, following the trail, and in a half hour the fog began to rise and the sun shone out of a clear blue sky. Sometime - he didn't notice exactly when - he started seeing trail markers again and by mid afternoon reached his car at the trailhead lot.

Richard astounded his boss when he handed in his letter of resignation. Not so much that he was resigning, but that he wasn't going into business for himself. Even more so that he said he was leaving the brokerage field altogether. He placed his house for sale and told the real estate agent to "get what you can for it as soon as I leave." Richard had no family to tell of his sudden changes and the few friends he began to confide in seemed to think he had lost his mind. It didn't matter. He thought of Katie constantly. How could she have ever thought he wouldn't be back? Instead of his longing waning with time, he was consumed with her. He even sold his Lexus and replaced it with a four wheel drive more suited to the Cumberlands.

By the third week of October he was ready to leave Norfolk without a backwards glance. He drove straight through to Middlesboro and found a motel. Richard had considered the problem of reaching Katie once he was there. He had no idea where a road might access her cabin or even exactly where the cabin was. The only way he knew was to hike down the same trail. He was certain he would have no problem doing this as he had memorized every part of it on the way back out.

Early the next morning he packed a daypak with some lunch and this time a warm, waterproof jacket. He also packed an engagement ring. He planned to surprise Katie and later, when he knew the roads nearby, bring his car up. This time he drove to a closer trailhead and picked up the trail at what he guessed would be about a three hour hike to her cabin.

It was a clear, cool day and Richard started down the trail feeling better than he had in years. The leaves were turning to unbelievable colors which shone against the cobalt sky as though alight themselves. After three hours he was so high he scarcely felt the trail beneath his feet. By four he was beginning to worry a little, but the trail had looked just as he remembered it. By six hours he was terribly distressed. Everything had looked right, but he had not found her cabin. In fact he had found nothing: not even a side trail. He turned around and began walking back to his car, searching every foot of the trail.

He couldn't see how he could have missed it. The next day he tried all over again and with the same results. Bewildered and confused, Richard returned to the motel for a third night and decided that tomorrow he would try a different tactic. Instead of just walking out and looking for it, he would stop somewhere and try to find where she lived, maybe get a map showing the road to her place. He fell asleep, worried but confident that the next day he would find her.

The next morning after breakfast he began at the Middlesboro post office. They had no address for a Katie Branden. When he couldn't tell them exactly how close to Middlesboro she lived, he was told that maybe she was in a different district.

He tried the local police station but they told him they didn't keep records of addresses unless someone was arrested. Perhaps he should try the phone company. He knew she didn't have a phone, but thanked them and went out.

Over the next several hours he tried every avenue he could think of with no result. At four o'clock he found himself in the local library inquiring at the reference desk. They had no local list except the phone book. Then one of the librarians said, "You might try asking Katherine Franklin. She works over at the local newspaper and they might have something there."

He thanked them and hurried over to the paper, making it just before closing time. He gave his name and asked at the desk for Katherine Franklin and was told to wait just a minute and they'd get her.

Richard looked around the office for a minute or two, finding nothing of interest, and by now not expecting anything much. A door to the back opened and a woman about Richard's age, perhaps a couple of years younger, came through. She held out her hand and said, "I'm Katherine Franklin. You must be Richard Boone. How can I help you."

Richard found himself staring at her. She was about five foot five, had honey blonde hair cut at her shoulders, and eyes of a deep emerald green. Beyond this she bore only a superficial resemblance to Katie, but it was still close enough to surprise him. And there was something about her nose and the shape of her face.

He shook himself and belatedly offered his hand. "I'm trying to find someone. I've been all over town and at the library they suggested I see you."

"Well, I'll certainly try to help. Who is it you're looking for?"

"Her name is Katie Branden. She's about twenty years old and lives in a cabin somewhere near here. I met her last month while I was hiking."

For a second Katherine gave him a funny look. Then she said, "You're sure that's her name? Well, I can check the files here and see if we've ever done anything on her. If you'd like to take a seat, it will only take me a minute or two." She smiled at him and added, "It's a lot easier now that we have everything on computers."

He sat down and she disappeared back through the door to the inner office. It was more like four or five minutes before she returned. "I'm sorry, but we don't seem to have anything in our files. There's one more place I can try. I'm involved with the local historical society and we have family files. I know one of them is Branden. In fact, there's a Katie Branden a ways back, so maybe the woman you're looking for is from the same family. We just might have something on her. I'm done here, so if you'd like, we can walk over there now and check."