“It’s so beautiful,” she said.
“There’s a legend about the falls that you should know,” Martin said, setting the brake and turning to her.
“An Indian warrior loved the chief’s daughter. But the chief didn’t think he was the right brave to marry her.”
Jakob picked up the story. “The chief told the warrior if he could find the lost treasure of the Absaroka Range, he could marry his daughter. Thinking it was just an old fool’s tale, the chief didn’t believe in the treasure. And he didn’t want his daughter marrying this warrior.”
Martin jumped down out of the wagon and then reached back to help Blanche off, his hands around her slender waist.
Jakob wished his hands were touching her. For just a moment, he held her.
“The warrior loved the girl and searched for months for the treasure. Finally, he came back and told the chief that the treasure was in the falls near Helena,” Martin said, his hand moving to the small of her back.
Jumping out of the wagon, Jakob took her hand and led Blanche to the water. Martin followed them.
“The old chief didn’t believe he had found the treasure. Again, he refused to let the warrior marry his daughter. The couple felt they had waited long enough. Much to the chief’s dismay and anger, they ran off together,” Jakob said.
Martin gazed at the waterfall. “The old chief had the warriors in his tribe go after them. When they were about to be captured, the couple confessed their love for one another and dove into the falls together. They died in each other’s arms.”
Blanche gasped. “How sad.”
Jakob smiled at her. “The legend says that you can sometimes see the faces of the Indian couple here or your dead loved ones. And that’s the legend of Treasure Falls.”
She pulled him toward the water. “Let’s look. Maybe we’ll see someone we know that’s died. Or the couple. How neat it would be to see them so in love.”
That was the problem. He didn’t believe in the legend. It was just the story of someone’s overactive imagination.
Jakob shook his head. “I don’t believe in the legend. Maybe an Indian couple died here, but why would they hang around and show up to talk to people in this century?”
A frown drew her forehead together as she gazed at him with disappointment in her eyes.
“Maybe they want to help other lovers,” she said softly, staring at him.
Laughing, Martin walked up beside Blanche. “Don’t listen to him. I think it’s a sweet story and people in town claim that they’ve seen loved ones here. Me, I don’t want to see anyone.”
Sadness filled his face and he walked away. He took a blanket out of the wagon and spread it on the ground.
Jakob knew Martin was thinking about his deceased parents and needed to get him out of this mood or he would sink into a dark place. A place that Jakob didn’t want Blanche to see.
“Let’s play your game,” he said, pulling her back from the pond.
The falls continued to splash into the water, the spray making a rainbow over the waterfall.
“My game seems pale in comparison to the legend you told me.”
When they reached the blanket, she sat just like a lady would, spreading her skirts about her. Maybe he was being paranoid. Maybe she truly was a lady.
“What kind of game is this?” Martin asked.
Jakob was relieved to see his friend had pulled himself out of the depths of his sadness.
“It’s called Truth or Dare,” she said. “I’m going to ask you which you prefer and then give you a question. I thought this would be a great way to get to know more about each other,” she said grinning.
A cool breeze blew across the water, the spray settling on them. Blanche giggled and lifted her face to the wind. It was all Jakob could do not to pull her into his arms and run his tongue up her neck until he reached her lips and kiss her thoroughly.
That sweet mouth of hers was full and tempting, and he couldn’t wait to taste her.
“Do we get to ask you questions?” Martin asked.
“Yes,” she said. “And if you don’t answer, you’ll be punished.”
“How?”
She thought for a moment.
“I know,” Jakob said. “We’ll pull you across our lap and spank you.”
She shook her head. “No, that’s not appropriate.”
Martin laughed. “How about the person has to walk part way back to Treasure Falls.”
“That would be bad,” Blanche said. “I’m agreeable.”
“You’re not afraid of having to walk?”
“I have nothing to hide,” she said smiling. “Who wants to go first?”
“I will,” Martin said.
Just then another breeze blew and water droplets landed on them. Blanche licked the moisture off her lips with her tongue.
Jakob went rigid. Dear God, did she not realize what she was doing to him?
“Truth or dare?” she asked.
“Truth,” Martin replied.
“Truth,” Jakob said.
“What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done?”
Martin started to laugh. “When I was twelve, I accidentally farted at the Christmas table. My mother was mortified. All the family had gathered, and her son farted.”
Blanche smiled at him. Then she turned to Jakob. “What about you?”
“Most embarrassing thing? I hit a man with my fists and then later learned that he was innocent of the wrongdoing I had accused him of.”
Blanche tilted her head and gazed at him. “But is that embarrassing?”
“I think so. I was wrong,” he said. He’d gotten in so much trouble for hitting a man who was innocent. His mother had given him ten licks with the belt.
“All right, I’ll take your answer.”
“Who won that round?” Martin asked.
“No one. It’s a tie,” she said, gazing at them. “Truth or dare?”
“What happens if we take a dare?”
“Then I’ll dare you to do something,” she said.
“Maybe later,” Jakob replied. He wanted to dare her and see how she would respond. This game could work into his plans perfectly.
“Truth,” Martin said.
“Truth,” Jakob replied.
“When has someone hurt you emotionally enough that you cried,” she said.
“Not fair, men don’t cry,” Jakob said.
“Everyone cries,” she replied. “You don’t cry when you’re hurting?”
“No,” he said. “I don’t allow people to hurt me.”
“When my mother died, and a miner accused me of not telling the inspector about the crack in the wall.”
Blanche was silent as she stared at Martin. She reached out and grabbed his hand and brought it up to her lips. “I’m so sorry. That had to hurt a lot.”
Tears welled in Martin’s eyes. “I’ve never hurt so bad. Still hurts to this day.”