Sarah Jane (Countdown to Christmas Book 1)

by Kirsten Osbourne

  He nodded. "I think that's a good compromise." He pulled up in front of the ice cream parlor, thrilled they were serving hot chocolate during the colder months. Jumping down, he walked around to help her to the ground. He took her elbow in his hand as he led her into the parlor, though he felt awkward doing so because he wasn't used to escorting women.

  Once they were inside, he led her to a small table in the corner and pulled a chair out for her. He sat opposite. "So tell me about you. How did you come to live in the orphanage in New York?"

  She made a face. "My parents and younger brother all died from the measles when I was four, and I moved to the orphanage then. I had no other family who could raise me."

  "And you lived there until you moved to Texas?" Hadn't she said something about living with a pastor?

  "When I was nine, a pastor and his wife took me in for a while. They meant to keep me, but they were called to go west a year and a half later, and they decided it would be easier to get an orphan child once they were there rather than taking one on the long journey with them."

  Micah frowned. "So any orphan would do? It didn't have to be you?"

  "They were good people. They taught me a lot." She wouldn't let him say anything bad about the couple.

  "I see. Do you ever hear from them?"

  Sarah Jane shook her head. "They thought it would be easier for me to transition into living in the orphanage again if they didn't write." She still missed them, though.

  Micah thought they were callous people to be able to leave her at the orphanage after living with her for so long, but he said nothing. The waitress was there, and he asked her to bring them each a hot chocolate.

  "I could never drop off a child I couldn't keep at a children's home like someone would dump a pet they no longer wanted in the country."

  "It wasn't like that!" she protested, thinking he was taking her words in a way she hadn't intended.

  "I'm sorry. I just hate the idea of you being left twice. Once is enough."

  "I was loved at that orphanage. The matron cared about all of us. It was better than most, I'm sure."

  Micah nodded, deciding that he wouldn't say another word about it. "Tell me about the Christmas party I'm going to dress up for."

  Sarah Jane smiled. "It was my idea. We're going to have all the volunteers there. I asked the businesses in town to each donate a gift or two. Edna Petunia has been sewing, and so has Mrs. Hayes. There will be plenty of gifts for all the children."

  "What activities are planned, other than Santa giving gifts?"

  "The children have been practicing some Christmas carols they'll sing for us. Many members of the church will be there. We'll have punch and cookies." She would make the cookies herself on Friday to have them ready. "It's only going to last a couple of hours. At the end of the party, we'll have Santa come in and give the children their gifts."

  "So I shouldn't come until the end of the party?"

  "I was thinking you should come for the Christmas carols, and then make your excuses so you can change into the suit."

  He nodded. "I could do that." The hot chocolate was set on the table before them. He reached out and took a sip from the mug in front of him. "You'll save me some cookies?"

  She laughed. "I'll bake an extra dozen just for you."

  "I'd like that a lot," he told her with a grin. "I'm pretty fond of sweets."

  "Well, between me and Edna Petunia, we'll keep you supplied. We both enjoy baking a great deal."

  "I'd appreciate it." Suddenly, he understood the loneliness other men from the seminary had talked about after graduation. He was in a good place here in Nowhere, but what if there hadn't been people around to pander to his every whim? "What are your plans now?"

  "Plans? I suppose I'll keep volunteering with the orphans. I enjoy working there, and I don't need to be making money." She shrugged. "Most of the girls start working as soon as they finish school to save as much as they can, but I'm not certain why. I don't need anything that's not provided for me, and I'd rather do some good."

  "So money isn't important to you?"

  "Well, it's important that someone around me has it so I can eat and wear clothes, but I'm not one who thinks she needs to have jewels dripping from her or a huge house to live in. I'm content with little."

  She sounded like she'd be a perfect pastor's wife. "You're a logical woman."

  "Most of the time. My family thinks I go overboard in trying to be good, though."

  "Is that even possible?"

  She laughed. "Well, sometimes I try to force how I feel about certain things on them, even when they're not technically doing anything wrong. That makes them angry."

  He smiled. "Like needing a chaperone?"

  "Exactly." She looked down at her hot chocolate for a moment, worried she'd offended him. "Did that bother you?"

  He shook his head. "Not at all. I appreciate you thinking that way. I would have never given it another thought."

  "The Pinkstons pounded their way of thinking into my head."

  "The pastor and his wife?"

  She nodded. "Yes. They made it very clear that it was my responsibility to worry about others' souls as well as my own."

  "That's a big burden. Does it ever bother you?"

  She frowned. "Burden? I never thought of it that way, I guess. To me, it's just what I'm supposed to be doing."

  "It's my job now, so you can drop that burden from your shoulders." He hated the idea that she felt like other people's souls were her responsibility. She wasn't a preacher, so she shouldn't have to feel that guilt.

  He saw that she was finished with her hot chocolate, so he went to the counter to pay. Walking back, he smiled. "Are you ready?"

  She nodded, sad their time was over. She wanted to get to know him better, but she'd spent the whole time answering his questions. "What was your family like?"

  He shrugged, taking her elbow again to walk her to the buggy. "I've told you all there is to tell. Our house was loud."

  Sarah Jane grinned. "I bet it wasn't as loud as ours."

  He laughed, shaking his head. "No, not nearly as loud as that."

  "It's a lot, but Edna Petunia is a good mother to us all. Well, when she's not trying to get us to drink her 'cough syrup.'"

  "Cough syrup? It's not whiskey, is it?"

  She shrugged. "Early on, Mrs. Hayes warned us not to drink it, so none of us ever has. We're pretty sure it's some kind of spirit."

  He sighed. "You'd think a woman that age would know better. Does she cough a lot?"

  Sarah Jane shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "Never. She says that just goes to prove it's working."

  "That sounds like Mrs. Sanders. The woman is a bit off."

  "She is, but she's the most loving person I've ever met." Sarah Jane leaned close to whisper, "She offered me peppermint sticks in church yesterday."

  He laughed, concentrating on driving toward the mercantile, but wishing he could watch her as they talked. "And did you take one?"

  Sarah Jane shook her head. "I told her I don't think we should be eating candy during service, so she ate it herself."

  "Of course she did." He pulled up in front of the mercantile. "Do you want me to go in and get Penelope?"

  "No, I want to talk to Ruby—she married the owner of the mercantile. You can come in or wait here."

  He walked around the wagon to help her down. "I'll come in. I've met Ruby, but I had no idea she's one of your sisters."

  "Oh, yes." Sarah Jane hurried into the store. When she saw Ruby behind the counter, she rushed over to chat for a moment. "Ruby. You look beautiful!"

  Ruby smiled, patting her huge stomach. "Another five weeks or so, and this one will be here. Lewis is upstairs with the twins. I needed a moment without them."

  Sarah Jane smiled. "Before today, I don't know if I could have understood that. One of the orphans was sick, though, and he was so clingy. I'm exhausted."

  "It's hard when they're sick." Ruby sighed. "I hear you're st
epping out with the new pastor."

  Sarah Jane blushed. "Not really. He had to come pick up the Santa suit for the orphans' party this weekend, and he took me to get hot chocolate while he was out."

  Ruby grinned. "And he couldn't have found someone else to take out for hot chocolate?"

  Micah stepped up behind her. "I could have, but I wanted to take Sarah Jane."

  "I thought that might be the case," Ruby said with a smile. "I always pictured Sarah Jane being a preacher's wife someday."

  Sarah Jane gasped. "You're jumping to conclusions, Ruby."

  "Not entirely," Micah responded with a laugh.

  She looked at him with wide eyes. "But...we barely know each other."

  "We're working on that."

  Sarah Jane had no idea what to say to that, so she remained quiet. After a moment of the two of them looking at her, she blushed. "I'll tell Penny we're ready."

  He nodded, saying nothing as he watched her walk away.

  "You really like her," Ruby said.

  Micah smiled. "She's pretty special. I think you're right about her making a good preacher's wife, and I know a preacher who's just about ready to settle down."

  "Do you now?" Ruby laughed at him. "I think you need to make your intentions very clear. Our Sarah Jane doesn't understand subtleties very well."

  "I'll keep that in mind."

  Chapter Three

  On the drive back to the Sanders' home, Micah wanted to bring up his intentions to court Sarah Jane, but he didn't want to do it in front of Penny. Penny was chatting about her day, probably just to fill the silence.

  Once they pulled up in front of the house, Penny jumped down and ran inside, leaving the two of them alone. "Would you mind sitting here for a bit? I'd like to talk for a moment."

  Sarah Jane was surprised by his request. "You could stay for supper if you want."

  "I might, but first I want to talk to you where no one can overhear." He took a deep breath, nervous about the conversation they were about to have. "I thought I was making myself clear when I invited you out for hot chocolate today, but Ruby told me I should spell it out for you. I want to start courting you. Would you be all right with that?"

  Sarah Jane blinked a couple of times. "Courting me?"

  He nodded. "To see if we're compatible."

  For marriage? He's interested in marrying me? "I think that would be all right. You should probably talk to Cletus, though. He's overprotective of all of us."

  Micah looked toward the house with a frown. "I can do that. I guess I'll stay for supper after all."

  Sarah Jane bit back a giggle at the look on his face. She rested her hand on his arm. "He doesn't bite. You'll be fine."

  Micah sighed. "I'm sure I will be. I just—well, I just wish I could find a way to talk just to him and not Mrs. Sanders and all of the girls."

  "Your best time to try is right now. I'll be in the kitchen helping Edna Petunia cook, and most of the girls prefer to take advantage of the free time they have between work and supper."

  Micah jumped down, walking around to help Sarah Jane to the ground. He'd never liked the idea of asking a father for permission to court a girl because he thought the girl should be allowed to make up her own mind about it.

  Sarah Jane led him back to the formal parlor, where Cletus was again reading law books. It was odd to Micah that he would want to start a new career at his age, but he had to respect Cletus for it.

  "Mr. Sanders?"

  Cletus looked up. "You again? Well, come in and sit down, as long as you're not here to tell me that my soul needs savin'. I heard enough of that when I was young."

  Micah smiled. "No, sir. Not this time." He cleared his throat, forcing out the next statement so he could get it over with. "I want to ask your permission to court Sarah Jane."

  At that Cletus set down his book and gave the younger man his full attention. "Sarah Jane's an awfully special girl. You going to take care of her while you're out with her?"

  Micah nodded. "I will."

  "And you'll make sure you always have a chaperone? Normally, I wouldn't think that would be necessary, but it is in this case. Sarah Jane has some really old-fashioned ideas, and she likes for everyone around her to live by her ideals."

  He nodded again. "I can see that. I will happily have a chaperone at all times if it makes her feel better."

  "Then I guess you can court her. Treat her right. If I hear you've hurt her in any way, I'm going to come after you."

  Micah wasn't a bit surprised by the older man's words. He seemed the type who would hunt down a man who harmed someone he loved. "I'll keep that in mind. I have no intention of hurting her or anyone else."

  "Good. You better treat her like the precious jewel she is."

  "Always." Micah was thrilled to have the conversation over with. "Sarah Jane invited me for supper."

  "Of course she did. Sarah Jane feels the need to feed the world, just like my sweetheart, Edna Petunia. You'd never hear either of them admitting it, but out of all the girls, Sarah Jane is most like my wife. Oh, she doesn't run off at the mouth like Edna Petunia, but she has the same basic need to take care of others." Cletus smiled. "It's hard not to feel like she's extra special as a result of that."

  Micah smiled. He could see the similarities for himself though he was pleased Sarah Jane didn't do some of the outlandish things Edna Petunia was constantly doing. "I can see it. I really will take good care of her."

  "I know you will. You wouldn't dare do otherwise." Cletus picked up his book again. "I'm done talking for a while. If you want to read, there's a Bible on the shelf."

  Micah grinned. He walked to the shelf of books along the wall, and chose one that interested him. It wasn't the Bible, but he didn't think Cletus would care. Settling back down into the chair he'd just vacated, he opened the book and began reading.

  In the kitchen, Sarah Jane was peeling the potatoes for dinner. "Pastor Barton will be eating with us again."

  Edna eyed Sarah Jane. "He courting you?"

  Sarah Jane blushed. "He's asking Cletus for permission."

  "Good. You two suit each other."

  Sarah Jane looked at Edna Petunia with surprise. "Do you really think so?"

  "Definitely. I thought so when he first moved here, but I was certain you'd have a problem with me trying to fix you two up together."

  "I would have. You have to let things happen as they will."

  "Because there are no arranged marriages in the Bible?" Edna Petunia asked, a smirk on her face.

  "We don't live in Bible times any longer. Why, look at the modern world around you. We even have indoor plumbing and electricity here!"

  "We do. It's a pretty nice place to live, this modern world of ours. I'm happy here."

  Sarah Jane smiled at that, setting the huge pot of potatoes on the stove to boil.

  Edna Petunia was frying some chicken on the second stove. "Why don't you whip up a couple of cakes? The pastor would probably enjoy some baked goods. It's got to be hard for a bachelor to move to such a small town where there's not a bakery or anything."

  Sarah Jane nodded. "I'll bake three cakes so he can have one to take home with him."

  "That's the spirit, girl! No faster way to a man's heart than through his stomach. Unless, of course, you're planning on kissing him, but knowing you, that won't be happening anytime soon."

  "I don't think people should just run around kissing each other. If we were engaged, it would be different."

  "Well, how are you going to know if you want to be with him for all time if you don't kiss him? You have to know if he makes your heart speed up!"

  Sarah Jane shook her head. "I'll know." She already knew he did. Every little touch, even if he was just helping her into her buggy, made her feel special.

  Edna Petunia's face broke into a wide grin. "He's already made your heart beat faster. He's the man for you. I'm glad." She turned a piece of chicken on the stove. "Bake those cakes, girl. I want to see the two of you marrie
d soon!"

  Sarah Jane sighed. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Edna Petunia. He may not have feelings for me."

  "He wouldn't be in there asking that old coot for permission to court you otherwise."

  Sarah Jane just nodded as she measured out the sugar. It was odd to think that she'd be the next one courted when there were so many older than her still at home. Still, she was thrilled. There was just something about Micah that made her want to be with him all the time.

  At dinner, he sat beside her again, and he took her hand automatically while they prayed. Sarah Jane felt as if she were doing something wrong, but she was holding Evelyn's hand on the other side, and she knew that wasn't wrong. She'd never made a habit of holding a man's hand before. Why, she'd never been courted at all before. Micah was the first.

  After the prayer, she pulled her hand from his, not meeting his eyes. She didn't want him to realize that it affected her when they held hands, even during prayer.

  Cletus forked up a bite of his mashed potatoes before his eyes landed on Micah. "So, what does a preacher do all day?"

  Micah felt put on the spot, but answered anyway. "I spend part of the day visiting the sick. I work on my sermon. Do any repairs necessary on the church. Basically, I work just like everyone else. My tasks are just a bit different."

  "Do you enjoy your work?" Edna Petunia asked. "Does it ever get to be too much of a trial to have to do good all the time? I mean, at times doing good is fun and makes you feel pleasant, but sometimes it just gets downright tedious."

  Micah couldn't hide the smirk. "I like doing good, so no, it doesn't bother me. It's hard to always have to worry about what other people will think of what I'm doing, but usually that's easy as well."

  Sarah Jane smiled as she took a bite of her chicken. Micah thought very much the same way she did. Maybe someday they could get to know one another well enough that they could marry.

  Hope wrinkled her nose. "You sound just as boring as Sarah Jane. I sure hope you won't ask me to chaperone you two. I'm not sure I could stay awake for it."

  Edna Petunia sighed. "Don't be rude, Hope. Not everyone is good at saying whatever is on their mind, and it's a good thing. Imagine what the world would be like if we all told people when their shoes were ugly or we found their conversation boring. Not a good place."