by Lisa Gregory
It wasn't an unusual occurrence to have a drifter be given a plateful of food by his kindhearted wife and let him pay it off with a little work. Luke frowned, saying automatically, "I don't like you talking to those drifters when you're here alone." It scared him to think of someone being around Sarah when he was out in the fields. The most frightening thing in the world, the only thing he could think of, really, that scared him, was something bad happening to Sarah or Emily.
"I can't turn them away." It was Sarah's usual response in their long-running argument over the subject. "Besides, I didn't let him in the house, like you told me."
"Good." But there was something else going on here besides a drifter seeking work. Sarah's cheeks glowed with color, and her eyes danced. She practically vibrated with suppressed excitement. He started to smile. "What is it?"
"What?" Sarah returned innocently.
The smile gained a definite hold on Luke's mouth. He enjoyed looking at Sarah like this, all pink and bubbling. "Something's afoot. What is it?"
"I don't know why you'd think that."
"Those children you just hid inside the house, for one thing. They obviously don't belong to the man in the barn. Who are they? Why are they here?"
Sarah chuckled. "I'm not going to tell you yet. You have another visitor, too. Why don't you come inside?"
Luke couldn't imagine who could engender such eagerness in Sarah, but he followed her into the house without another word. When she smiled at him like that, he would have followed her anywhere.
When they stepped inside, Sarah took his hand and whisked him through the dining room into the front hall, where he had a full view of the staircase. A woman was coming down the stairs, and she froze in mid-motion when she saw him. She said nothing, simply looked at him, and it was a moment before Luke could say anything, either—or even move.
"Julie?" The word came out softly, wonderingly. It couldn't really be her. It had been so long.
She nodded. She looked almost scared. Luke was so different from the sixteen-year-old boy Julia remembered. His frame was still wiry, but he had fleshed out. He was a man now. Still handsome enough to sing birds out of the trees—maybe even better looking—but not the same. His face was older, with lines of experience that hadn't been there before, but, curiously, it was not harder. The old pugnacious look and the wary, defiant air were gone. His stance was open and at ease, and his face was almost peaceful. I don't know you. Tears formed in Julia's eyes, and she wasn't sure whether she was happy for Luke or sad for herself.
Luke moved, breaking the tableau. "Julie!" He broke into a grin and hurried toward her, his arms extended. There was no mistaking the elation in his voice, the intermingled joy and amazement. "Julie!"
Julia giggled and flung herself into his arms. He squeezed her to him and whirled around, lifting her up off the floor. Julia held on tightly, closing her eyes, shutting out the rest of the world for that brief instant of love and safety. "Oh, Luke."
Julia's tears started in earnest then. Luke set her down and stepped back, holding her at arm's length to look at her. "I can't believe it! It's really you! I never thought I'd—" He pulled her back for another hug, laughing. "Oh, Julie!"
She could do nothing but laugh and cry and hold him and try to look at him, all at once. He hugged her so hard it hurt. He looked over her head at Sarah. "Did you know about this?"
Sarah smiling mistily, shook her head, "Not until this afternoon."
"Julie, what's happened? What are you doing here? Oh, hell! Forget that. Just let me look at you. Are you all right? Are you sick or anything?"
"No. I'm fine, really. Just a little tired."
"I can't believe—it's been so long."
"Eleven years."
"Eleven years. You're still beautiful."
"Then you're still a liar." Julia smiled up at him, wiping the tears from her cheeks. But, Sarah thought, with that glow on Julia's face as she gazed at Luke, she did look beautiful, despite her tiredness and lack of care.
"God, I'm glad you're here."
"My children are with me," She turned to where Bonnie and Vance stood, staring wide-eyed at the scene before them. "Bonnie, Vance, come here. Meet your Uncle Luke."
"Your children," Luke stared at them. Of course, he'd known she had children, had to have had since she'd been pregnant when she left home. But somehow the idea had never had much reality. "Hello, there." Luke squatted down on their level. "I'm your uncle." They nodded silently, not sure what to say to this man. "I'm pleased to meet you."
"Children," their mother said meaningfully.
"Pleased to meet you," they chorused, and Luke grinned.
"I see she's got you better trained than she ever did me."
"I learned my lessons with you," Julia retorted.
Luke stood up and ruffled the children's hair, aching to touch them, yet not wanting to force them or frighten them. "I'm glad you're here. Emily been showing you everything?"
They nodded, and the boy said, "Yes, sir."
"I—I'm sure you wonder what I'm doing here," Julia began, lacing her hands together in front of her Sarah thought she looked like a child bracing herself to confess a prank to the school principal. There was something fragile about Julia, something that made a person want to hug her and assure her that you'd keep the bad things away. Sarah suspected that no one had ever kept the bad things from her, though.
"I just want to look at you," Luke interjected. He knew that whatever Julia had to say was hard for her, and doubly so in front of Sarah and the children. "We can talk after supper I bet these little ones are starving. I know I am."
"That's right." Sarah added. "Let's eat first."
The family sat down around the table, and, much to Julia's astonishment, Luke folded his hands and lowered his head along with Sarah and Emily, and Sarah said grace. Julia stared. Luke looked up and caught her staring at him, and he winked. "Sure got respectable, didn't I?"
Julia nodded. He was her old Luke, yet he wasn't. The changes in him seemed only to the better, but it left her unsure what to make of him.
Luke glanced toward Sarah, his gaze soft and loving. Julia had never seen him look like that, and it made her heart hurt with love and happiness for him and a little regret lor herself. "Sarah's done it to me." His hand covered Sarah's where it rested on the edge of the table. "Didn't you, sweetheart?"
She smiled back at him, the love in her eyes equally strong. "Somebody had to, I reckon."
"I want 'tato," Emily piped up, and the tender moment was gone. They began to dish up the food and eat.
Julia and the children thought what they had eaten a few hours earlier was plentiful, but it was a mere snack compared to this meal. They rarely had chicken-fried steak, and when they did, it was a very special occasion. Their meals ran to beans and greens and rice; and if there was meat, it was usually pork middlings cooked in the vegetables. They dived into the meal with gusto; and when they finished, their plates were as clean as if they had wiped them. There was peach cobbler for dessert, with cream poured on top, and that was the best of all.
Julia, Sarah, and the girls cleaned up afterward, and Sarah took the children upstairs to put them to bed, leaving Luke and Julia alone to talk. Julia told her brother the story of Will's death, their financial straits and of her decision to come to him. She was grateful for Sarah's tactful departure. It was far easier to talk alone with Luke. It was still embarrassing, but she knew that Luke understood; he had once lived the same kind of life she had.
"I'm sorry," Julia finished softly, gazing down at her hands. "I didn't want to burden you with my family, but I didn't know where else to go. And the children..."
"What are you talking about?" Luke sounded indignant. "Where else should you go, except to your own family? You're no burden to me. I want you here. Julie, I'm so happy. I've missed you for years."
"Oh, Luke!" Julia's head came up, and she looked at him, tears shining in her eyes. "I've missed you, too! I felt so bad that I never came
to see you, that I didn't see you get married. That I wasn't there when you were on trial."
"There was no reason you should have been there," he replied gruffly. "It was no place for a lady."
"I'm no lady; I'm just a Turner."
"Don't say that!" Luke looked fierce. "You're as good as any woman. I won't let you talk that way about yourself. If Sarah hears you, she'll give you a real earful." He grinned ruefully. "She always does me if I say something like that. She's a wonderful woman." His smile turned dreamy. "Sarah believes that you can be whatever you want, that it doesn't matter how you started out or what your name is. She's made me believe it, too. She's given me so much—I don't mean the farm, but inside. She showed me what I can do. She gave me a chance when there wasn't another soul on earth who would have."
"She sees who you really are, like I do."
"Yeah." Luke grinned. "And she doesn't even hold that against me."
"Oh, Luke." Julia made an expression of mock exasperation. "She must be a saint to put up with your teasing."
"She probably is."
"But even a saint couldn't be happy about having a strange woman suddenly living in her house. I don't want to make trouble between you and Sarah."
Luke smiled and touched Julia's cheek. "I can't imagine a woman less likely to make trouble than you."
"But it's hard to have a stranger in your house, especially one with two children. Sarah won't like that."
"You don't know Sarah. She's happy that you're here. She came out to meet me tonight, glowing all over, like she had a wonderful secret. She loves me, Julie." Luke's voice roughened, and he glanced away. "She loves me so much I can't believe it. She wants me to be happy, and she knows how happy it makes me to have you here. Sarah's good; she's generous." He paused and shrugged. "There's no way to tell you. You'll just have to see it for yourself. But for now, take my word for it. You won't be a burden. You won't create trouble. Sarah and I want you here."
"Thank you."
"Besides, Sarah's six months along; she could use a helping hand. The housework is a lot for her to do by herself, even when she's feeling good. But with her getting heavier and tireder and with summer coming on—well, it'd be impossible. The Crowleys, our neighbors, were going to send their oldest girl over to help starting next month, but you being here will be better."
"That's true. I could do a lot of things for her." Julia's spirits brightened. This house and alt the extra work that went with summertime would be too much for a pregnant woman. Julia realized that she would be useful, not a burden. If Sarah really was as nice as she seemed, maybe she wouldn't look down on Julia and think she was ignorant and low class. Maybe they could even be friends. And by the time Sarah was able to handle all the housework and the new baby by herself, Julia would have had plenty of time to look around for some kind of work. Perhaps she could even build up a little nest egg by taking in sewing in her spare time.
"There. See? You're a blessing, not a problem. Now, tell me how you got here. Who is this Micah fellow?"
"I walked," Julia replied simply.
"You what? All the way from Gideon?"
"Yes. How else could I come?"
"Why didn't you telegraph me? I would have come and gotten you."
"I didn't think of it. It would have cost money, and I . . . I didn't think of it."
Luke grimaced. He guessed a few years ago he wouldn't have thought of it either. "I'm sorry."
Julia shrugged. "It wasn't that bad. But it was tiring, and we didn't bring enough food. A mile or two from your house, I—well, it was silly, but I fainted. Micah happened along, and he helped me. He carried me part of the way, until I came to, and after that, he carried the suitcase and let me lean on him; my knees were watery."
Luke sighed. "I'n sorry this happened to you. Things will be better for you now. I promise." Luke rose from his chair. "I'm going out to talk to this fellow who helped you. And you better go on up to bed. You need the rest."
"All right." Julia stood up, too, and reached out to take Luke's hand, "Thank you."
"No need to thank me, I'm glad you're home."
"So am I."
❧
When Luke returned to the house, Sarah was already upstairs getting ready for bed. She sat in a chair, bending down to unlace her high-topped shoes and slip them off. She smiled up at Luke, and be brushed his hand against her cheek.
"Julie's husband's dead."
"What?" Sarah had thought of other reasons for Julia to be here, but not of that. "But he's not very old, is—was he?"
Luke shook his head. "Thirty-six or so, I guess. He dropped dead in the fields. A heart attack."
"Oh, my goodness. How awful for her."
"He's no loss."
"Luke!"
"What? His being dead doesn't make him any nicer."
"No, but... well, I'm glad she came to us."
"She didn't have much choice." Luke sat down and began to pull off his work boots. "Will was sharecropping forty acres for a man named Harrington, and the man wanted to put a new tenant in the house."
"You mean, he made Julia leave her house right after her husband died!"
"Yeah. That's why she set out on foot with the kids. She doesn't have any money. Will was in debt to Harrington, so Harrington took the tools, wagon, and team in payment of the debt."
"Luke! How terrible! Poor Julia."
Luke smiled. He had been certain of Sarah's sympathy, but it pleased him to hear her confirm it. "I told her she could stay with us."
"Of course." Sarah smiled. It would be nice having another woman in the house, not just for a hand with the chores (although that would be a pleasant relief, too, especially as she got heavier with child), but mostly for conversation and companionship. It was often a lonely life on the farm, not seeing neighbors or family except on Sundays, with only a two-year-old to keep her company during the day.
It would be fun to chat with Julia while they washed and hung out the clothes or cooked supper. They could laugh over the things Emily did. Maybe Julia would tell Sarah stories about Luke's childhood, the sort of sweet things Luke wished she knew about her husband—the way he had looked, his first word, the games he had played.
"She was afraid she might cause problems here," Luke told her.
"Why?"
He shrugged. "I guess because she doesn't know you very well."
"Well, with some women it might be a problem. I mean, every woman has her own way of running a house. But I can't see Julia and me fussing over things like that, can you?" Luke shook his head. "Anyway, even if she were cantankerous or lazy, she's your sister. I couldn't turn her away."
Luke unbuttoned his shirt. "I told her you would be fine with it."
Sarah finished undressing and slid a white cotton nightgown over her head. Luke watched her, his fingers growing still on his buttons. Sarah's stomach was swollen with the child she carried and the gown was plain and voluminous, but, even so, the sight of her putting it on stirred his loins.
"I hired Micah." Luke slumped down in his chair, stretching out his legs, to watch Sarah unbraid her hair.
"Did you? Good. You need a hand." The thick strands of her hair loosened when Sarah unfastened her braid, but didn't fall apart. She pushed her fingers through her hair like a comb, separating the strands. Her hair clung and curled around her fingers.
Luke wet his lips. "Yeah. Well, he did a good job on the chores this afternoon, and he helped Julia. He's staying in the room in the barn. I gave him sheets and towels."
Sarah picked up her brush and began to pull it through her hair. It fell in thick, brown, silky waves down her back, clear to her hips.
Luke went to stand behind her. He took the brush from her hand and began to brush her hair himself. He loved the feel of it in his hands, warm and soft, catching on his calluses. "Being in that room made me think about when I first came here. When I lived there."
"I remember."
He smiled faintly. "I used to lie awake in my bed e
very night, thinking about you."
"Oh. Luke."
"It's true."
"You acted like you didn't know I was alive."
He gathered her hair in one hand and twisted it lazily around his hand and arm, watching it catch the light. He bent and kissed the top of her head. "I was scared to death of you, afraid I'd frighten or disgust you. I wanted so badly for you not to fear me."
Sarah rose and took his face between her hands. "I never feared you."
"I know. You're an amazing woman."
"No. I just know you."
Luke bent and kissed her, releasing her hair and letting it slide through his hand. He wanted her, as he always did, but he refrained, as he always did. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They climbed into bed, and Sarah snuggled into his arms. She fell asleep quickly, as she did nowadays, but Luke lay awake for a long time, listening to her soft, even breathing and feeling the soft warmth of her body. He knew there wasn't a man alive happier than he was.
Chapter 4
Julia was amazed at how easily she and the children fit into Luke and Sarah's life. All the fears she had held about her sister-in-law proved to be wrong, Sarah was pleasant and easy to talk to. She never demanded or told Julia what to do but always asked. There was nothing in her tone or manner to indicate that she thought herself better than Julia. She treated Julia simply as her husband's beloved sister, a woman whom she wanted to know and like—and by whom she wished to be liked! That amazed Julia more than anything else, that Sarah McGowan should be concerned over whether Julia Dobson liked her and was happy in her home.
They worked well together, both of them hard workers and neat to a fault. They fell into a natural division of labor, with Julia taking on the heavier tasks that were difficult for Sarah in her condition. At first Sarah protested that Julia was working too hard and would hurt herself, but Julia simply laughed. "Haven't you got that backwards? You're the one who should take it easy."
"But you—are you sure you're up to it?"
