by Rita Hestand
Sarah smiled and let Brady in. "Of course I'll go. You know me, I love to fish…"
"Okay, we'll be by in about an hour and pick you up on the way to the creek."
"We?" Sarah asked.
"Sure, me and Haney." He said.
"Oh…of course. Well, I'll be ready. And Brady…?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Thanks for asking me. And don't ma'am me, it makes me feel old."
"Sure," Brady nodded and left.
Ma heard them and glanced at Sarah with a gleam in her eye. "You and Brady have a good time at the pond, don't you?"
Sarah thought about that. "Yeah, we do. Most the time all we get is crawfish, but every now and then we'll get a catfish."
"Well, let's hope you catch some…" Ma smiled at her. "You know Sarah; I've been watching you lately. You are a very sweet person."
Surprised at the compliment, Sarah stared at Ma. "Here we go again," she mumbled under her breath. "What do you mean?" she asked innocently.
"Well, it isn't very often that a young lady as pretty as you would take the time to spend with a kid, fishing." Ma smiled at her.
Sarah lifted her head and chuckled. "Well Ma, I love to fish. I always have. I used to fish a lot with my Pa and brothers. Pa taught me everything about it. We had a lot of lovely days back then…when I was little.That was before I started growing up." She reflected. "But Brady is a lot of fun, he cuts up and we act silly. I don't have to impress him. I can just be myself and I like that. Besides, I catch a lot of gossip with those two. They know everything that's going on in this town."
Ma was scrubbing a pot. When she saw her, she stopped a minute to look at her. "What happened? Why'd you leave home, Sarah?"
"Didn't Jo Ella tell you?" Sarah turned to look at her.
"No, in fact, I know very little about you…"
Sarah didn't enjoy talking about herself. She shrugged. "I had a very strict father. He was a good man, but as I got older, he got very protective of my sisters and me. Very protective. We couldn't so much as look at a boy without him getting a switch to us. It's funny; looking back, I can see where he was right about a lot of things. He was a God fearin' man, and I must have sounded like a real hussy to him. I told him one time I liked kissing boys, and didn't see anything wrong with it. I got a blistering that day. He never knew I was more talk than action. At least back then."
"Why, what did you do, to get the blistering?" Ma asked.
"I'd slopped hogs that spring in the mud and grit so long, I felt like mud was my second skin. My fingernails were never clean it seemed. Anyway, Bryan Haversack happened. Him and his father came over one day, I was just thirteen then, just feeling like my childhood was behind me, you know. He was a wild one and encouraged me to run away with him. I was about fourteen when I got up the nerve. You see, I left the gate open to the hogs one night, and they got out, my daddy whipped me good. I mean real good. I swore the first chance I got I was leaving. So I did, with Bryan Haversack."
"How old was he?" Ma probed.
"He was seventeen, he thought. He wasn't sure of things like that; nobody kept any bible records in his family. But I thought him daring and exciting, so I ran away with him. I realized real quickly, he wasn't no seventeen. He wasn't much older than me. Didn't take long to find out he could barely support us. He'd get odd jobs around town, but nothing that paid anything. We lived in a little one-room shack out back of the general store where he worked. I became a marked woman, because I lived with him. When I think back how innocent we really were, I nearly laugh. People would walk by me and whisper, and I'd run crying to Bryan. He was a nice boy, but what I didn't realize in time was that he was still a boy. You see he treated me like a sister. It wasn't as if we were in love, but you couldn't tell the town that. Oh, we did experiment with kissing, and I got pretty good at it. But the town thought we were much more than siblings. They already had ideas about that. Truth was, Bryan didn't know any more about being a man, than I did about being a woman."
"Did you and Bryan have relations?" Ma kept asking questions.
"Not at first…" Sarah hung her head. "But after a while, when everyone thought we had, Bryan insisted if I was a woman, I'd do it with him. So I did. The way he made it sound, we might as well, if we got blamed for it."
"Then what happened?"
"Well, needless to say, it was a disaster. One I decided I wouldn't be repeating with him. So the experience was somewhat hampered. Besides that, we barely ate that winter. I must have lost ten pounds or more, I was skin and bones. Then I ran into Red, a girl that worked at the saloon. She was a lot older, and knew a lot more than I did. She told me if I wanted work I could work at the saloon, and I'd eat better. So I got the job. Only, since Bryan and I didn't really do it, doing it was a shocker. I must have cried for three days, afterwards. I never went home again. And I never went back to Bryan. I saw him a few times, but it was never the same. My daddy, he wouldn't allow such a tainted woman in his house. My sisters had the good sense to find a man and marry before they left home. But none of them was over fifteen when they married. Papa accepted marriage. Since Bryan never bothered to ask me to wed, we didn't. And Papa thought me a bad seed. I missed home for a long time, I even tried to go back once, but Papa wouldn't take me in. That was right after Bryan and I tried…well you know. After that, I just made up my mind that I was never going back. I cried all night, and the next day I began whoring…"
Ma shook her head. "Your own Pa wouldn't take you back?"
"Nope, neither he nor my Ma. I knew that. They had religion and I was a hussy. But you know something Ma?"
"What dearie…"
"I had it too. Religion that is. I felt guilty every time I climbed those stairs. After a week at Al's Saloon, I wanted to curl up and die. If it hadn't been for Jo Ella and the others, I might have done something atrocious…"
"Well," Ma came to put her arm around her. "I'm glad they were there for you. It must have been hard. I've wondered about saloon girls all my life. Some of them look like they are trying to hide the hurts. Makes me want to cuddle them and tell them it will be all right. But…Sarah, God forgives…"
"I know…that's part of why I'm here. I wanted to change my life. Jo Ella got the idea, but I was in love with it. I wasn't cut out to be a whore. I never enjoyed it like some. I'll never be accepted in my own home again. But I've changed in my heart Ma…."
"Oh, darling I know you have…" Ma comforted her.
"I do get some lustful dreams every now and then, but I don't act upon them. Unfortunately they are all with Luke Miller."
Ma chuckled.
After talking a long while with Ma, Sarah ran upstairs to get dressed. She almost laughed at herself. She had to get ready to go fishing?
She donned a pair of overalls, braided her hair and when she heard the knock at the screen door, she ran to answer it.
It was Luke.
He looked shocked when he saw her. "Sarah…you look…nice…"
Of all the times for him to say that, this was not the time. She shook her head. "Yeah, well, I'm going fishing with Brady and Haney."
"Oh…I see. Well, that sounds like fun…"
"Yeah…excuse me." She ran out the door so fast it almost slammed in his face.
He turned around to watch her, but she was running to get away from him.
He never once complimented me in church, but now that I'm going fishing, he tells me I look nice! How stupid was that, no one looked nice when they went fishing!
Brady saw her and waved at her. Sarah headed for him.
"Hi, you two ready?" She asked, wiping away the frown.
"Yeah…" Haney said. Haney was a younger man probably no more than ten or eleven. However, the three of them had fished together quite often. Brady was seventeen and just beginning to notice girls. Sarah found she could talk to Brady, and he wouldn't laugh at her.
Sarah glanced about her. "Oh…I forgot my fishing pole."
"That's okay; I'll make you another…" B
rady encouraged.
"Great, I sure didn't want to go back."
"Why not?" Haney asked.
"'Cause, the preacher, was at the door when I left. He took one look at me and said I looked nice…can you believe that. People don't look nice when they go fishing, doesn't he know that?" Sarah protested. "He reminds me of a politician, trying to get votes or something."
Brady stopped in his tracks. "You're mad because he said you looked nice?"
"Well, of course, I am. It was an out and out lie." Sarah fumed. "No one looks nice when they go fishing. And preachers shouldn't lie."
"Girls sure do beat all." Haney shook his head. "My sister has a crush on him and she'd be pea green with envy if she knew he said that to you."
"Betsy has a crush on him?" Sarah repeated.
"Yeah, but don't tell her I told you. He doesn't know she's alive."
I know the feeling!
"Yeah, but Sarah's our friend." Brady grabbed Sarah's hand. "So don't laugh at her."
Haney nodded. "Naw…I wouldn't."
"I hope they are biting. Ma sure does want some fish to cook this evening." Sarah changed the subject. She didn't want these two thinking she liked the Reverend. Haney would spread it all over town.
Brady made her a pole, cutting a limb off a tree, and shaping it with his knife. Then he tied a string on the end and handed it to her.
"You got any worms?" she asked.
"You know I do…" Haney smiled. "I dug them this morning. Nice fat ones."
"Good…" Sarah saw the tin box he carried them in, so she reached in, and pulled one out.
"You're the only girl I know that would handle a worm like that." Haney nearly laughed.
"It's just a squiggly thing. Won't hurt anyone." Sarah defended.
"Still, Betsy wouldn't." Haney admitted.
Sarah looked at them both. "Do you think I'm a tomboy?"
Brady scratched his chin. "Sort of…but you’re a lady too."
"That's a nice way of putting it, Brady. Thanks." Sarah smiled.
An hour later, they were fishing; they had their shoes off and stuck their feet in the cool water.
"I love this pond…" Sarah reflected.
"Yeah…just wish we could catch something besides crawdads."
"Well look, we sorta made this spot and that little hole for them. Maybe we should find another place; this end is kind of shallow." Sarah remarked.
"Okay, let's see if we can find a better one." Brady nodded.
They moved half way across the creek. Another half hour passed and Sarah had a nibble. Her pole bent and Brady jumped up off the grass and helped her bring it in.
It was a beauty of a catfish.
"You were right, this is a better place. Not as much shade, but a better place." Brady smiled at her.
Haney got a catfish too.
After a couple of hours, they were putting their poles to the side and their shoes back on when Luke Miller drove by in his buggy.
"So how's the fishing?" He called to them.
Brady looked up and waved. "We got some catfish."
"Great, maybe I'll have to get me a pole and come next time." He remarked.
"Your welcome we come every Saturday," Haney explained.
Sarah hadn't said a word. She was still a little angry with him.
When he drove off, Brady turned to look at her. "You didn't even speak to him."
"Why bother…" She huffed, blowing a tendril of hair from her eyes.
They continued to fish for about an hour, and then went home.
When she brought a mess of catfish in, Ma was delighted. "Well, I'll swan, that's a pretty good catch."
"Just for you, Ma…" Sarah hugged her and ran upstairs. She didn't want anyone to see the sunburn on her neck and arms. She knew she should have worn a long sleeve shirt.
Chapter Three
The next Saturday Luke showed up at Ma's and sat having coffee with her at the kitchen table.
"Well now, what brings you here, on a Saturday?"
"Did you forget, you wanted me and Sarah to take the new quilt over to Mrs. North's?" Luke reminded her.
"I plum forgot about that, Luke. Let me see if Sarah is here."
Luke waited, sipping his coffee and glancing about.
Ma came down directly. "She's getting dressed right now. Thank you for running this errand for me. I'm plum tuckered after me and Sarah spent half the night making plum jelly."
"You made plum jelly?" Luke asked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Wild plum jelly, best there is." Ma nodded.
"I'd love to sample some, some time." Luke remarked as a twitch of humor returned to his face.
"I'll do better than that; I'll give you a jar."
"Thanks…being a bachelor, I seldom have home-made food, unless I'm visiting. I'm not the greatest of cooks."
His friendly manner amused Ma, as she winked at him.
"It's time you were settling down Luke. You've got that ranch of yours in good shape. The church membership is picking up. Now's the time to be thinking of getting married, don't you agree?"
Luke didn't answer at first, as his smile quickly vanished.
"You didn't answer my question?" Ma studied him a moment noticing his silence.
"Haven't given marrying much thought, Ma." Luke smiled.
"Well, you should. All the best girls will be taken and you'll only have the left-overs if you don't start looking." Ma warned.
He shrugged negligently.
"Most girls shy away from preachers. Have you ever noticed that?" Luke asked, studying Ma's reactions.
"Oh I don't know about that. Most girls would count themselves lucky to find a man that could hold two jobs with such ease." Ma reflected.
Sarah heard them talking, but the subject matter stopped her mid way down the stairs.
"You aren't just a preacher, Luke." Ma quickly informed him. "You are a rancher and a fine young man. Any girl would be lucky to have you. You are law-abiding, and do a lot of community service. You got a right nice ranch, well taken care of, and people seem to like you."
Luke reared back in the chair now and relaxed a little.
"Maybe I should marry you, Ma. I sure enjoy your cooking." Luke laughed.
"That's not exactly what you look for in a girl, Luke."
"No, then what should I look for?" Luke asked putting his hands behind his head and tipping his hat over his eyes.
"There's more to a girl than cooking, and you know it." Ma scolded. "You gotta take a few out first. Take them on a picnic, or invite them to a dance. You must get to know them. See if they like the same things you do. Naturally, you being a preacher, they would have to go to church too, and believe in the Lord. But there are things every man seems to want in a woman."
Luke finished his coffee. "You got someone in mind for the job?"
"Maybe, but it's up to you to do the asking." Ma continued. "No I happen to know…."
"I've had my eye on someone lately, just haven't gotten the nerve up to ask her." Luke admitted. "To tell the truth I don't think she's a bit interested in me."
"Really, who is she?"
"Emily Thompson…but it seems every man in town wants to date her. She's beautiful."
"Emily Thompson?" Ma squawked. "That little red-head that flirts with every man in town."
"Don't you think she's pretty?" Luke asked looking straight at Ma.
"Luke? It's not that…but, she's not your type."
"And you know someone that is?" Luke raised a brow.
"Well yes…of course I do…"
Before she could mention any names, Sarah came down the stairs. She was wearing a pretty gingham dress that Ma had made for her, and she put her hair back with a ribbon. However, she'd heard whom they were talking about and knew she didn't stand a chance against Emily Thompson. So it was true, the preacher liked pretty girls. Probably girls that didn't have an ounce of sense, like Emily! Well, he could have them!
She looked at Ma,
and grabbed the quilt.
"Let's go, Reverend." Sarah frowned at Ma.
"Oh yes, of course."
On the buggy ride out to the North farm, Luke had barely said a word.
Sarah was still fuming mad at Ma, and Luke.
Emily Thompson was the biggest flirt in town!
When they reached the farm, she jumped down from the buggy, not waiting for the Reverend to help her.
Mrs. North came out on the porch when she heard them.
"Why Sarah, and Luke, how are you? What brings you two out here?" She asked with a pleasant smile.
Even Abigail North called Luke by his given name. As though they had been lifetime friends.
"We just finished this quilt and Ma and I wanted you to have it." Sarah handed her the quilt before Luke could say a word.
"How thoughtful of you. What a surprise. It's beautiful." Abigail opened it up to display the work. Sarah was proud of the quilt, she'd put a lot of her time and effort in on it and it was nice to be appreciated.
"You must have put a lot of work into it; the stitches are so tiny you can barely see them." Abigail continued to brag on it.
"I have plenty of time, and I love working on things like this."
Luke seemed to watch the two of them.
"Ma said Sarah did most of the work. She says she's an excellent seamstress." Luke added.
"Ma said you were making some clothes for that poor family that lost everything in the fire last week." Abigail added.
Sarah blushed, she never bragged on such things. "Well, they did lose everything. I wanted to help in any way I could. Sewing is about all I know how to do well. So I decided to make her and her three girls some dresses, thought it might lift their spirits." Sarah began to relax now. "Mrs. Dover was so surprised, she cried."
"That is so sweet, of you to think of them and to spend your time doing that. I wish I could sew. Have you ever thought of opening your own shop?" Abigail asked.
"Oh yes, many times. However, it takes money to do something like that. Besides, what I make, I usually give away. I'm making Maggie a special dress for when she auditions at the Opera House…" Sarah informed her.
