by Rita Hestand
The evening had gone by in a blur after she spoke with Luke. She never got another chance. She'd drank punch until she felt she was floating, danced until her feet hurt, but she didn't see much of Luke the rest of the night.
Disappointed she realized she was sitting in the carriage with Ronald, as they rode home from the dance, and so unaware of him, as he spoke of his many travels and his exciting life. She felt a tension growing between them that she didn't like. Ronald was quick to come to conclusions and she didn't want to lead him on.
When the carriage came to stop by the back door, Sarah started to get out. Ronald pulled her to him.
She pushed him away gently. "I'm sorry Ronald, but…I don't know you that well."
"I realize that, but I'd like to change that. I want to court you Sarah." Ronald announced boldly.
"Court me? But you hardly know me…" She gasped.
"I realize that too, but what better way to get to know you?" He asked simply.
He pulled her back into his arms, and she struggled against him. "If you want to court me, you are going to have to use a bit more restraint than that. I'm a lady, and I expect to be treated as such. I never kiss a man on the first time out with him. It's just a rule I have. I like you, but I don't want to be rushed into a relationship."
"How about the second?" He smiled.
Sarah wasn't in a good humor and she was taking it out on Ronald, but the last thing she needed was involvement with another man at this time.
She tried to smile, but it fell short. "Maybe…"
"Then you will let me court you?"
Sarah blushed profusely, "I'll think about it. Like I said, I don't want to be rushed. Goodnight." She said and jumped down from the carriage and ran into the house as though a ghost were chasing her.
Ma glanced at her and the other girls stared, "What in the world is wrong with you?"
Sarah glanced at Nadine, and Maggie sitting at the table.
"That man!"
"What man?"
"Ronald. I don't know what he's used to, but I'm not like the women he knows. Not anymore…" Sarah touted.
"What did he do?" Maggie frowned and demanded to know.
"He tried to kiss me…that's what."
"Well…land sakes, it was a dance, a romantic night and…" Maggie listed the reasons she should have let him.
"I hardly know him."
Ma chuckled. "In that dress you wouldn't have to. You looked stunning tonight, Sarah. Every man had his eye on you. Can't blame a man for trying…"
"This isn't funny." She looked at Maggie and Nadine who were chuckling at her. "We came here for a new start, to be ladies, to find a husband, to get married, have families. Now someone wants to treat me like a saloon girl and you all laugh."
"Well, it was just a harmless little kiss." Maggie's voice sounded almost comical.
"Harmless. If I let him kiss me, he'd think I was interested in him. I don't want to lead him on."
"You aren't?" Ma quipped.
"No…" Sarah flopped into the empty chair.
"Why not, he's handsome, has a very respectable name, and looks as though he does well by the way he dresses. What's wrong with him?" Nadine asked.
Ma joined them at the table, pouring coffee for everyone. "Simple, he ain't Luke…"
Sarah gasped that Ma would divulge such information.
But could she refute it?
"Face it darlin' that's what is wrong. I saw the two of you tonight. The way you were staring at each other. If anyone else had been paying attention, they would have seen it too."
"Seen what?" Sarah nearly shouted.
"How the two of you were carrying on."
"We weren't carrying on." Sarah felt her face flush, and knew she was giving herself away. "Luke wanted to know why I accepted to go to the dance with him, and then didn't go. It was a natural question, since I came tonight with Ronald. I guess he thought it a bit insulting. And looking at it now, I see how it was."
"Did you tell him?" Ma raised a brow.
"I was going to, but Ronald came up to us and drug me back inside. He politely reminded us that I came with him and he came with Rebecca."
"Can't deny that. But your heart wasn't with Ronald, anyone could see that." Ma chuckled. "I would think even Ronald might have gotten a clue."
Sarah stood up, with tears threatening to spill, "I'm never going to another dance…."
"Sit down," Ma put her hand on top of hers at the table. "Of course you will. But maybe the next time, you'll go with the right man."
Now the tears came and Nadine and Maggie looked distraught too. "Cry it out baby, you can't get over him, unless you do." Ma told her.
Sarah wiped her tears. "I want some pie!" She exclaimed in a long wail.
Ma turned to look at her as she got up, "Coming right up."
Everyone laughed, and Nadine and Maggie asked for some too.
"Let's all have a piece." Ma encouraged. "Pies always good for what ails you."
~*~
"Mrs. Hodges is sick, I'm making a meal for her and her kids. Sarah would you mind taking it up to her. I'm not up to the trip this morning." Ma said as she put the finishing touches on the meal and packed it in a basket.
Sarah had just come down this morning and she looked at Ma with concern. "You ailing this morning, Ma?"
"Just tired, I guess. Do you mind taking it, I know it's rather chilly outside this morning and up the mountain will be a trip, but I just don't feel up to it and she really needs it."
"I don't mind at all," Sarah touched her arm as she was putting the food away. She tiptoed to kiss Ma and looked at the full basket. "I'll take it up as soon as I've had my coffee."
"You eat something honey, I don't want you falling out." Ma encouraged.
Sarah saw the pile of bacon Ma had cooked and grabbed a piece along with a biscuit, then poured herself a cup of coffee.
"What's wrong with Mrs. Hodges, do you know?" Sarah asked as she nibbled.
"The doc went up last evening and he stopped off this morning early to tell me she was coming down with pneumonia. She's getting pretty old, I think she'll be ninety next year and I hate to see her ailing so. She might not make it much longer. Her daughter, Yolinda is very concerned."
"I'm sure she'll appreciate the food Ma. Anything else I can do for them?"
"Well, they have so many children, most of the chores have been attended to, but you might ask her. Their well water was bad this past year and I think they have to draw it from the creek now. You might could fetch her some, if you are up to it."
"I can do that. Don't fret, Ma, we'll take care of her." Sarah assured her.
"I can always count on you for such things." Ma passed her by and kissed the top of her head.
Sarah sipped her coffee and knowing how Ma fretted over her friends, Sarah wanted to get off as soon as possible. The weather was supposed to turn bad and she wanted to get home before it did so. She hoped to make it a quick visit and come right home. Of course the Old Farmer's Almanac could be wrong sometimes, as God himself had a hand in the weather, Sarah noted. However, generally it was a stable weather indicator and farmers and ranchers had learned to live by it's guidance. She and Ma read it every day.
After eating and waking up, she prepared for her trip, taking a cape she'd made herself that kept the water from soaking through. She'd made each of the girls and Ma one too.
She took Ma's wagon and loaded it up with all the supplies she might need.
"I really need to get that axle greased, but it should hold up for one more trip," Ma cautioned.
"I'll be very careful Ma. Maybe Mr. Hodges can grease it for us." Sarah suggested.
"That would be awful generous of him." Ma nodded and went toward the kitchen door. "Try to be back before dark, else I will worry about you."
"I'll do my best, now quit fretting." Sarah chuckled.
The roads were rutted, and hard to maneuver but Sarah managed pretty well until she got to the rise, where t
he hill broke off and became steeper.
A light rain began, and Sarah put on her cape that she made and trudged on.
But the rain only made the road that much harder to drive the wagon, and the wheel was showing the strain. She kept hearing it creak and rumble.
She'd only gone a little ways when the wheel gave out and fell away, Sarah groaned aloud. "Oh…God, couldn't you wait until I got there for this…"
Sarah got off the wagon and inspected the damage. She knew she couldn't fix it. There was only one thing she could do. She'd have to walk the rest of the way. It was only about five miles, she determined quickly.
Grabbing the food basket, and what supplies she could carry, she left the distressed wagon where it was and trudged onward in the pouring rain. Visibility was almost nil as a deep fog set in, the higher she climbed.
Nothing was going right. Sarah tried not to let the circumstances daunt her, but when she saw the creek was overflowing, she knew she was in trouble. She couldn't get to the Hodges unless she crossed.
She walked up and down the banks to find a place she could cross. It was terribly dangerous and her confidence waned.
There was only one place the creek narrowed and wasn't as deep, she had to try. She couldn't go back to the broken wagon; she needed to get to the Hodges so she could dry out.
She lifted her skirt to her knees, carried the basket on her arm, and began the dangerously crooked path across the bubbling waters.
She knew it was a mistake when she started hoping on rocks. She happened to hit a sharp rock, in her shock; she lost her balance and fell into the cold water, and hit her head.
She tried to get up, but a black void was quickly taking her under.
Panic wasn't a part of it. She slowly slipped into the silence of near death. Nothing had prepared her for this moment, no thoughts, no regrets, no nothing. She was simply going to die.
But a large hand reached to pull her from the depths of the chilling waters and warmth surrounded her as someone picked her up and carried her.
That's all the sensations she knew.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
"Sarah…Sarah, come back to me." Luke cried as he carried her cold and very still body. He'd found her wagon broken and abandoned and knew that someone from Ma's was out here. He knew how bad the weather was, so he searched for anyone that might have been hurt or trying to travel in this flash flood.
When he saw her slip and fall, he dashed toward her, not knowing who it was.
The cold body he carried to the line shack was lifeless in his arms. Her breathing was shallow, her coloring, pale.
Inside the line shack, were a small table and a make-do kitchen, and toward the back was a bed. Luke carried her through to the bed and laid her down. He searched for a lantern. He found one on the floor, and managed to light it.
He carried it toward the bed.
Fighting off the fear that Sarah might die, he determined he would not let that happen. He found an old stale smelling blanket and covered her with it, but she was shaking. At least she was alive, he thought.
Still she was freezing and he had to find a way to warm her.
He built a small fire, as whoever left here last had left a small pile of kindling. He glanced back at her, and his heart turned over in his chest. She was beautiful, but it wasn't the same kind of beauty as Rebecca, Sarah's beauty came from within her. It was a lasting beauty.
At this rate, she'd have pneumonia like Mrs. Hodges who he'd been on his way to visit.
Hesitating for only a moment, he let out a frustrated sigh and did what he had to do. He disrobed Sarah completely, and wrapped her in the blanket. The fire was beginning to heat the small cabin, but Sarah didn't look any better, and her lips were blue.
"Lord, forgive me," He cried aloud. "But if I don't, she might die, right here."
Knowing by instinct what had to be done; he pulled off his slicker and his outer clothes and slipped inside the blanket with Sarah.
She was shaking badly and he pulled her body toward him. It was heaven and hell being here with this beautiful woman who made his nights an agony. He wrapped himself around her and held her tight, and whispered a prayer that God would give him strength not to touch her.
As she began to stir, she cuddled into him, nestling her head just below his, and her arms clung to him.
"Dear God, how much can a man take," He whispered, as his lips grazed her head. "I've tried my best not to want you."
Just the sweet smell of her hair made him react quite naturally to her.
Somehow through the agonizing night, he managed to close his eyes and go to sleep.
The next morning, Sarah woke up slowly, stirring against a warm inviting chest. Her eyes popped open in total shock. She was naked!
Panic constricted her throat, not allowing her the privilege of screaming.
This wasn't a daydream. She was naked and as she raised her head to see who was with her, her eyes widened in a panic. It was Luke!
"Oh my God!" she cried aloud.
Luke stirred, opening his eyes slowly as the warmth of her body curled around him made him stir.
The implications of what he was feeling made his eyes pop open too. And he jumped up.
"Sarah!" He shouted.
"Luke!" She shouted.
He gulped, knowing he had a lot of explaining as she grabbed the blanket to hide herself.
"What-what happened?" She cried.
"You fell, hit your head on a rock, in the creek. You were freezing cold, and out of it and I couldn't think of another way to warm you…so…."
"Oh-oh…." she was close to tears. Her eyes naturally traveled down his torso and she saw very distinctly that a certain part of his body was acting quite naturally to her nakedness. She blushed, and then cringed inside for the humiliation he must feel.
"Don't panic…nothing happened." He almost smiled as he pulled his pants on and grabbed his shirt.
"Nothing?" She asked still in shock.
"Nothing." He did smile now.
"I was on my way to the Hodges…old Mrs. Hodges has pneumonia. Ma wanted me to take some food." She glanced around and saw the basket on the small table. "That basket of food to them…"
He didn't move for a moment, but Sarah understood why. She knew a man couldn't move in that condition easily. So she became quiet and looked away from him.
"I see…I was on my way there, as well. I found your wagon, and the busted wheel. I thought someone was out here and I kept looking around. It is a miracle I spotted you in the creek."
"Then…you pulled me out of there?" She asked.
"Yes, I saw you when you fell. You hit your head on a rock and I wasn't sure you'd make it to tell the truth. You went under before I could get to you. You were soaked t the bone, and cold."
She felt her head and the giant bump on the back of her head, and groaned. "Oh…yes…It hurts."
"Well, you just rest. I put your clothes over here to dry, you were drenched and I couldn't leave you in those clothes…"
"I guess I owe you my life, then…" she murmured.
"That's a little dramatic Sarah; I just did what anyone would do under the circumstances."
"Of course…But…you slept…with me…" she barely uttered.
"Well…like I said, you were shaking and it took most of the night to warm this place up. It isn't exactly air tight in here." He explained.
"I was a little cold and wet myself. And I assure you it was necessary, or I'd never…"
"Oh, I know that," she blushed. "Survival is survival."
"Good, well then, as soon as your clothes are dry I guess we can be on our way, the rain has stopped but it's getting colder now and we don't need to get out there in the cold until we are dry." He told her.
She nodded slowly.
"There's some soup in the basket, Ma put it in a jar. If you heat it up, it would be good about now." She suggested.
"Oh, that's great, I'm starved." He smiled at her.
; She rose up in the bed, and pulled the blanket around her tightly.
"There's plenty of food, you know Ma. She always cooks enough for an army." Sarah chuckled.
He turned to look at her and in that moment she saw something she never expected to see in Luke's eyes, it was raw, unhidden desire.
He'd never act on that desire, but it was there in his eyes. He'd have never touched her last night either, and she was sure of that. Strange how much she trusted this man, how easily it came. What was strange was that she almost wished he would act on his desires, here and now.
Because at this moment, she wanted him as much as he did her.
It was desire, she told herself quickly. It wasn't love. She knew the difference.
"Sarah…we have a lot to…talk about…"
"Maybe we better just eat," she suggested, not bothering to hide her own feelings. She swallowed hard.
"Sarah I—" he sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over toward her, the door burst open, and two cowboys came dragging themselves inside.
When they saw them they were very still.
Luke stood up and whirled around on his boot heel. "Jake Thompson, and Morey Duncan, what are you fellas doing here."
"Gonna gather some mustangs up here in the hills, Reverend." Jake said eyeing Sarah with interest.
They both seemed to size the situation up quickly.
"Well, glad you are here. Sarah had a problem with a wheel on her wagon and trying to get to the Hodges she fell in the creek and hit her head. She nearly drown by the time I got to her." Luke explained.
The boys looked shocked. "You alright, Miss Sarah?" Jake asked.
"I am now, thanks to the Reverend." Sarah said then wished he hadn't as both men eyed them and then each other.
"She was taking some food to the Hodges, but I think it might be better if we just share it ourselves." Luke looked at Sarah.
Sarah's cheeks flushed but she nodded. "Go ahead."
Seeing her clothes spread out by the fire the men didn't make mention of her state of dress, and Sarah didn't move from the bed.
Luke prepared the food and the boy's drug out some tin plates for everyone. "This is better vitals than we usually get up here, I'll tell you, and my the smell of it, Ma made it, didn't she?"
