Sarah's Choice

by Wanda E. Brunstetter

“Oh, definitely. That would be a nice addition to our services, so do bring it if you come, and even here at the church, we’d enjoy hearing you play sometime.”

  Elias smiled. Not only was there some hope for Ned, but now he’d have the chance to play his accordion in praise to the Lord. He could hardly wait for the next time he was in Walnutport on a Sunday. Maybe he’d plan their trips in such a way that he could be here most every Sunday.

  Chapter 15

  As Patrick O’Grady stood near Sarah, watching her open the birthday presents some folks had brought to the picnic, he found himself hoping she would like the box of chocolates he’d bought for her and that she’d eventually agree to become his wife. Patrick had never admitted it to anyone, but he’d been interested in Sarah when they were children. From the first day Sarah had come into Pop’s blacksmith shop with her daddy, Patrick had been intrigued—not only by her pretty face, but by her determination and spirited ways.

  When Sarah became a teenager, he’d found her even more appealing, but she hadn’t returned his interest, choosing instead to run off with Sam Turner, who was even more spirited than Sarah. Patrick always wondered if Sarah had chosen Sam over him because Sam was determined to get away from the canal, while Patrick was content to stay and take over his father’s blacksmith shop.

  He’d known from the comments Sarah had made that she would have done most anything to get away from the canal. Yet here she was, not only living along the canal, but doing the job of a man.

  If she married me, Patrick thought as he gazed at Sarah’s pretty face, she wouldn’t have to work anymore, and I’d have a wife to come home to at night, not to mention someone who’d be there to clean the house and put decent meals on the table.

  He glanced over at Sarah’s oldest boy, Sammy, and grimaced. The only drawback to marrying Sarah would be in having to help her raise those three children—and one of them thought he was too big for his britches.

  Oh well, I’ll worry about that when the time comes. The first thing I need to do is win Sarah’s heart. Maybe I should consider going to church so I can see her more often, and then she might see me in a different light.

  Tears sprang to Sarah’s eyes as she was handed several gifts. Just the picnic in honor of her birthday was surprise enough, and she’d certainly never expected so many people would come and give her birthday presents. She’d already opened a box filled with sweet-smelling soaps from Betsy and Pastor William, as well as a journal that Sammy’s schoolteacher had given her.

  “This one’s from us,” Kelly said, handing Sarah a large, flat package.

  The first thing Sarah saw when she tore off the wrapping paper was some pale blue material.

  “It’s for a new dress,” Kelly explained. “I know you don’t have time to sew, but I thought I’d take the material to Doris Brown from church, who has recently begun doing some sewing for others, and then she can make the dress for you.”

  “I appreciate that.” Sarah only had one Sunday dress, so it would be nice to have another.

  “The gift that’s under the material is just from me,” Kelly said.

  Sarah lifted the material and a sob rose in her throat as she gazed at a beautiful painting of her three children playing in the grassy area in front of her house. Behind them, several ducks floated on the canal.

  “This is so nice,” Sarah murmured. “Thank you, Kelly.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  “Open mine next,” Sammy said, pushing a paper sack in Sarah’s direction.

  She opened the sack and withdrew a calico sunbonnet with dark blue trim.

  “Your old bonnet’s lookin’ pretty shabby,” Sammy said, “so I bought ya a new one with the money I earned leadin’ Elias’s mules.”

  “Thank you, son, I appreciate that.” Sarah pulled Sammy close and gave him a hug. It touched her to know that even though she’d disciplined him yesterday, he’d spent his hard-earned money on a gift for her.

  “I have a present for you, too.” Patrick handed her a small rectangular box wrapped in fancy red paper.

  Sarah pulled the paper away and lifted the lid on the box. She smiled when she saw the box of chocolates inside. Candy, especially fancy chocolates, was a luxury—something she never bought for herself, so this was a real treat.

  “They each have a different filling,” Patrick said, looking rather pleased with himself.

  She smiled. “Thank you. I appreciate the gift and will enjoy every bite.”

  Willis tugged on Sarah’s sleeve. “Ain’t ya gonna give us any of them chocolates, Mama?”

  She tweaked his nose. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll be happy to share.”

  He grinned as he bobbed his head. “I’ll be good as gold; I promise.”

  Everyone chuckled, and then Mike stepped forward and said, “Now it’s time to eat the birthday cake, but before we do that, there’s a song that I know from a reliable source”—he smiled at Kelly—“was a special favorite of your mama’s.

  We’d like to sing it for you, Sarah.” He motioned to Elias, who stood nearby. “When I talked to Elias after church, I found out that he plays the accordion, so I asked him to accompany us as we sing ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus.’ ”

  Elias played a few introductory notes, and then everyone began to sing: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!”

  Sarah’s eyes clouded with tears, and she blinked a couple of times to keep them from spilling over. It was wonderful to know that she had so many caring friends.

  “Thank you, everyone,” she said when the singing ended and she could trust her voice. “This has been a very special birthday.”

  “Why don’t we sing a few more hymns now?” Ben Hanson, one of their church deacons, suggested.

  Pastor William looked over at Elias. “Would you be willing to accompany us?”

  Elias nodded. “I know most of the traditional hymns, so I’d be happy to play along.”

  For the next hour, everyone sat on the grass and sang a variety of hymns. The singing probably would have continued for another hour or so, but the sky had darkened, and it began to rain.

  In short order, all the leftover dishes, as well as Sarah’s presents, were gathered up, and everyone started for home.

  “Thanks for making my day so special,” Sarah said, giving Kelly a hug.

  “You’re very welcome.”

  As the raindrops increased, Sarah urged her children to hurry home.

  “Aw, do we hafta go now?” Sammy frowned. “I wanna visit with Elias awhile.”

  “I’d like to visit with you, too,” Elias said, “but we’ll see each other again—maybe the next time I come through the lock.”

  “Okay.” Sammy turned and started running toward home, singing loudly as he went: “I’ve got a mule, she’s such a fool, she never pays me no heed. I’ll build a fire beneath her tail, and then she’ll show me some speed!”

  Sarah clenched her teeth. It was nice to see Sammy so happy, but she didn’t want him singing or even thinking about things related to the canal, fearful that he might want to drop out of school and become a mule driver. Sarah didn’t know what she’d do if that happened. She really did need to find some way to get her children away from the canal.

  Chapter 16

  It had been two weeks since Sarah’s surprise birthday picnic, and every time Sarah looked at the picture Kelly had drawn of her children, which she’d hung in the parlor, she thanked God for the privilege of being their mother. Even though she didn’t get to spend nearly as much time as she’d like with them, she enjoyed every free moment they could be together.

  This morning, as she slipped her new bonnet onto her head, she appreciated once again the thoughtfulness of her oldest boy. He was a lot like his father—headstrong, determined, and much too outspoken, but he had a tender spirit and wanted to please.

  School would be out for the summer in just a few weeks, and Sarah knew that S
ammy would do his best to help wherever he could. Of course there were many things he couldn’t do well, especially cooking. However, with Betsy’s help, most of their meals were taken care of, and for that, Sarah felt grateful. Betsy was also good with Sarah’s children, often finding fun things for them to do and keeping a close eye on them whenever they went outside to play. What a shame that Betsy didn’t have any children of her own.

  Sarah glanced at the jars of jelly stacked in her pantry and thought of Maria. She’d gotten a letter from Roger’s wife yesterday, letting her know how Maria was doing. She’d been seeing a specialist in Easton but was told there wasn’t much that could be done. Her eyes were getting progressively worse. Sarah was glad Maria was where she could be looked after. She’d done well by the children for many months, but now it was her turn to be the one who was cared for.

  Sarah pulled her thoughts aside and looked at her children, who still sat at the kitchen table, eating their breakfast. “I’m going outside to hang out the wash. Sammy, as soon as you’re done eating, you need to get ready for school.”

  “Okay, Mama.”

  Sarah picked up her laundry basket and opened the door. As she stepped outside, a blast of muggy, warm air hit her full in the face. If it was this warm in late May, she could only imagine how hot it would be by the middle of summer.

  Sarah set the wicker basket under the clothesline and had just hung the first towel in place when she heard a conch shell blowing in the distance. She knew it would be several minutes before the boat showed up so she hurried to hang a few more pieces of laundry.

  When the boat finally appeared, she left the clothes and hurried to the lock. The boat’s captain, Lars Olsen, gave her a friendly wave. “Got any bread today, Sarah? I could use a loaf or two.”

  “I have some in the house. I’ll get it for you as soon as your boat’s gone through the lock.”

  “All right then. I’ll tie up on the other side after we’ve passed through.”

  Sarah pulled the pin out of the wicket, being careful not to let it slip. She didn’t want to fall again and reinjure her ribs—or worse yet, end up with a more serious injury.

  Once Lars’s boat was through, Sarah dashed into the house and got two loaves of bread. She frowned when she saw that the children were still at the table.

  “Hurry up, Sammy. You’re going to be late for school if you don’t get a move on.”

  His nose wrinkled. “Wish I didn’t hafta go. Wish I could stay home and do some fishin’ in the canal.”

  “If and when you’re allowed to go fishing, it’ll probably be during the summer when you’re out of school, and it will definitely have to be with an adult.”

  “Elias said he might take me fishin’ sometime, and he’s an adult.”

  “We’ll have to wait and see how it goes. Elias isn’t usually here long enough to do any fishing.”

  “If he’s here on a Sunday he could.”

  She thumped his shoulder lightly. “Maybe so, but right now you need to get ready for school, and I need to get this bread out to Lars.”

  Sarah hurried out the door and over to where Lars had docked his boat.

  “Thanks, Sarah,” he said when she handed him the loaf of bread. He gave her the money he owed and stepped back onto his boat. “I’ll see you again on my way back from Mauch Chunk.”

  Sarah put the money in her apron pocket and returned to her job of hanging out the wash. She’d only been working a few minutes when Sammy came out the door with his lunch pail.

  “I’m headin’ to school now, Mama.”

  “Okay, have a good day.”

  He waved and hurried off in the direction of the schoolhouse.

  A few minutes later, Betsy showed up, wearing a smile that stretched ear to ear.

  “You’re looking mighty chipper on this hot humid morning,” Sarah said, wiping the perspiration from her forehead.

  “Actually, I’m not feeling that chipper, but I am deliriously happy,” Betsy said, stepping up to Sarah.

  “How come?”

  “I went to see Dr. McGrath yesterday, and what I’ve suspected for the last few weeks is true.”

  “What’s that?”

  Betsy’s smile widened. “I’m in a family way. The baby should be born sometime in December.”

  Sarah dropped Sammy’s wet trousers into the basket and gave Betsy a hug. “I’m so happy for you. I was just thinking this morning that you’d make a good mother.”

  Betsy sighed. “Oh, I hope so. I didn’t always have a fondness for children, but that all changed during the time I spent helping at the orphanage in New York. I’ve had a desire ever since to have children of my own.”

  “I’m sure you and William will make good parents. He seems to have a way with kids, too.”

  “Yes, he does, and he was so happy when we learned that I’m expecting. In fact, he can’t quit talking about it, and has already begun thinking of names for the baby.”

  Sarah chuckled. “Sam did that when I was pregnant with Sammy. When we couldn’t make a decision, we finally decided to call the baby Sam Jr. if it was a boy.”

  “William said that if our baby’s a boy he doesn’t want to name it after himself. He said William Covington IV would be a bit too much.”

  Sarah smiled. “You could always call him Willy.”

  “Oh sure, and then with your Willis and our Willy, everyone would be confused.”

  “Well, maybe it’ll be a girl, and then you can call her Betsy.”

  “No way. One Betsy in the family’s enough. If it’s a girl, I think we might name her Rebekah. I’ve always liked that name, and we can call her Becky for short.”

  “So how are you?” Sarah asked. “You said you’re not feeling chipper. Does that mean you’re not feeling well?”

  Betsy nodded slowly. “My stomach’s been real queasy, especially in the mornings, which I realize now is because I’m pregnant. I also tire easily.”

  “Maybe you should be at home resting instead of coming over here to help me every day.” Sarah slipped her arm around Betsy’s waist. “I don’t want you to feel obligated to help just because you said you would. Things have changed, and your health and the health of your baby should come first.”

  “But you need someone’s help here. Taking care of the lock, watching the children, baking bread, and keeping house—it’s all too much for one person to do alone.”

  “I’ll manage somehow. Sammy will be out of school soon, and he’ll help me as much as he can.”

  Betsy bent down and picked up one of Helen’s little gingham dresses. “Let’s just wait and see how I feel in the days ahead, okay?”

  Sarah nodded. “But I want you to promise that if you need to quit you’ll say so.”

  “I promise.”

  As Patrick approached the lock tender’s house, he spotted Sarah and Betsy standing near the clothesline, and his heartbeat picked up speed. Sarah’s long dark hair hung down her back in gentle waves, and the floppy sunbonnet her son had given her was perched on her head. Despite the fact that she wore a faded yellow dress that was obviously well-worn, he thought she looked beautiful. He wished Betsy wasn’t here so he could talk to Sarah in private, but he hoped that once he approached them Betsy would go inside.

  “Top of the morning to you,” Patrick said, stepping between the two women and smiling at Sarah. “Sure is a nice day, wouldn’t ya say?”

  She gave a nod. “I just wish it wasn’t so warm and muggy.”

  “It’s that, all right.” He gave Betsy a slight nod. “Did ya come to help Sarah again today?”

  “Yes, I sure did, and I’d better get inside and see how the children are doing. It was nice seeing you, Patrick.” Betsy turned and headed for the house.

  “Came to see if you have any bread,” Patrick said, moving closer to Sarah.

  “Yes, I made some last night. I’ll go get a loaf from the kitchen.” Sarah turned toward the house.

  “I’ll go with you.” Patrick hurried along
beside her. “I also came by to see if there’s anything you’d like me to do while I’m here.”

  “That’s kind of you, but I can’t think of anything right now. ”

  Sarah opened the door to the house, and as they stepped into the kitchen, Patrick was greeted by a yappy little dog.

  Woof! Woof! Woof! The wiry terrier bared its teeth and snapped at Patrick’s pant leg.

  “Bristle Face, no!” Sarah pointed to the braided throw rug in front of the sink. “Go lie down!”

  The dog slunk off to the rug, growling all the way.

  “Sorry about that. I don’t know what’s wrong with him this morning. He’s usually friendly to everyone and rarely ever growls.”

  “He don’t like everyone, Mama,” Willis said as he and his little sister entered the room. “Some folks he don’t like a’tall—same as me. I don’t like everyone neither.”

  Patrick gritted his teeth. That boy is sure rude. I bet all three of Sarah’s kids are probably too much for her to handle. I think what they need is a father who can teach them some manners.

  Sarah shook her finger at Willis. “That’s not a nice way to talk, son. You shouldn’t dislike anyone.”

  “Sorry,” Willis mumbled.

  Sarah turned to face Patrick. “How many loaves of bread did you want?”

  “Just one for now. When I run out, I’ll be back for more.” Patrick looked over at the children, wishing they’d go back to wherever they’d been before he came into the house with Sarah. “What’d you two have for breakfast this morning?” he asked when he noticed a blob of something stuck to Helen’s dress.

  “We had mush,” Willis answered.

  “We had mush,” Helen echoed.

  Patrick wrinkled his nose. “I’ve never cared much for mush, unless it’s covered in maple syrup.”

  “We can’t afford maple syrup,” Sarah said. “We use melted brown sugar instead.”

  “Maybe I’ll bring you some maple syrup sometime.”

  “There’s no need for that. My kids are fine using brown sugar.” Sarah handed Patrick a loaf of bread. “Here you go.”