Sarah My Beloved (Little Hickman Creek Series #2) (28 page)

"I declare, this is reason to celebrate!" cried Mary amidst the flurry of wild excitement. "When is this little one due to
greet the world?"

Liza pulled back from the crowd of enthusiasts, her face a
picture of perplexity. "Well, my stars, I don't know. I've never
been taught the proper way of figuring. I'm hoping Doc Randolph will be able to tell."

"Well, I suspect it won't be till fall seem's you was just married in December," came the meek voice of Caroline Warner.

Liza laid a protective hand across her belly. Was that an
instinctive gesture for every woman carrying? Sarah wondered. "Yes, fall. November perhaps," Liza said with a contented grin.

What must it feel like, Sarah wondered, to know you carried
a miracle within your womb? Would she ever know, or would she
spend her life speculating about the marvelous mystery?

As if her mother-in-law somehow sensed her secret meanderings, she came alongside her to offer a consoling hug. "It's
always good news when a lady finds she's carryin'."

"Yes, it surely is," said Sarah, leaning into the older woman's
warmth, doing her best to blot out her private set of doubts.

Then, squeezing tighter, Mary put her mouth close to Sarah's ear. "Your day will come," she whispered. "You'll see. It
will be just like this-women flittin' and flutterin' about. Land
sakes! You'd think they was preparin' for the president himself
'stead of a baby."

Sarah blushed at the thought of ever carrying Rocky's
baby. Why, they were married in name only. They'd struck a
bargain, after all. And so long as he held up his end of things,
all thoughts of carrying a little one were simply out of the question.

So why did that notion suddenly leave her feeling somehow unfulfilled?

As Rocky had predicted, the weather held. As a matter
of fact, around noon, the sun popped out, to the delight of
everyone present, dropping a blanket of warmth on the merrymakers.

Foot races, relays, ball tosses, and tug-of-war matches
made up some of the day's activities. It seemed his wife and
Liza Broughton had thought of everything-including prizes
for the children. Squeals of delight rang out even now as
Rocky glimpsed Sarah handing each of the children, winners
and otherwise, colorful candy sticks. Not that any of them
needed a drop of anything more-every single kid, including Rachel and Seth, seemed to be toting around a bagful of
goodies.

Spoiling them, that's what she was doing, but blamed if
there was anything he could do about it!

"Now don't run with these in your mouth," he heard her
instructing, her tone soft but firm. Each one nodded perfunctorily, then snatched the stick from her hand, some offering
their thanks, others running off as if they'd just struck gold
and couldn't wait to tell someone about it. One young kid, he
thought it might be Thomas Bergen, rewarded Sarah with a
sloppy sneeze.

Rocky couldn't help but laugh at the awful grimace she
made when the youngster took off at a run. For a moment, she
just stood there, her hands spread, her eyes bulging in disbelief: Then, just as quickly, she shrugged her shoulders, lifted the corner of her apron, and wiped away the nasty spew.

Rocky rounded the curve at the barn and leaned up against
a hitching post situated behind a small cluster of apple trees
where he could get a better view of her, perhaps get his fill,
although he doubted the latter. Lately, he could never quite
get enough of Sarah Callahan and had taken to questioning
his very sanity.

Moreover, he blamed his misery on his lack of self-control.
That, and his inability to sleep while he inwardly planned the
next time he could take her in his arms. He was going mad with
wondering what would happen if he reneged on their mutual
agreement to keep things platonic. He'd already pushed her
to her limit this morning when he'd harassed her for a bad
case of nerves.

Oh, how it pleased him to know that he rattled her. Of
course, she had an equal effect on him, but he wasn't about
to tell her so. For now, he had the upper hand, and he rather
liked it that way.

"So this is where you've been hiding," came a friendly voice
from behind him.

Rocky smiled even before turning to acknowledge his old
friend. "Hey, Ben, good to see you."

Ben Broughton whacked him on the shoulder, then moved
up next to him. "Enjoying some breathing space?" Ben asked.

"You could say that," Rocky answered.

Without thinking, he again sought out his wife, discovering she'd bent to help a child tie his shoe. As quickly as she finished, the little boy ran off, delighted to be free again. Sarah
watched him go, completely oblivious that her husband was
watching. Warmth trickled through his veins.

"Ali," said Ben, his own eyes trailing to where Sarah stood.
"Enjoying the scenery as well, I see."

Embarrassed to be caught spying on his own wife, Rocky
tried to deny his actions. "Just enjoying the fresh, clean air,
that's all." He hastened to turn his attention away from his
wife, hard as it was. Thankfully, she'd moved on to a small
gathering of women.

"She's quite something," Ben mused aloud. "It can't have
been easy-all she's been through."

Rocky knew his friend was right. Sarah's plans had been
crushed and her life had been completely turned upside down,
yet somehow she'd triumphed. More than once, he'd had to
acknowledge it must be her faith that held her together.

A moment passed before Rocky asked, "Was she very disappointed that day? When she realized you planned to marry
Liza?"

"Disappointed?" Ben laughed, then leaned against the
side of the barn, tipping the front of his Western hat downward to deflect the sun's glare. Considering it was only the first
of March, the air was surprisingly mild, but then, spring was
right around the corner. "I don't think disappointed would be
my word of choice."

"No?" Rocky's interest doubled. "Seems to me your letting
her down like that would trigger some disappointment."

Ben grinned. "I think irate might better describe her reaction." Now a far-off look accompanied the grin. "She seemed
downright irked with me when I told her I loved another.

"'Course, I apologized until I was blue in the face, even
offered her fare back to Boston, plus extra pay for her trouble,
but she wouldn't hear of it. Said she didn't need my money."

Rocky nodded, trying to place the unfolding event into
his own head. The notion that Sarah had preferred Ben to
him never had set right. Had she entertained thoughts of how
different things might have been married to his good-looking
friend instead?

"What made her come to terms with it?" Rocky asked,
looking down at the hole he was digging with the toe of his
boot.

Ben thought a moment, calling up the memory. "She
insisted that God had called her to Little Hickman-if not to
marry me, then for a greater cause. Said she planned to stay
and find out what it was." Ben squinted into the sun before
throwing Rocky a slanted grin. "Guess you were that greater
cause, pal."

Rocky guffawed. "Fine cause I was. A sorehead with two
kids-kids I didn't really want, at least in the beginning."

"And now?" Ben probed.

Rocky had to ponder that. Yeah, he wanted the kids. They
were still a pain most of the time, Rachel keeping her distance,
and Seth lately snagging onto Rocky as if he were his real pa.
It was purely suffocating at times-suffocating and gratifying.
In short, his head and heart didn't always agree.

"I'd say we're doin' all right. Had some rough patches, but
we're workin' our way through them."

Ben nodded, thoughtful. "You two ever settle that matter
of the fancy china and silver? I meant to apologize for opening
my big mouth that night, but-"

With outstretched hand, Rocky halted him. "Don't bother,
and, yes, I guess we did, although she hasn't brought the dishes
out since, even though I've told her a time or two to use them if she wanted. Guess she's still a mite touchy about the whole episode, not that I blame her any. I was out of line that night."

Mild laughter came from Ben. "You were the picture
of jealousy, my friend," he pointed out. "You didn't like the
idea that the dishes came from an old beau. Who is the guy
anyway?"

"An old family friend, according to Sarah. He traveled
clear from Boston for the purpose of proposing marriage," he
told him, scoffing even now at the remembrance.

Rocky lounged casually against the hitching post and
scanned the horizon, grinning when across the yard he caught
sight of Seth running at breakneck speed around the back of
the house, some little girl on his tail.

He sniffed. "Guy wasn't too pleased to discover I had the
same intention. Don't mind saying I hope we never cross paths
again. 'Course, it just might be unavoidable, his being a lawyer
and all."

Confusion traced a path across Ben's face. "What do you
mean by that?"

Rocky gave a dismissive shrug, chortling under his breath.
"I can't see her surviving this way of life much longer, Ben.
You and I both know farming is no picnic. A woman like her
deserves fine things, none of which I have the means to offer.
The time will come when she'll discover it's too much for her.
That's when she'll call on the old family friend-to aid her in
the annulment, and you can bet he'll come running just as
soon as he gets the call."

"Anul-Don't be crazy, Rock. Give the lady some credit,
for Pete's sake. According to Liza, she's made a good adjustment to life in Hickman. Besides, she seems to love those little kids of yours. Have some faith."

Ben stepped closer and gave Rocky a light pat on the
shoulder. "God told us in His Word that the trying of our faith
worketh patience, and that the Lord is good unto them that
wait for Him, that seek His ways. He wants to bless your family,
but you gotta learn to trust."

"I've done nothing for God lately that would incite His
favors."

"We can't earn his favor, Rock. God's a merciful God.
Sometimes He just plain blesses us for no good reason-even
when we don't deserve it."

Rocky turned his attention to the rolling fields, still
brown and dormant. It was hard to believe that in a matter of
weeks, moist seeds would begin their speedy growth, breaking through the soil almost overnight, reaching upward like
ravenous children.

"You're beginning to sound like Jonathan, you know that?
Did you miss your calling?"

With a toss of his head, Ben laughed. "Hardly. I'd put
everyone to sleep if I got behind a pulpit. Jon is the one with
the preaching gift. By the way, it's been great seeing you in
church again."

A grunting sound slipped past his throat. "My wife gives
me little choice."

"Smart woman. And speaking of," Ben popped him in the
arm, "did you know I'm to be a father again?"

Unsure how to react, he gave Ben awide smile and returned
a playful punch.

"Congratulations!" He was pretty sure that women
squealed loud enough to hear in the next county with news of that nature. Men, on the other hand, played things much
cooler. "That didn't take long," he said with a wink, even then
toying with the impossible notion of fathering another child
himself. Kind of a hard thing to accomplish, he mused, when
all he'd managed so far with his feisty wife was a stolen kiss.

Maybe he ought to make a greater effort.

Jon Atkins stood in the center of the yard, let out a highpitched whistle by blowing through his index finger and
thumb, and bellowed in his loudest voice, "Food's ready. Come
and get it!"

"You gotta have preacher's lungs to spout like that," Ben
joked.

Rocky laughed in agreement, and together they headed
inside the barn for the second meal of the day. After supper,
several men would bring out their instruments, the women
would clear the tables, and the square dancing would commence.

ively music such as Sarah had never heard filled the
barn at dusk. Folks with very small children had left
for the day, but everyone else seemed hesitant to go, the day's
festivities having whetted their appetites for old-fashioned fun
and fellowship.