New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (15 page)

As he began to pull the bedspread back, he saw something unusual resting on the pillow. It was dark, but it glistened a little in the lamplight. It wasn’t until he picked it up he realized he held the horseshoe nail, polished and bent into a circle.

Sam turned quickly to go to Sara, but saw the door between the two rooms was open and she stood there, almost ghostly, so beautiful in her long white nightgown, her hair hanging over her shoulders. He walked to her, looking into her eyes, trying to see her soul. “Are you certain?”

“I’m positive I love you, like I’ve never loved anyone before and I’m sure I cannot live without you.” Sam took her by the hand and led her to his bed. He sat down on top of the covers and pulled her down so her legs rested on his. “I was terrified today, when I thought maybe you didn’t want me anymore.”

“Why did you think that?”

“I slept alone in my bed and when I woke you were already gone and away all morning.”

He held her so close she could hear his heart beating, “I sat in your room all night watching you sleep and I knew I had to do whatever needed to be done so you wouldn’t leave me. If it would mean giving up everything, then that is what I would do.”

Sam’s robe fell open at his chest and Sara gently ran her hand inside it, feeling the strength in his muscles. She suddenly stopped when she realized, “You are naked under that, aren’t you?”

His answer was to place his hand at her neck and pull her to him so her mouth met his. He gently laid her back on the bed, following the motion as the kiss continued, resting carefully on her body, placing his hand at her breast.

Sara breathed heavily against him and as he pulled away to look in her angel eyes she whispered, “We can’t, not yet.”

“And we won’t, not until we are wed, but you are not scared anymore, are you?”

She kissed him back, running her fingers through his hair, then to the smoothness of his cheeks, which he had freshly shaved again. “No,” she answered, “so please, let us not be engaged for too long.”

They climbed in under the blankets together, facing each other, watching, loving, sharing the occasional kiss and being careful not to go so far they could not go back. A hint of a shadow crossed Sara’s expression and he asked, “What thought crossed your mind that made you doubt for a moment?”

“We will have to be careful I don’t get pregnant.” Her eyes looked deeply into his with a seriousness which could not be ignored. “When I was expecting with William, I was trying to find someone to love. If I did with you ... I think it would break my heart ... if ...” The tears filled her eyes and Sam placed a tender hand upon her cheek.

“Then we will be careful, Sara. But I want to take you to the medical university in Montreal and if need be the one in Philadelphia. Maybe something can be done. Nothing would make me happier than to give you the baby you have wanted for so long. And if nothing can be done, we will adopt one in need of a good home, because I know we will have a good home.”

“Well, I guess we should be safe enough until my cycle starts again, but then I will have to find a supply of beaver testis,” Sara said with a telltale glint in her eyes.

“What?” Sam asked, quite alarmed.

“Oh, the girls haven’t told you,” Sara hesitated so he would have to ask.

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“I learned from William’s grandmother back in New Brunswick, dried, crushed beaver glands make a good prevention for pregnancy. I learned a lot from the old lady when I lived with her for a month. She was quite wise and I wanted to learn the medicinal value of some plants.”

“And it works?”

“It seems to have kept your girls safe enough over the last year or so we have given it a try.”

Sam pulled her close, “You surprise me at times.” After thinking for a moment, “What do you do with it?”

After Sara answered, “You dry then crush them and make a tea from the powder,’ he gave a shudder.

“My, what you women won’t do to please your men.”

“I think it won’t be to only please you!” she said as she rolled over and pushed herself back against his body.

Sam wrapped his arms around her and held her close. “I think I can sleep tonight after all.”

Sara woke the next morning to find Sam’s dark, nearly black eyes looking into her own. With smiles they greeted each other to the new day. Already the sunlight was filling the room and the watch showed it was almost eight in the morning.

“I haven’t stayed in bed this late except when I was healing from my wound,” Sam said as he set the watch back on the night table. “It is a wonder Mary hasn’t come up to see what is keeping me here so late, so I imagine she already knows.” Sam’s eyes sparkled as he pulled Sara close and she placed her head on his shoulder, her forehead resting against his chin. “I can’t imagine a day could not be great when it has started so good.’

“I never thought being in love would feel this good,” Sara smiled as she ran her hand over his chest.

“I can’t imagine you married a man you did not love.”

“Right now, neither can I.” Her hand moved to his shoulder, which she realized also was bare. “What are you wearing under there?” she asked frantically, lifting the blankets for only a second before quickly covering him again.

“It got warm in here last night,” he grinned as he rolled toward her, “besides, I am a man of my word and I said, ‘not until we are wed’. Even if you begged me, I would have to keep my word.”

“You are an honourable man, Sam Fielding,” she said after the long kiss, “How soon do you think Reverend Hedges could marry us.”

“I was thinking Sunday,” Sam looked into her eyes, “the whole congregation will be at the church and can help us celebrate. Think it is too soon?”

“It will be a long time ‘til Sunday.”

Suddenly a light tap came at the door and Sara quickly pulled the blankets over her head as Sam answered, “What is it, Mary?”

Through the door she said, “Could you tell Mrs. Gardiner a young lady is here to see her?”

“I can do that. We’ll be down for breakfast shortly, Mary.”

“Yes, Mr. Fielding,” she said, then silently went back downstairs.

As Sam pulled the covers away from Sara’s face, he said, “I guess I shouldn’t have built this house quite so sound-proof.” He could see she was quite red with embarrassment, “But don’t worry, I’ll make an honest woman of you.” He pulled back the blankets and put on his robe, which had fallen to the floor.

“Oh, you are mean,” Sara smiled at him, knowing he was teasing her. “And who is going to make a good man of you?”

“You already have, Sara,” he answered on his way out the door to the washroom, “you already have.”

They walked down the stairway hand in hand. Mary came to them to say a girl was waiting for her in the sitting room. “She looks upset, Mrs. Gardiner.”

“Did she give her name?”

“Catherine Hall.”

“Can’t say I’ve ever heard of her. Sam, have you?”

“There is a Hall family several miles southwest of town, but I don’t know their first names. Would you like me to go in with you?”

“No, I will be fine,” she said as she placed a light kiss on his cheek and went to the other room. Before closing the door she added, “Oh, and Mary,”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Sara is fine.”

“Certainly Mrs. ... Sara.”

Sam offered Mary his arm as they went toward the kitchen, saying, “Do you think we could arrange a wedding for Sunday?”

“Ooh, Mr. Fielding,” Mary exclaimed excitedly, “I was so hoping ... she is such a fine person ... she’s been really good for you.”

Sara walked into the sitting room to find a pretty girl looking out the window as she waited.

“Catherine?” she asked, extending her hand to her, “I am Sara Gardiner. Have we met before?”

“Several years ago in the general store in Grand Valley, I saw you talking with Mrs. Blye.”

Sara knew Catherine was having a hard time talking and was nervous about the visit. She put her hand on the girl’s back and led her to the settee.

“I went to Church school with Willie sometimes. He was a year younger than me.”

“Oh yes, I think I remember.” Sara took the girl’s hand as they sat together. “Do you have a question to ask me, Catherine?”

“People say you have powers, that you make potions to help their problems.”

Sara was surprised, but tried hard to not let it show so as not to alarm the girl. Thinking she maybe wanted a love potion she said, “I know about medicines, but I am not a witch, good or bad, who makes spells.” She made sure to smile although it hurt that the children also heard the rumours.

“I understand you can help girls with problems.”

“What kind of problem, Catherine?” Sara tried to read the girl’s eyes, but she looked down at the floor, except for the occasional glance to the woman she felt was her only help.

“I haven’t had my flow for two months,” she hesitated. “I think I am going to have a baby.”

Sara drew in a breath, not expecting this. Her hand went to her mouth, because she already knew what the request was going to be.

“Have you been with a man, Catherine?”

“Once,” she said, the tears starting to show. “I didn’t want to ... but I wanted him to like me. We were swimming together at the river and ... and ... I wanted him to stop ... but he said I had to if I wanted him to like me ...” Catherine was sobbing uncontrollably into Sara’s shoulder.

“Have you told him?” Sara asked, having a hard time not to show how upsetting this was.

In between breaths, Catherine answered; “I haven’t seen him since that day.”

“Have you told your parents?”

“No!” she answered emphatically, “my father would kill me if he knew.”

Sara nodded, knowing even though the problem happened much more than anyone believed, everyone would reject a pregnant girl. Almost every person would shun a pregnant woman who had a baby by anyone other than her husband, even if she was forced upon. She knew this all too well and was so frightened of it herself she would have rather died than let anyone else know. She looked at the girl with sympathetic eyes, again holding her hand to her mouth, the creases in her forehead showing her concern. “What is it you have come to me for, Catherine?” Sara didn’t really need to ask and how she dreaded the answer.

“I heard you can help a girl slip a baby,” Catherine’s eyes seemed to plead in desperation.

Sara didn’t know what to say, hesitating as long as she could and just as the silence needed to end a light knock came at the door and Sam poked his head inside. “Everything all right in here? You ladies need anything?”

Sara quickly got up and met him at the door.

When he saw the expression on her face he looked quickly at their visitor, who spoke anxiously, “Please don’t tell anyone, Mrs. Gardiner!”

“What’s wrong?” Sam whispered to Sara, “Are you all right?” He searched her eyes desperately for an answer.

Sara wiped a tear from her own eye and through a weak smile said, “We are fine,” but her face definitely told of the stress she was under. “Could you bring us tea, Sam?”

“Right away,” he answered, giving Sara a questioning look to which she gave a slight nod. “I’ll be back shortly,” he added as she closed the door behind him. How he hated to leave her like this for even a second.

Sara turned back to the girl, who looked like she was preparing to leave. “Sit down, please.” They both returned to the settee. “Sam will be back in a little while with tea. Catherine, I would like to discuss the situation with him.”

Catherine excitedly expressed, “NO,” as she stood up again to leave. “A man couldn’t understand this ...I came to the wrong place ... please, I must go.”

“Please, Catherine,” Sara pleaded, not wanting the girl to leave without help. “Sam is a very understanding man. He will not condemn you for this.”

“My father says he is the meanest man he ever knew. No, I must go. I need to get some things at the store and be home before noon.”

Sara held her by both shoulders, trying hard to convince her to stay. “I will help you, but there may be another way.” Catherine seemed to relax a little. “Sam has changed his life and his attitude completely. He will not condemn you, because if he did he would have to condemn me too.”

Catherine looked back at her bewildered, but gave a nod and her trust to this woman who seemed her only hope.

By the time Sam returned with the tea, Catherine was nearly beside herself with nerves and pleaded that she must be on her way so her family would not suspect anything.

Sara made her promise she would return in a few days, or she would go looking for her and she was not to do anything desperate before then. She guaranteed the young lady she would help her to do what was best.

When he closed the door behind Catherine as she left, Sam turned back to Sara still not understanding what the problem was, but he knew it was serious. His only real concern was it would put nothing between him and his love. They went back into the sitting room together and closed the door to have complete privacy.

Sara was still obviously shaken by what happened and Sam took her to the settee and held her hands the way she did with Catherine. He waited until she was ready to tell him, after she had taken a sip of the tea.