New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) (13 page)

“Oh, Edward, you have, over and over again,” Sara answered, smiling.

“Doc Brown told me if you hadn’t cleaned the wound so well the beef blood and stuff on the knife could have caused blood poisoning and I could have lost my arm, or died. God sent you, I know that for sure.” Again he hugged her, as if there was no way he could repay her for what she did. “I am so glad you could join us for our meal, today we will have a Thanksgiving dinner instead of the regular Sunday supper.” Edward turned to go back to the kitchen and his preparations.

Alice took Sara by the arm. “Let me introduce you to the other ladies.” Quietly she said, “You are so kind to us, not like so many of the other women, so judgmental.”

Sam listened carefully to catch Sara’s answer, “To judge others I would have to do the same to myself.” He smiled understanding why he felt the way he did about her, knowing he could not let her go.

Katrina held back beside Sam, suspecting Sara had probably told him of her visits to the farm, as the way he looked at her seemed different, a little softer. “I think maybe you have shared my bed for the last time,” she said to him in only a breath so the others, especially Sara, would not hear. “You have the look in your eyes I was hoping you would have for me one day.”

Sam gave her a small, shy smile before he spoke. “Why did you not tell me of your visit to Sara?”

Katrina stayed quiet, a slight look of sorrow showed on her face.

“I could have helped you.”

“You would have sent me on my way. A swollen whore is of little use and certainly not very good advertising, besides we would never have known if you were the father or not.” She still spoke very quietly.

“But there is a chance I was.”

Katrina did not answer, touched his arm for a moment before she walked to the others sitting around one of the large poker tables. Sam looked at Sara and noticed she looked away at his glance, but still her face shone with happiness. He wondered why, when she had so many friends in the town, she tried so hard to stay hidden.

By the time supper started several other guests arrived, Melvin and Irene Blye from the store and Doc and Lily Brown, along with a few of the men from the railroad who were spending a night at the hotel. Sam joined everyone at the tables, placing a gentle hand on Sara’s shoulder showing the others they were together.

Alice gave up the chair beside Sara so he could sit there, saying, “I think maybe this is your place.” She gave him a big smile and a wink, “If anyone can get through to that iron heart of yours, it will be her.”

“She already has,” he said loud enough everyone could hear.

Edward quite outdid himself with supper. He had already prepared a turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy and caramelized carrots. With the addition of their special guest, he also brought out several foods he canned for the winter, including creamed corn, pickles of several sorts and wild cranberries. In the past he never served his special stash of chokecherry wine to his guests until tonight, and for dessert, pumpkin pies. Everyone sat back quite full after the meal. But he excused himself to the kitchen again and brought out steaming mugs of what he called an Irish coffee. “My name isn’t Edward O’Donnell for just any reason and I know of no decent Irishman who would refuse a good ‘strong’ drink of coffee,” he said with a strong Irish brogue as he answered Sara’s question of where the name for his beverage came from.

Doc pushed back his chair, rubbing his belly and remarked, “I may need to puncture y’all for bloat after that wonderful meal.”

As they were enjoying their after-dinner drinks and quiet conversation, Alice suddenly spoke up. “I wonder where Eric and Toby are, they have never missed a Sunday supper.”

Sara’s hand went immediately to Sam’s knee where he placed his own over it when Edward answered, “Oh, they are eating in the kitchen tonight, said something about not wanting to ruin the special occasion.”

The dishes were cleared away, then tables were moved to open up the floor and Sam whispered to Sara, “Maybe there will be dancing tonight after all. Everyone is certainly happy to have you here, love.”

Melvin brought his fiddle with him and Irene sat down at the piano, to which they started the job of tuning up. Edward brought two pairs of spoons from the kitchen, sat on a chair near the piano and proceeded to expertly keep the rhythm, tapping the utensils against his knee. Immediately as the music began the dancing started, the girls pulling the railroaders up to the floor.

Doc took the opportunity to talk with Sara while the others were out of hearing range, saying she was looking so much better and not to worry, her secret would be kept. So Sam could not hear he leaned to her ear and quietly added, “You’ve made quite a change in him.”

Sara smiled back at the doctor as he took his wife up to the dance floor.

They used Sam’s bad leg as the excuse for not dancing, but totally enjoyed the music and watching the others as they bounced around the floor in a speedy polka or a fast Irish jig. They sat at the table, their chairs pulled close together, Sam’s arm holding her quite protectively.

Sara noticed an occasional glance from Katrina and a hint of sadness in her expression. Gradually the evening started to slow down. Although it was well timed, the railway men left the room and the dancehall girls followed shortly to not raise suspicion. The girls bade goodnight to the couple, the makeshift band finally dismantled and Doc and Melvin and their wives said their goodbyes.

Edward was left alone with Sam and Sara and to his insistence they stayed for one more drink. Sara enjoyed his Irish coffee and Sam was enjoying a rather large mug of ale. They all were feeling the effects of the alcohol and they were laughing at the slightest bit of an amusing tale.

Edward returned a few of the empty dishes to the kitchen, leaving the couple alone for a moment. As Sam took an extra-large swig of the ale, Sara couldn’t refrain from laughing at the white foam covering his moustache. She took a cloth napkin from the table to wipe it for him, but instead, in fun, Sam grabbed her arms, saying, “Think it is funny, eh?” He held her and placed his wet mouth over hers. He expected her to laugh, but was completely taken by surprise as she suddenly went very stiff in his arms, pulling away desperately.

“Let go of me,” she shouted quite alarmed. “GET THE HELL OFF OF ME, TOBY!!!” she screamed, as her chair tipped over onto the floor.

Immediately Sam pulled away and Edward made a dash from the kitchen to help her, ready to protect her from his boss if need be. Sam grabbed the cloth and quickly wiped his beard dry. Frantically he dropped to the floor beside Sara, rocking her gently as she sobbed into his shoulder. “Oh God, Sara,” he said quietly, “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.”

Edward watched the two, shocked with what he saw and was quite confused. He thought he saw a hint of a tear in Sam’s eye and that probably surprised him more than anything.

The bartender strongly apologized, “I’m so sorry, I let her drink too many of my Irish coffees, I should have cut back on the whiskey.”

Sam looked at him, “It’s not your fault. Someone attacked Sara in the spring. And I just found out who it was.”

“Sam!” Sara’s eyes pleaded with him to tell no more.

“Toby?” Edward questioned, “Can’t say it surprises me, he can get so out of control at times and he is so strong.” He returned to the kitchen to get Sara a glass of water.

“I’m going to kill him,” Sam threatened, his face showing his rage.

“Sam, no,” Sara pleaded. “He has the mind of a five-year-old.”

“And the body and desires of a man.”

“Sam, please … it’s why I never told you who it was.”

Sam took a deep breath and sighed, “All right … for you.”

Edward returned with a large glass of water. They helped Sara back into her chair and wiped her cheeks dry. After a few minutes the couple excused themselves and returned to Sam’s home.

As expected, when they walked through the kitchen Mary heard them and welcomed her employer home. She came out of her room covered in a heavy robe and rags wrapped in her hair to curl it for morning. She was surprised to see Sam had a guest and tried to hide her hair behind her hands.

Sara managed a smile, but could not walk steadily, possibly as much from the tumble from the chair, with her already sore muscles, as the alcohol.

Sam told Mary he would be back down after seeing Sara to the guest room, to discuss her stay with them.

The housekeeper’s answer was to put the kettle on the stove to make a pot of tea, as she thought he could use some too.

They climbed the stairs together, Sam’s arm wrapped around her waist. He glanced back down to the kitchen door and noticed Mary duck back into the kitchen. With few words he helped Sara undress to her corset and pulled the covers over her. He thought the room was cool, so set fire to the kindling in the fireplace. He sat on the bed for a few minutes until he knew she was asleep, brushed the hair away from her face and went down to speak to Mary.

She was sitting at the table waiting for him when he pushed open the door. Without saying a word he poured himself a cup of tea and sat down across from her. Mary’s look was one of disapproval, but she knew not to say anything.

“Sara hasn’t been well and will be staying with us for an unlimited time,” Sam explained.

“So that is where you have been for the last three days?” she asked, not really needing an answer.

“That is really no concern of yours and I expect whatever happens in this house, stays in this house. Sara is a good person and there is no reason for anyone to be spreading any untrue stories,” he looked at her sternly. “Right?”

“Yes, Mr. Fielding,” Mary answered, but her expression did change.

“Sara can do what she wants here; if she wants to use the kitchen or the washing machine, please give her a hand; some of these things are quite new to her.”

“No doubt,” Mary’s expression changed to anger, at the thought another person could be using her kitchen and appliances, just as Sam expected.

He stood up from the table, “It is almost half past two. I think I’ll retire for the night. Thank you, Mary.”

Sam started to leave the room when she couldn’t hold her tongue any longer. “It is really about time you did something for the poor girl. I am sure she has never hurt a soul in her life and has had nothing but grief for as long as I’ve known her. Seeing as it has been mostly your businesses that have reduced her to this … it is about time you fixed it.”

Sam turned back at her, quite angry at this attack. “Look, I didn’t realize what was happening at their home. I didn’t know Sara at all, or the troubles they were having.”

Mary glared back at him. “You never understand anything about the people whose lives you destroy.” At that moment she knew she had said far too much and put her hand over her mouth in alarm.

Sam looked back at her, shocked. If she hit him in the stomach with a sledgehammer it could not have hit any harder. He turned and left the room without another word, but knew the words she spoke were the truth.

He returned to Sara’s room for a moment and finding she still slept, went to his own to prepare for bed. Lying alone, he found he couldn’t sleep. What a day it had been. How could so many things happen in one day? He got up from the bed, putting on his robe and went to look out the window. The moon still gave a lot of light and he could see the snow that covered the ground. As he looked to the sky, the northern lights danced and he said quietly, “Lord, no more surprises please … forgive me for my selfish ways.”

He heard Sara stir through the open door and went to see if she was all right. She remained asleep and he couldn’t help but watch her, wondering. In only three weeks she changed him so much, in only three days had turned his life completely upside down and in one day, in his own home, he learned so many things that shocked him. He always knew he was not a good person, everything he did was for himself and now he was starting not to like that person. He admired the good in Sara. How she could forgive everyone and look past the bad. It was no wonder she couldn’t say ‘yes’ to his question of marriage and why she thought someday he may hate her. For the first time, he didn’t like himself very much and he wondered how it was she could love him. He carefully lifted the rocking chair in the corner so it rested on the Oriental rug in front of the fireplace, so it would remain silent while he sat, watching her.

It was still dark when he looked at his watch and found it was already six in the morning. He went back to his own room to dress for the day and then downstairs and out the front door. It was time to change his own life and the lives of several other people.

Sam’s first stop was at the stables. He thought Eric could be up already, getting ready for the day. The barn was empty, except for the stock, when he went to take Dickens from his stall. The chickens were released the day before. He smiled and shook his head when he saw they had found their friend and made themselves at home in his stall. The lone rooster started to crow with the slight ray of daylight coming through the window. He watched them for a moment and realized maybe it was time to start enjoying the simple things in life.

He led Dickens to the alleyway and started to brush the large horse. Eric walked into the barn like nothing had happened the day before. He knew Sam was there to talk to him again and by the expression on his face his jaw was not in any danger today. Without turning from his horse, Sam spoke. “I must apologize for what happened yesterday. I found out last night it was not you, but Toby, who scares Sara.”