By Way of the Rose Page 27

  The next morning the sun was brightly shining through her window, proving that the world had gone on; Sarah knew she would too. Her strength would return even though she was sore and aching now. Nathan could rend her body but he could not have her soul. She would never allow it. She would love, she would trust and she would go on to spite him!

  The fall had given her a reason to rest and allow her body to heal. The bruises had turned dark overnight, but now she had no idea which ones were from Nathan and which from her fall and neither would anyone else.

  Thoughts of Shane kept her strong. He would be there. He would be her protector. She did love him. She thought about his sweet face and loving arms picking her wounded body up from the ground. A tear rolled down her cheek as she whispered and gently touched the necklace. I love you John, but I need to get out of here! If you're alive or dead, I hope you understand this. I'm going to marry Shane and I'm going to love him with all my heart and he's going to love me and keep me safe.

  Shane came by later in the day and they went for a long walk together. He put his arm around her and she leaned on him. The walk helped work out the soreness while being with Shane eased the pain in her heart. Why had she waited so long to accept his love? He was right, she had been a fool!

  The next evening they went for a ride. It became a daily thing. Weeks passed as summer faded into fall. Sarah couldn't wait until the day they'd be married and she would be away from everyone. Her skin crawled when Nathan came over for visits and she was forced to sit there as if nothing had happened. She thought she would die the first time he came over after his vicious attack on her and Marion fussed over the scratches on her precious son. Where a thorn bush had supposedly whipped across his face while he was riding through the woods. Sarah had to run for Marion's doctoring supplies and watch her dabble and coo over his injuries. Sarah became so ill that she had to excuse herself and run to the outhouse to throw up. Marion assumed she was upset over his painful wounds. Sarah had to pour him water, serve him food, help feed his brats and smile while she did it even though she wanted to scratch his eyes out of his head. He was a monster... he was evil! She lived for the day that she and Shane would be married and have their own home. Then she would never, never, never have to tolerate Nathan again, never have to smile in his ugly face again. Never have to wait on him again!

  When the news reached the Eastland plantation that Shane and Sarah were indeed a couple, Trissy's anger knew no bounds. So, she began spreading as many nasty rumors as she could about them. But that wasn't enough and no one seemed to truly care. She wanted Shane. Soon she became so depressed that she wouldn't leave her room, she just sat and stewed over the matter.

  “What's wrong, my sweet?” William Eastland asked his daughter.

  “Nothing, just leave me alone!”

  “How can Pa help his little girl if she won't tell Pa what's wrong?”

  “I'm in love with someone, but he doesn't love me.”

  “Oh, who wouldn't love you, my precious? He must not know how you feel.” He stroked her cheek. “Who is this boy, anyway?”

  “You wouldn't like him. You would probably forbid me to see him even if he did like me!” She flounced.

  “Now how do you know I wouldn't like him? You haven't given me a chance to even know who he is.”

  “You promise you won't get upset?”

  “I promise, my darling girl.”

  “Oh Pa, it's Shane Thompson. I love him so much!”

  “Our overseer?” He looked shocked. “That Shane?”

  “You promised you wouldn't get upset.”

  “I'm not upset, precious. I just don't know why you'd choose him of all boys in this county who'd give their right arm to court you!”

  “He's so handsome. I've liked him forever, but he likes that Sarah DuVal! I even tried to talk with him a while back and he just rode off and ignored me.” She began to whimper. “Like I wasn't even there! Like I was nothing!”

  “Now, now. You know what I think, Sweetie? I think he's afraid to like you. He knows you're a class above him and he probably thinks I wouldn't approve.”

  “He did say something about you getting upset if we talked and all.”

  “See there. That's it. I'll just have a little talk with him and everything will be fine.”

  “Oh Pa! Do you mean it?” She threw her arms around him. “You'd do that for me? You're the best Pa in the whole wide world!”

  “Of course my sweet! As soon as I tell him that he has my blessing to court you he'll forget all about that ol’ DuVal gal! He'll be on you like a bee to honey.”

  The next day when Shane came to work he was called up to the house. “You wanted to see me, Mr. Eastland?” Shane stood with his hat in his hands.

  “Yes, yes. Do come in my boy, and sit down. Would you like a drink?”

  “No, sir. I'm fine.” Shane sat down as he nervously clasped his hat in his hands. Something was going on and he felt it. Mr. Eastland was never cordial without a reason and today he was being downright giddy! Something was in the air, something wrong somewhere. What could Mr. Eastland possibly want from him?

  “How about a smoke?” He offered Shane a cigar.

  “No, but thanks anyway. Um, what did you want to see me about, sir?”

  “You're a very lucky boy. Very lucky indeed!”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I know all about you and my Trissy.”

  Shane jumped forward in his seat. “Sir? What are you talking about?”

  “Now, now, Calm down, I'm not mad. I know you think I wouldn't approve, but after seeing how much Trissy cares for you, well, I just want you to know that you have my blessings to court her.”

  “But Mr. Eastland, I'm engaged.”

  “Oh, you can get out of that easy enough. It's only that DuVal gal. Her pa ain't got sense enough to make a fuss about it anyway, even if he does I'll take care of him. I know Trissy was your first choice and a right nice one she is!”

  “But sir, I love Sarah, I don't want out of it.”

  “Are you turning down the opportunity to be my Trissy's beau?”

  “I guess I am.”

  “Look, now. She's got her heart set on this. She really likes you and I'd treat you like a son.”

  “I'm sure you'd all be kind to me, but... ”

  “You know, my children will inherit everything I've got. What do you think you could do with a thousand dollars right now?” Mr. Eastland shoved a wad of money toward him.

  Shane leapt to his feet. “I think this conversation has gone far enough.”

  “Well, you don't need my Trissy, you don't need my money, then you won't be needing that job I gave you either, huh?” Mr. Eastland glared at Shane.

  “No, sir. I won't. Good day.” Shane stomped from the room. He saw Trissy waiting by the front door.

  “Did my pa explain everything to you?” She smiled coyly at him.

  “He sure did.”

  “Aren't you happy?” She giggled.

  “Yes, I'm overwhelmed with joy not to be working here anymore!”

  Trissy's face dropped as he stomped past her.

  “Daddy!” She cried as she ran into the house.

  Sarah noticed the faraway look in Shane's eyes as he drove her home that evening.

  “You look like you're a million miles away.”

  “Sorry. I've had a little setback today.”

  “What was it?”

  “I got fired.”

  “Why?”

  “Because that ridiculous pa of Trissy's wanted me to court her!”

  “You're kidding!”

  “No, he even offered to pay me to take her.”

  “Those Eastlands really do believe they can buy anything, don't they? Her pa offering to buy her a husband. If it wasn't so sad, I'd laugh my head off!”

  “Well, the saddest thing about it is that it's going to set back our plans a bit. I want a decent home to bring you to, but now I won't even have the money to buy the lumber.”
<
br />   “Its fine, Shane. I'd be happy living anywhere with you. A sod house, a shack, a tent, a cave, a wagon, I don't care, I just want to be with you!”

  “I want it to be nice for you, though.”

  “Do all you men worry about foolish things like this? Does everything always have to be in place before you can have a life? I'm so sick and tired of waiting for perfection! Like I said, I don't care where we live, just that we live, Shane!”

  “It won't be much longer, I promise. I just can't bear to take you from this finery to a tent or a cave or to my old shack. I want to bring you to a real home.” Shane stopped in front of the house and helped her from the wagon.

  “You are going to stay a while and have supper with us?”

  “I've got some chores to finish around my place. I'll be back in a couple of hours.” He smiled as he kissed her hand.

  “I'll see you then.”

  As Shane drove toward his place he saw Nathan coming. “Hey there, Thompson.” He stopped. “Just dropped Sarah off, did ya?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You two getting pretty lovey-dovey, huh?”

  “What's that to you?”

  “Ah, she's roped you in just like she did John. Sweet, dear John. Her true love.”

  “Is there no end to your twisted thoughts, Nathan?”

  “If I can think it you better believe Sarah's already done it.”

  “You've got a big mouth. You'd better be careful who you use it on.”

  “Oh, chilling! I'll be lookin’ over my shoulder night and day.” Nathan laughed loudly as he drove on.

  It was a crisp autumn day and the leaves had coated the ground in a carpet of bright yellows and oranges as Sarah and Shane were going out for their daily ride. Shane seemed uneasy about something. “You're not still fretting over being fired today, are you?” Sarah asked.

  “No .”

  “You're acting different. You're not even looking at me. What's wrong?”

  He slowed the wagon to a stop and looked at her. “Sarah, I need to know something. I hate to ask because it was that stupid Nathan who implied that there was a little more between you and John than a brother sister relationship. But I have to admit that I have thought it myself. Especially because of how you've been acting since you got home. That day at the stream, that seemed to be a little more than grieving for a brother. What went on between you and John?”

  Sarah was dumbfounded. She'd always talked to Shane and Greta about John. “What do you mean?”

  “Were y'all closer than brother and sister? That's what I want to know. I can take the truth.”

  “The truth? Yes, you deserve that much.” She sighed. “I was in love with him and he was in love with me. But we never told the other. I never knew until he was gone. That's what kills me at times. Why he never let me know, why didn't I ever tell him?”

  “I've heard things about you and John from Nathan. I didn't want to believe anything he said but seeing you and the way you act when you talk about him... John was the reason you wouldn't marry me when I asked you before?”

  “Yes, I needed to put him behind me before I could move on, but my dear Shane, I have done that! I know now that I can't sit in that house and grieve for him forever. It's been a year. I want to be with people I love and who love me.” Sarah took the locket from her neck and placed it in his hand. Come with me.” Sarah stepped from the wagon. She took a stick, knelt down and dug a small hole. “Here.” She pulled him down in front of her, “Lay it here.” Sarah watched it glitter, just as it had the day John had placed it on her neck; it made her heart ache. She looked into Shane's eyes. “I can't bury John, but I can bury this. I just want to put everything behind me so that I can go on living. I love you.” Sarah touched his face gently, before she pushed the dirt over the locket. “John is buried now. That part of my life is over, I want to go forward now and you're the only one I want to go forward with.”

  Shane pulled her to him and kissed her gently. “You know I have always loved you, Sarah. I'll love you ‘til the day I die.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  * * * *

  The sun was hanging low in the sky as the evening mist began to settle over the hills. As John approached the house he saw that his mother had left the door open to let in the cool, crisp air, as she often did when she'd been baking. Even from here, he could smell the rich aroma of the bread and biscuits. His steps quickened. He flew over the threshold as he cried out. “Momma!”

  She turned at the sound of his voice. “What?”

  “Momma, I'm home!” He entered the kitchen.

  “John!” Jennie and Bettie squealed as they leapt up from their seats at the kitchen table.

  “It can't be... it can't be!” Marion clutched her chest.

  He came closer so she could see that it was him.

  “John! You're not dead! Oh John!” She ran to him. “My John is alive!” She began to cry.

  “I'm fine, Momma! I'm just fine!”

  “How?” She gasped through the tears of joy. “How... what happened?”

  “It's a long story. Where's Sarah?” He looked around the room.

  “She's out with her beau.” Betty smiled.

  “W— what? Her beau?”

  “Oh, yes, Shane Thompson. They're real sweet on each other!” Jenny informed him.

  “When did this happen?” John's face went pale. He felt a sharp pain in his chest. This news was so sudden; so unexpected. The joy of being home was completely crushed.

  “A few weeks ago. I think they're planning on getting married pretty soon though.” Marion reported.

  “She loves him then?” John asked.

  “Yeah! Trissy Eastland said she had seen them down in the woods hugging and kissing and carrying on with each other.” Jennie giggled. “Trissy is just green with envy. There's a rumor going around that her pa tried to pay Shane to marry her but he's too sweet on Sarah.”

  “Hugging and kissing?” John's face was red with anger. He wanted to hit something! And that something was Shane Thompson!

  “Oh, my boy! I dreamed that you'd come back and here you are! There was no way I could bring myself to believe you were dead. It was too awful to believe!” Marion held his face in her hands. Then, as though noticing the look of anger on his face, she asked, “Is something wrong, Dear?”

  “Nothing, no! Nothing is wrong. Everything seems to be just wonderful here.”

  “Well, sit down while I get you a drink and you can tell us what on earth happened to you.”

  He felt odd as he sat down. He'd traveled so far to only to come back and discover that Sarah was finding comfort in the arms of another man. He felt like screaming out as Marion placed the drink in front of him. I don't want this damn drink, I want Sarah! Where is she? What is she doing

  “Are you ready to tell us what happened?”

  John tried to gain control of himself. He raked his hair back from his face and rested his head in the palm of his hands. “Where should I begin?” He sighed loudly. “I was in hiding.” He took a deep breath and looked up at his mother. “I had to wait until everything settled down before I dared come home. It's still not completely safe, that's why I didn't send a telegram or anything. They want me dead.”

  “How did it ever get this bad? Why weren't you more careful?”

  “I was careful, but sometimes even the best of us do slip up.”

  They heard a wagon coming. Betty looked out the window “It's Sarah and Shane!” she sang out.

  Sarah dreaded coming home that evening because she knew Nathan would be coming to supper. He had been coming every single night lately. Ever since that day in the cotton field. She was sure he came just to taunt her with his domineering presence.

  “I had a nice time, Shane.”

  “I did too. I don't know if I can come by tomorrow. I have some work to do around the place. Gotta get the castle ready for my Princess.”

  “Please, Shane... don't call me that.” Sarah's neck hair prickled. “I
like sweetheart much better.”

  “That's fine with me, sweetheart.” He winked at her.

  “Would you stay for supper? We can go for a walk after.” Sarah desperately hoped he would stay and help her tolerate the evening with Nathan.

  “Sounds nice but I really have to be... ”

  “Please, Shane.” She interrupted. “I really need you to stay.” She grasped hold of his hand.

  “Fine, then, I will.” He hopped from the wagon and went around to help Sarah down. Just as she stepped onto the ground her eyes met with John's.

  “Have a nice ride, dear?” His voice was as cold as ice. Sarah screamed before her head began to spin and she crumpled to the ground.

  “Sarah, Sarah!” She heard Shane calling to her. She opened her eyes to see him, Marion, and John looking down on her.

  “J— John?” She moaned in disbelief. “Is it you? Is it really you?”

  “Yes, it's me. I'm here.”

  “John!” she cried as she flung her arms around his neck. “You're not dead! You're not dead!” She cried so hard it was as if a roar was coming from deep within her chest. All of the pain was tearing from her body as John held her in his arms. Her cry wasn't only one of joy and relief, but also of deep sorrow and anguish. John seemed to feel it, as though he knew there was something more here. Something dark and sinister.

  “What's wrong, Sarah? What's happened to you?” He looked into her face. “Come on. Let's get up from here.”

  John helped Sarah to her feet but she was still weak. Her breaths were quick and short. “How? How? I thought, I thought you were dead.”

  “I know... It's fine now. Everything is all right.”

  “Oh, John!” She touched his face gently. “I, I love... ” She saw Shane standing there. His eyes glued to her. She could see the hurt in them. He seemed to be begging her not to say it. Don't say you love him... please don't say it! But she wanted to say it! She did love him... she did and she wanted to finally declare it to the world! But somehow Shane's look stopped her. “I've missed you so much.”