Eliza was watching their interaction with unabashed curiosity. She turned to Owen. “Have you had supper, young man?”
He looked at her. “What? Oh, no. No.”
“Do you like spaghetti?”
Owen’s confusion was endearing, and Sarah did her best not to break into nervous giggles as she waited for his answer.
“Yes, ma’am.” When he still didn’t seem to understand that Eliza was asking him to sit down with them, Sarah had to turn away to hide her grin.
“Lord help us,” Eliza muttered. “Owen, we’re having supper. Would you like to join us?”
“Oh! No, I don’t want to impose. I only wanted to drop off the book. Thank you, though.”
Before her mother could assure him that he wasn’t imposing, his stomach growled loudly, and Owen’s face turned as red as the strawberry-rhubarb jam on the tart they would be having for dessert.
“For goodness’ sake. The bathroom’s down the hall,” Eliza said, pointing him in that general direction. “Go wash up. You’re not imposing. Sarah, fetch another plate and feed this young man before he falls over.”
When he nodded and went down the hall, Sarah’s excitement ratcheted up a notch, along with her nerves. She turned and went to do as her mother bade. She laid the book on the buffet as she passed, not wanting to get food on it.
Eliza followed her into the kitchen, and when the door to the bathroom closed, she grabbed Sarah’s arm. “What in the world? I thought you two were fighting. When did this happen?”
“I’ll tell you all about it later. I promise. Mama…” She got a plate out of the cabinet, then grabbed Eliza’s shoulders and did a quick, happy dance. When she heard the bathroom door open, she straightened and finished preparing a plate for Owen. She placed it on the table between her chair and Eliza’s, and when he appeared in the kitchen doorway, she asked him what he wanted to drink. “We have lemonade, milk, and sweet tea.”
“Tea’s fine, thanks.” Awkwardly, he sat down, and Sarah brought another glass to the table. Her mother kept the conversation going as they finished the spaghetti.
“We have a tart for dessert,” Eliza told him as she and Sarah cleared the table. “Strawberry rhubarb.”
Owen’s face lit up. “I adore rhubarb.”
“This is made from what we put up last summer. Sarah’s jam, as a matter of fact. I’m afraid we took shameless advantage of her when she was here for summer break. She has a deft touch with canning.”
“Mama, you did not,” Sarah protested as her cheeks flushed. Owen was watching her closely as she cut the tart. “She makes it sound like she isn’t as handy in the kitchen, when she is,” she told him as she gave him an extra-large portion.
“Well, I do okay,” Eliza said with a pleased smile. “Sarah, are you planning on keeping the garden this year? I hadn’t even thought about that. You’ll be here by yourself all summer.”
At the reminder that Eliza would be leaving soon, some of Sarah’s enjoyment dissipated. “I haven’t really thought about it. I assumed we’d have a garden. I don’t think it’s anything I can’t handle on my own.”
Owen looked at her mother, a slight frown creasing his brow. “You’re leaving?”
“Yes. I’ll be going to Georgia here in a few weeks to spend some time with my sister. I asked Sarah to come along with me, but she’s determined to stay here.”
He laid down his fork, and his frown grew. The look he sent her was almost enough to send Sarah’s temper soaring again.
“You don’t think I’m capable of staying here by myself?” she asked him.
Owen hesitated, as if searching for words. “It isn’t that I question your capability. I saw how well you handled that situation in the library the other day. I just don’t like thinking of you down here by yourself. No offense, Mrs. Browning.”
Eliza waved a hand and took a sip of her tea. “None taken. I’m glad to know someone will be close by who is concerned about Sarah’s well being.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sarah said, shooting a scowl back at Owen. “I have Daddy’s guns, and I know how to use them. I’ll make sure to keep all the doors and windows locked. Besides, there’s a good chance Gilly will come stay with me, at least part of the time. Really, there’s no reason to worry, Mama.”
Her mother smiled. “Sweetheart, I’ll still be worrying about you when you have grandchildren.” She stood. “Now, if the two of you are finished, I’m going to run you out of here while I clean up. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow. Why don’t you go on out on the porch and enjoy the evening?”
The suggestion was about as subtle as a brick bat, but Sarah didn’t protest. She led Owen to the porch, but she was too restless to sit. “Do you mind walking? I’ve been sitting most of the day, and I’d like to stretch my legs.”
“Not at all. I walked down here; we could head back toward my side of the mountain, if you want.”
“Let me get my boots and let Mama know.” Hurrying inside, Sarah told Eliza where they were going.
“You might want to put something else on,” Eliza said with a pointed look at Sarah’s bare legs. “Those shorts are fine for inside the house when we don’t have company, but there’s no reason for you to tempt the boy into a frenzy. At least not until you know him better.”
“Mama!”
The impish grin Eliza sent her made Sarah laugh, and she rushed upstairs to change and grab her boots. Soon, she was back on the porch with Owen, and they set off. He stopped at the edge of the porch to grab a sturdy walking stick he’d propped up there. Neither of them spoke until they’d reached the edge of the woods.
“I take it your mother leaving is still something of a raw topic. I’m sorry.”
Sarah crossed her arms, sending him a quick smile. “It’s okay. And it’s still a little new, yes. Plus my sister… never mind. That’s not worth getting into.”
“She’s married to Randall Begley, right?”
“She is. They had their second child over the weekend. I’m the proud aunt of a bouncing baby boy—Randall, Junior.”
Owen half-smiled. “Poor kid.” A stunned look crossed his face, and he quickly apologized. “I don’t know why I said that.”
Sarah laughed. “Probably because you know Randall. He’s… um…”
Owen nodded. “He was friends with my brother. Drinking buddies, if you want the truth. I never had much in common with either of them. Still, I shouldn’t pass judgment. Sorry.”
They reached the rock that used to be Sarah’s thinking place, and she stopped to lean against the wall the boulder formed. The ground sloped away sharply from the other side of the path, and with the leaves on the trees only half budded, she and Owen had a clear view all the way to the foot of the mountain.
“This is where I used to come before I found that pool on your land,” she confessed.
Owen studied the rock and the landscape around it. “Where would you sit? Up top?”
“Yes. Want to see?”
“Sure.”
She led him up to the top of the rock and gestured to the ledge. “It’s a little smaller than your boulder,” she said with a laugh. “But it sufficed.” Going to the ledge, she carefully checked around it to make sure no snakes were lurking. Satisfied the rock was safe, she sat down. Owen followed, and Sarah drew in a breath as he settled beside her. The ledge was so small, they were practically touching all along her right side.
“This isn’t bad,” he commented. “It does have some advantages over my rock.” Though he’d said the words casually, the look he sent her was full of heat.
Sarah ducked her head. “Perhaps. I suppose there are worse places.” She let her posture relax so that their shoulders were touching, if only lightly. When Owen didn’t move away, she smiled. “So… Tennessee Williams?”
�
��Yes, Tennessee Williams. I find it difficult to believe that you don’t see the romanticism in that play.”
“It isn’t that I don’t see the romanticism,” Sarah protested. “I do. I saw the movie a couple of years ago when I went to Berea. The tension rolling off that screen was almost palpable, an alive thing in the theater. But I don’t think unrequited love is romantic. It may be pedestrian of me, but I prefer the story to have a happy, satisfying ending.”
“Then I guess you aren’t a fan of Romeo and Juliet?”
She laughed. “No. First off, they weren’t old enough to be as seriously involved as they were. I know it happens all the time. I have cousins galore who had their first child before they were old enough to drive. Shoot, look at Kathy. But I feel more thought should go into marriage than how good a provider the man is, or how good a breeder the woman.” As the last words left her mouth, she flushed.
Owen grinned down at her. “And here you are, the same woman who accused me of being a romantic. You’ve got me beat all to pieces.”
“Hush.”
He bumped his shoulder into hers, and Sarah rolled her eyes at him, but she was smiling.
“So, the other day at the pool,” he said. “You’d been crying?”
“Yes, I had. Mama had just told me she was going to Aunt Nancy’s. I wasn’t expecting that.” Drawing her legs up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them and rested her chin on her knees. “And then today, when I went to see Kathy and the baby, she… she made me very angry with some things she said about Mama, about her decision. My sister can be very selfish at times, Owen. I don’t understand her, any more than she understands me. And I shouldn’t say that, especially to you. It’s my own dirty laundry. I’m sorry.”
He didn’t say anything for a little while. When he did speak, his voice was low. “Don’t apologize. I understand what you’re saying. I don’t know your sister. But I knew my brother, and from what I’ve seen of Randall, he and Harlan had a lot in common. I can’t imagine Kathy can be married to a man like that and not be a little bit like him.”
Sarah nodded. “She is. And she’s always resented me. God knows I’m not perfect. I tend to be more stubborn than I ought, and I like getting my way, but I’ve never tried to compete with Kathy. That hasn’t made a bit of difference. Do you know how many little sneers I’ve had to listen to over the years? How many times I’ve been told I’m getting above my raising by going away to school? It bothered me, but I let it go because I knew it didn’t matter. But when she said what she did about Mama? That I’m not willing to let go.”
“I barely know your mother, but I don’t think she’d do something that wasn’t in the best interests of all concerned. I know my own mother thought a lot of her. They worked together a few times before my mother stopped going to church. And I think you’re pretty levelheaded, too. I’m sure your anger is justified.”
Tipping her head to the side to study him, Sarah smiled. “You barely know me, as far as that goes. How do you know if I’m levelheaded or not?”
Owen returned her gaze steadily. “I know what I’ve seen. You have a temper, but you’re logical. And I’d very much like to get to know you better. If you’re interested, that is.”
Chapter Twenty-One
OWEN’S HEART POUNDED SO LOUDLY in his ears that he wasn’t sure he would be able to hear Sarah when she answered. The declaration had surprised her, he had no doubt of that, but he couldn’t tell if the surprise was positive or not.
She stared at him for a full minute, then looked away. “Um. I’m not sure I… Are you asking me out? Like on a date?”
He nodded. “Yes. That’s exactly what I’m asking.”
Sarah fell still, almost as though she were listening to an internal voice. She tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear and licked her lips. The latter gesture sent an uncomfortable wave of heat through him. They were sitting so close that he could easily lean over and steal a kiss if he were so inclined. He’d be lying if he said the thought hadn’t occurred to him more than once.
A soft blush rose on her cheeks, and she turned her head in his direction, but kept her gaze on the path below them. “I’d like that.”
“You would?” he blurted.
She smiled. “Yes, I would. Were you expecting me to say no?”
He grinned. “I wasn’t sure what you’d say.”
She shook her head and laughed softly. “Silly Owen.”
They didn’t speak for a while after that. When a twinkle of light flashed nearby, Sarah drew in a breath.
“What is it?” Owen asked.
She answered him without taking her gaze from the spot where the flash had come from. “I think it was a lightning bug. It’s a little early for them, but I swear, I think it was one.” When she was rewarded by a second blink, she clapped her hands. “Did you see that?”
Owen laughed. “I did. And you do remember where you live, right? Firefly Hollow?”
Sarah stuck her tongue out at him. “Of course I remember. But it’s something I never get tired of seeing.”
“You should see them up at the homeplace when the grass gets tall in the pasture. They like the alfalfa, I guess, because they float in clouds across the ground.”
“That has to be a sight to behold,” Sarah whispered.
“It is.”
Before long, it turned more dark than dusk, and Owen knew it was time to escort her home. With reluctance, he stood and held out his hand. “Come on. Your mom will be ready to send out a search party if we don’t get back soon.”
“She wouldn’t do that,” Sarah assured him as they made their way back down to the path. “Not unless we were gone until after dark, anyhow.”
There was a bit of a jump to get back on the path, and Owen made it easily. Turning, he held out his hands to assist her down. She jumped, but when she landed, her feet went out from under her a little, and she stumbled.
Moving quickly, he caught her, pulling her close to his chest. “You okay?”
She nodded. To Owen’s pleasure, she didn’t pull away, but let her hands rest on his upper arms. They were pressed together from chest to hips, and he sucked in a breath at the feel of her against him. When he felt himself start to harden, he carefully shifted his lower body away, but didn’t let her go.
It was a perfect moment, Owen thought. Sarah was tall, the top of her head nearly reaching his chin. She didn’t look at him, but very slowly, let herself relax against him, her head eventually coming to rest on his shoulder. He felt her release a long breath against his shirt, and his eyes drifted shut as he brought his arms more fully around her to deepen the embrace.
He didn’t know how long they would have stood there if an owl hadn’t hooted nearby, causing them both to jump. Reluctantly, he took a step back, letting one of his hands trail down her arm to capture her hand. Without speaking, he started walking back down the path toward her house, with Sarah a step behind him. Because of his shifter nature, he was able to see the ground in front of him clearly, and he stopped as they came to a snake crawling across the path.
“Black snake,” he told her over his shoulder. Sarah’s hand tightened around his, and she drew in a sharp breath, but she didn’t overreact. Given that they were nearly at the same spot where the rattlesnake had cornered her, Owen was impressed.
“How can you see it? I can barely see the path.”
“I have really strong night vision.”
“That must come in handy.”
He squeezed her hand. “It does. Okay, the snake’s gone.” They resumed walking, but Owen slowed as they reached the edge of the trees and drew her abreast of him. “Do you ever go walking at night?” He knew the answer, but he couldn’t tell her that. Not yet.
“Sometimes. But unless it’s a full moon, I have to use a flashlight.”
; “Well, promise me you won’t go out without one. I’d hate to see you encounter a copperhead or rattlesnake in the dark and not know it until it was too late.”
Sarah looked up at him with an indulgent smile. “I won’t, and thank you for your concern. But what do I do if I happen across a poisonous snake, and it’s between me and the house? Wait for a gallant knight to ride along on his trusty steed and rescue me? I had that happen once before, and I don’t look to repeat the experience.”
“A gallant knight came riding along? I didn’t know we had any of those in these parts.”
“No, silly. The snake. I narrowly escaped from a rattlesnake a few years ago. And if I told you what saved me, you wouldn’t believe me. I learned to carry a stick and wear sturdy boots after that.”
He let go of her hand long enough to tug on the end of her ponytail. “You should put a sharp nail in the end of your walking stick, just in case.”
She was horrified. “For what, to spear it? Ewww, no!”
Owen laughed at her expression. It was the first time he had seen her act even slightly squeamish. He wrapped his arms around her and spun her around and around. Laughter spilled out of her, interspersed with delighted shrieks.
When they were both dizzy, he stopped, stepping back from her enough to satisfy propriety and any eyes that might be watching. However, he kept his hands resting lightly on her waist. “There is another option. If you ran across a poor, hapless snake, you could always turn around and come to my house. The path from the top of the boulder continues straight on up the mountain.”
Before he could get Sarah’s response to his suggestion, her mother came out onto the back porch, and Owen slowly dropped his hands.
Eliza raised an eyebrow, but she didn’t chastise him. A smile very much like Sarah’s spread across her face, and she came down the steps into the yard. “Did the two of you have a nice walk? I was starting to think I might have to gather a search posse to come find you. You didn’t take a flashlight.”
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