Sara hugged him tightly, while Mary grinned at them and asked, “What in the world has gotten into you all of a sudden?”
“I’m in love, Mary and I’m not going to let her go.”
After lunch Sara offered to help Mary with the dishes, but was promptly shooed away, “He’s going to think I’m not worth my wages if you keep helping me like this.”
It was a beautiful day and with the banking business mostly completed in the morning, Sam and Sara enjoyed the rest of it together. They decided take a cutter ride through the growing city. Sam walked to the stable and asked Eric to ready Dickens and a sleigh for their outing and to bring it to his home. The temperature was near freezing and the snow was melting from the roofs in the warmth of the sun. It was indeed a lovely day to see the new sights.
“It is so hard to believe a city can grow out of nothing so fast,” Sara stated, quite fascinated. While she lived on a farm completely alone, a city was developing not ten miles away.
“It is amazing what a railway line can do. It can make or break a town,” Sam pointed out the new railway depot located near Fifth Street; the whistle of a train sounded, as it was ready to depart. “The first passenger train came into Brandon a little over a year ago and the city has been growing ever since. We have our own daily paper now and there is talk of a second starting soon. It is only eighteen years until the turn of the century and I can only imagine how the west will change in that time. Small towns are developing all through the area, but some are already disappearing because of the rerouting of the train.”
Sam continued to tell Sara about the new city as they travelled through the streets. Brandon was only housed with tents a year earlier. Before then nothing was there but the wildlife and the native people travelling through the area.
“By midsummer this year the population grew to over three thousand people and two hundred businesses, including three other banks. There are four new churches, if you are interested.”
Sara gave no response to the statement and watched the streets in disbelief.
Everywhere they travelled workers were busy trying to finish new buildings before winter became too harsh. The sounds of construction and shouts of men giving direction filled the air. Sam turned Dickens and the cutter north on Eighteenth Street toward the beautiful new bridge that spanned the wide Assiniboine River to the north of Brandon. He proceeded to pay the toll of ten cents to cross the river. “For now it is a private bridge, although talk is the city will purchase it. A man named Thomas Daly is our first mayor and was elected back in July. It must seem unbelievable to have missed all of this, not to know what was going on.”
Sara nodded in response, then spoke, a hint of sadness showing through. “It feels like I have been asleep for a hundred years and just woke up. What about Blye’s Mercantile? It was in a tent when I was here last year. Did they build a store?”
“They moved into one of the buildings I had built and rent it from me. Let’s take the cutter back to the stable and take a walk to the store. I’m sure someone will be there from your old crowd. Most of the people who moved from Grand Valley still use Blye’s as the local stop, as much for the latest bit of gossip as shopping.” Sam directed the horse along the river then on to the ferry which crossed back to First Street, paying the quarter charged to cross. They proceeded to the hotel’s livery barn and as they passed his home he told her, “I had this building built this spring along with the stable.”
As they stopped at the doors of the barn he stepped down and offered Sara his hand to help her down. “You don’t look very happy, love.”
“I am really going to miss Grand Valley and getting the mail at Mrs. McVicar’s. This all seems so unfamiliar to me.”
“Let’s take a walk down to the mercantile, it is only a block away and it is a beautiful day. Melvin and Irene will bring back the old familiar feeling, as I’m certain others will when you see them.”
Sam and Sara walked down the street together, arm in arm. The people they met were already talking about the change in Mr. Fielding and everyone was anxious to greet them and offer their well wishes. Sam was quite taken with the fact that everywhere they went, men wanted to shake his hand and the women all offered him smiles, some remarking how good his new look was. “If I’d known I would be this popular I would have done it years ago.” But added to the smiling lady on his arm, “But it was worth waiting for the woman who gave this to me.”
“I didn’t give this to you, Sam. You did it all yourself.”
“Maybe so, but it was because of you I did it.”
They walked into Blye’s store, which was quite overcrowded as it was the location to get the news. Irene was quick to greet them, offering a mug of hot apple cider and a seat beside the Franklin pot-bellied stove in the back of the large room. A dozen chairs and a counter with stools were filled with the local people waiting to hear the latest talk. Promptly, two chairs were emptied for the guests of honour, even though they insisted on stopping for just a few minutes. A small barrel, which was almost overflowing with crackers, was placed in front of them and they enjoyed the drink, snack and conversation.
The men talked and laughed over who could tell the most outrageous story. Sara took a walk through the store to see what new items may have been added since the last time she shopped at Blye’s when it was still housed in a tent. Lily came into the store and joined Irene and Sara at the lingerie section, admiring the new materials undergarments were made of now. Other women started to mill around to catch up on their own bit of gossip which could be heard right from the source today. Everyone laughed when Irene held up a particularly dainty item and suggested Sara could probably make use of it soon.
She turned quite red, but the others joined her when Sam walked by and said, “Maybe take two of those. Anything she would like, put it on my account, Irene.” All the ladies laughed again when Sam was safely around the shelf corner and out of sight.
Lily placed her arm in Sara’s, “I’ve never seen you so happy, dear. It is time it should be your turn.” Leaning closer so only Sara could hear she added, “I always believed everything happens for a reason, no matter how bad. I think you have found your reason.”
Sara suddenly became shy with all of the attention and could only smile her thanks. Before leaving the counter she said to Irene, “I’ll see about some of these things when you are not quite so busy.” She went to the door where Sam was waiting. Behind them the buzz of women talking grew louder. She gave him a light slap on the arm and said, “That was mean,” but he had no reason to worry for her eyes sparkled with happiness and she confidently tucked her arm into his.
They walked back to Sam’s home in time for supper, or dinner as it was called here. Sara would have to get used to a few changes of the upper class. This time Mary insisted they eat alone in the dining room complete with candles on the table.
After the meal they retired to the sitting room where Sam pushed the settee in front of the fireplace. He pulled her close to him and asked, “Happy?” Her answer was to give him a long, deep, passionate kiss. They stretched out on the small sofa as close as possible watching the flames as they danced and flickered.
Mary stepped into the room once, asked if they needed anything, and then bade them good night.
Sam looked at his watch and said he would take a bath, as the water was already put to warm.
“It has been a long day, Sam,” Sara said as they stopped at the top of the stairs. Neither knew where to take it and she thought the best way was slowly. “It has been a wonderful day,” she continued, “but I am so tired, and I must wish you a good night.”
Sam felt disappointed she was so ready to part from him for the night, but gave in to it without question.
He stayed in the bath for nearly an hour, enjoying the warm water. He hesitated for a moment at Sara’s door, but thought better of it and went to his own room. ‘Time,’ he thought, ‘I will win her over, in time.’
In his room, he set the lamp bes
ide the bed on the night table to read for a while, although he wasn’t convinced it would help. He liked the feeling of holding Sara when he slept and missed it. “Time,” he thought again with a sigh.
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.
New Beginnings (New Beginnings Series) Page 11