With the wagon hitched, Tom picked the boys up and deposited them in the bed. Logan gave each of the women a hand, helping them in beside the boys. Somehow it did not seem right to him that they should be riding in the back, but there was not enough room for all of them on the bench and it seemed too forward to climb in with Sara. All settled, they set off for town.
The early September day was a pleasant one, with the heat of the summer finally fading away. Charley and Carter each peered over the side of the wagon, enjoying the breeze as much as the opportunity to leave the ranch for a while.
The rhythmic bumps and jars of the carriage soon led to a game for the children, with each of them exaggerating the bouncing. Janie could not help but grin. She hoped that their future here would always be as carefree as today.
Reaching Oakmede, Tom drove the wagon through town, pulling it in behind the inn. James and Genevieve had clearly been watching for them, as the door to their living quarters behind the inn flew open before anyone had time to climb to the ground. James hurried over and heartily shook Tom’s hand.
“Welcome back,” he smiled. “It’s so good to see you!”
“Thank you. It’s wonderful to be back!” He greeted Genevieve with a hug. “I cannot thank you both enough for your care toward Janie and the boys in my absence. Friends like you make Oakmede feel like home.”
“There’s no need for thanks. You have all become family to us!” Genevieve smiled. “Now, come on in. We have supper waiting.”
Logan lingered near the wagon, allowing the others to step inside before he followed Sara in. His mind continuously returned to his conversation with Tom the day before. He could not deny his feelings for Sara. But finding an opportunity to tell her seemed a daunting task. Rather than push things prematurely, he settled for sitting next to her at supper.
Inside the house Genevieve had a welcoming fire blazing in the fireplace, and the aroma of beef stew filled the room. Even with as little time as Sara had spent with the Langleys’, they instantly made her feel at home. Warm chatter filled the room while the stew was ladled into bowls. James occupied Tom’s attention, recounting the happenings of Oakmede from the past few months.
With everyone tied up in some conversation or another, Sara found herself stealing furtive glances at Logan once more. His presence near her was comforting in a way she’d never experienced before. As much as she wanted the opportunity to speak with him, this seemed better for the time being.
After supper, everyone gathered into the Langley’s small sitting room. It was not designed to fit so many people but Genevieve earnestly shuffled things around, playing the perfect hostess and making room for everyone.
With Logan’s thoughts lingering on Sara and the close quarters of the room, he soon excused himself to get a breath of fresh air. Watching until he’d stepped outside, Sara contemplated whether or not to follow him. It seemed that this might be their only opportunity to speak privately, but following him out was bolder than she was comfortable with. Lingering in the sitting room, she struggled to focus on the conversation.
“I’m telling you, I believe you could do a good business here,” Genevieve urged, pulling Sara’s attention back. “To be honest, I’d like one of your dresses myself. Your experienced hand shines through your work beautifully.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Sara smiled. “I still have a lot to decide over the coming days. But if the opportunity presents itself, I might bring in a few more dresses.”
“I hope you do.” Genevieve reached for the tea kettle, refilling Janie and Sara’s cups.
Noticing Logan watching through the back window, Sara hoped for him to look at her. Soon, their eyes met, and Sara’s heart skipped. Taking a deep breath and hoping for the best, she excused herself and headed out to join Logan.
“What a lovely night,” she commented, joining him near the small stable. “It’s almost too nice to spend it indoors.”
Logan nodded but remained quiet. He leaned back against the stable door, propping a boot up on it. The moon now shone brightly around them, leaving few shadows in its glow. Sara stood nearby, gazing out across the yard and into the outskirts of town. Logan pondered how to begin to voice the thoughts that were jumbled in his mind.
“It’s nice to finally have a moment to relax,” he finally spoke up. “Perhaps now that Tom has returned, you will be able to see Oakmede in a better light. It really isn’t as stressful a place as I’m sure it’s seemed.”
Sara shrugged. “The circumstances haven’t kept me from enjoying my time here. I’ve always longed to see this part of the country. Now I understand what the draw to it is. I’m not sure Baltimore will ever feel quite the same again.”
“I know what you mean,” he agreed. “I never managed to pull myself back to the city once I’d had my taste of the frontier. With the fresh air and room to breathe, and the opportunity to build a life on your own terms, what more could a man want?”
Sara agreed. “I’m sure it is a fine place to call home.”
Logan pondered whether or not to continue. “What are your plans now that things are settled?”
“I’m not quite sure yet,” she replied, looking up at him. “There doesn’t seem to be much more need for me here.” She silently hoped that he would ask her to stay. If only he shared in this feeling that she had toward him, she could call Oakmede home as well.
“Does there have to be a need in order for you to stay? Life out here seems to suit you.”
Sara sighed. That was not quite the answer she had wished for. “It does suit me, but I still have responsibilities to my mother.”
“I understand,” he nodded. “Still, I…”
“Logan…Sara?” James called from the door to the house. “Genevieve is just getting ready to cut into a pie. Come back in if you want some.”
Logan glanced back at Sara and shrugged. “Shall we go in?”
Sara’s heart dropped. She’d wanted so much more from these few minutes alone with him. “Yes,” she sighed. “We shouldn’t keep them waiting.” Seeing that their invitation had so easily overridden Logan’s interest in their conversation, Sara fought back the tears as she resigned herself to the idea that he was not going to offer her the invitation she’d been seeking. She followed Logan back into the house.
Logan resumed his place on the couch, leaving enough room for Sara to have a seat as well. He kicked himself for not pushing further into their conversation, but the simple fact that she was fond of the area seemed a good sign to him. He hoped that another opportunity might present itself in the coming days.
Charley and Carter excitedly took their plates of dessert from Mrs. Langley. “Thank you!” they beamed. Such a treat was rare, and though they were unsure of the reason behind their celebration, they decided not to question being given pie.
The conversation lingered late into the night. By the time everyone began saying their goodbyes, Charley and Carter had both fallen asleep on the rug near the fireplace.
“You have the sweetest children,” Genevieve praised as Janie approached the boys. “Here, take a blanket with you. They’ll need something to pad the bed of the wagon.”
“Thank you,” Janie smiled, accepting a soft quilt from her. “I’ll return it to you the next time we’re in town.”
“There’s no rush, dear,” Genevieve assured her.
Sara gently picked Carter up, cradling him in her arms, while Janie scooped up Charley. Logan took the blanket out ahead of them, spreading it out before reaching for each of the boys. Once everyone was settled, they began their trip back to the house.
Logan was not fond of traveling at night. Darkness could conceal far too much. Even with the light of the moon, he kept his hand at the ready near his revolver. He sat on the bench with Tom, fully alert, and observing their surroundings.
In the bed of the wagon, however, Sara’s mind was far from the present. She had put her best efforts into seeking Logan’s invitation to stay, yet she’d come up short. Fe
eling that she now had her answer, she contemplated the days ahead of her.
She decided that it was just as well. It would be terribly unfair of her to decide to stay while her mother had been anxiously awaiting her return. Just as she had always done, Sara determined to fulfill her responsibilities above all else.
Upon arriving back at the house, Janie and Sara took the boys inside while the men took care of the horses. After putting the boys in bed, they quietly closed the bedroom door behind them.
“Would you care for tea?” Janie asked. “I’m going to brew some for Tom and myself anyway.”
“Thank you, but I’m already pretty tired. I think I’ll pass on it tonight.” Sara sighed and rubbed her face.
“Is everything alright? You grew rather quiet towards the end of our visit tonight,” Janie commented, filling the kettle and kindling a fire.
“I’ll be alright. I think all the emotions of this past week are catching up with me. I’m sure that a good night’s sleep will do wonders.”
“Yes, I know the feeling.” Janie paused, sensing more in Sara’s eyes, but she clearly was not ready to elaborate. “In that case, go ahead and get some rest.”
Bidding her goodnight, Sara retired to her bedroom before Logan had a chance to come into the house. Shedding her dress, she pulled her nightgown on and climbed into bed, ready to put the evening behind her.
Chapter 16
The next morning, Sara slowly began retrieving her things that had been spread out across the house. Though she wasn’t looking forward to leaving, lingering here would not do her any good if Logan did not share her feelings. Sensing that it was time to move on, she wrote out a telegram to be sent to her mother as soon as possible, explaining her intentions.
Tom returned from mucking out the barn just in time to find her finishing the telegram. “I know you said you planned on returning to Mother, but are you truly in that much of a hurry?” he asked, lingering behind her chair at the table, glancing over her note.
“I think it’s time. I can’t be of much more use to you here, and Mother genuinely needs me.”
“I realize that you’ve been here for some time now, but with most of it having been in my absence, I feel as though I’ve hardly seen you.”
“I know. I hoped to be able to catch up with you a bit more than I have. But my return to Baltimore doesn’t mean that we must be cut off from one another. Perhaps you and your family could visit Mother sometime. She misses you dearly.”
Tom nodded. “I miss her, too. If only it didn’t cost so much to travel back and forth, Oakmede really would be the perfect place.”
Sara agreed. “As much as I hate to leave, I plan on catching a train by the end of the week.”
“I will miss you, but I understand. I won’t keep you from what you were doing,” Tom said, glancing around the sitting room. “It is a beautiful day, though. It’s undoubtedly one of the nicest we’ve had yet this year. You might want to get out and enjoy the first glimpses of fall before you leave the region.”
“That does sound lovely. I think I might go for a walk. If Janie needs anything, I’ll be back shortly.”
“There’s no need to rush. Janie has plenty of help now that both Logan and I are back. Enjoy yourself.”
Sara thanked him and grabbed her shawl. Stepping out onto the veranda, the morning sunlight welcomed her with a warm kiss on the face. Sara knew she would miss the wide-open expanses of the prairie. The wheat fields beyond Tom and Janie’s property were ready for harvest and Sara welcomed the chance to walk among them one more time.
Tom waited until Sara was shrinking away in the distance before crossing the yard. He knocked on the door of the bunkhouse while keeping an eye on Sara’s silhouette.
“Good morning,” Logan greeted, swinging the door open.
“Good morning, may I speak with you for a moment?” Tom replied. Seeing that Hodges and Peterson were both still in the house, he urged Logan to join him outside.
“What is it? Is something wrong?”
“Not yet, but I think there is something you should know. You mentioned before that you had feelings for Sara. And I would like nothing more than to see the two of you happy together. But I fear that your time with her is quickly running out. She informed me that she plans on returning to Baltimore within the next week.”
Logan’s expression dropped. “She’s leaving?”
“She plans to, but you might still have the chance to change that. I believe she would stay if she knew of your feelings for her.”
“My feelings alone aren’t enough if she does not share in them,” Logan shook his head.
“But she does, I’m sure of it! I’ve never seen her as infatuated as she appears to be with you. But if you don’t speak with her soon, I fear it might be too late.” Tom placed a hand on Logan’s shoulder. “You’ve done so much for me, bending over backwards to protect my relationship with Janie. Now it’s time for you to consider your own happiness. Whatever you do, don’t cause yourself to live your life wondering what could have been.” Tom pointed toward Sara’s disappearing figure in the distance as he backed away from Logan.
Logan lingered in the yard, watching Sara’s figure float down the path. Fighting with his own mind over whether or not to take a chance with his heart, he finally decided that it would be better to be hurt than to never know what might have been. He slowly started out after Sara, keeping pace with her but never really gaining on her. He wanted the time to decide what he might say to her.
Having reached the edge of Tom’s property, Sara turned off and dawdled near the retaining wall, soaking in the mid-morning sun. The stream that ran along the outside of the wall babbled cheerily over the stones beneath it. Sara perched herself on top of the wall and let her head drop back, feeling the warm rays of sunlight dancing on her cheeks. It was such a lovely place that she wanted to remember it long after she’d returned to Baltimore.
Though Sara was determined to enjoy her last few days in Oakmede, her heart was breaking. The thought of leaving without any closure over Logan put a lump in her throat. But she decided she couldn’t very well have expected anything different.
He had been a mystery since the day he’d appeared at the front door. Despite their few conversations and glimpses into one another’s worlds, there was far more about him that remained shrouded. She scoffed at the idea that she‘d thought she had figured him out.
It wasn’t until a pebble bounced across the little dirt path nearby that Sara realized she was not alone. Glancing behind her, she found Logan standing at a short distance away, quietly observing her. She’d been so deep in thought that she hoped she had not been terribly obvious.
“Hello,” she called. “Did you need something?”
Logan shook his head, slowly approaching her. “Not really. I was just out for a stroll myself. It’s a nice day for it.”
Sara quickly heard the strain in his voice. He was clearly struggling with a subject more profound than his small talk. “I see,” she nodded. “Would you care to join me?” She swung her feet down off the retaining wall, inviting him to sit.
Logan accepted, sitting next to her. He plucked a blade of grass, running it between his fingers and staring at something nonexistent near his boot.
“What is bothering you?” Sara finally asked, drawing his attention once more.
Logan sighed, still unsure of himself. “I just spoke with Tom. He told me that you plan on leaving Oakmede.”
Sara studied Logan, and her heart began to pound with a newfound hope that he might care for her after all. “Yes, my mother is still in Baltimore, waiting for my return. With Tom a free man again, it seems that my purpose here has been served.”
Partners in Justice and Love: A Historical Western Romance Book Page 18