The Clash Between the Minds Page 22

  Faith noted the hesitation and wondered what it meant. Had Leah and Phillip talked to Sarah about the house? "Thank you for the invitation, Leah." She looked around. "Where is everybody?"

  "Phillip's on the back porch, Amy's trying to put Bren to sleep, and Sarah's in her workroom." Leah waved to the studio door.

  Benjamin reached it first and knocked.

  "Come in."

  He opened the door and hurried in, with Faith and Leah right behind him.

  Sarah hadn't heard their arrival, but at the knock on the door, she rose from her desk chair. Benjamin came charging in and grabbed her in a strong embrace. "Aunt Sarah, I'm so glad you're home."

  "Me, too, Benjamin. Me, too." She blinked her eyes several times as she let go of him. "I think you've grown a couple of inches since I last saw you." Benjamin was as tall as his mother and obviously still growing.

  "Yes, ma'am. Wait 'til you see Paddy. He's bigger, too."

  "I'll bet he is." Her gaze slid past him and settled on Faith.

  "Benjamin," Leah said, "come taste my fresh chocolate chip cookies."

  He looked confused. Sarah glanced at him and touched his shoulder. "You and I will talk later, all right? Right now, I need to talk with your mama."

  His expression cleared. "Yes, ma'am." He turned toward Leah. "Chocolate chip's my all-time favorite cookie."

  "I remember," Leah said. "I made extra, just for you." She put her arm through Benjamin's and chattered on as they left the room together.

  Faith reached back and hooked the lock on the door.

  Sarah raised an eyebrow, and Faith blushed. "So we can speak privately," she said. Sarah stood there aching all over for Faith's touch. But she still didn't know Faith's thoughts. If Joel Litchfield had turned her mind, Sarah might be better off if she had been killed.

  "Sarah, I'm terribly sorry I've hurt you."

  Sarah spun around and faced away from Faith. "And a few words are supposed to take care of everything?" Sarah admonished herself inwardly: You know you'll forgive her anything, and here you go acting like you're all tough and mean. Maybe you can be that way with other people, but you can't with Faith. At least not for long.

  "I know I deserve it," Faith said, "but please...don't...don't turn your back on me."

  Sarah clamped her teeth together and slowly turned around.

  Faith licked her lips, and Sarah nearly lost the thread of control that enabled her to stand her ground. "I've been such a fool," Faith said. "After all the terror and confusion I felt, Joel's charm and attention seemed attractive to me. I finally realized I could never care for him the way he wanted me to. Just before I saw you in town, I told him I've always loved you, and as soon as the school year's over, we would be getting back together." When Sarah didn't move, Faith's voice faltered. "That's if you still want me."

  Sweep her off her feet. Rusty's advice rang once more in Sarah's head. Her two strides closed the distance between them. She flung her arms around Faith and kissed her. Her heart lifted into the clouds when Faith returned the kiss. When the kiss ended, Sarah leaned back and gazed into Faith's eyes. Tears were running down Faith's cheeks. "I've missed you so much," Sarah said in a raspy voice. She dipped her head for another kiss and groaned inside when Faith's fingers worked loose the top buttons of her shirt.

  "Damn buttons," Faith murmured when the kiss ended.

  Sarah softly hooted. "You're the one who said I should get a shirt with buttons on it."

  "So how often do you do what I tell you?"

  "Always, sweetheart."

  Faith snorted.

  Sarah stepped back and pulled the shirt and undershirt over her head, delighted to hear Faith gasp. Then she saw what caused the gasp. A huge bruise, as wide as her fist, spread from just below her neck to the bottom of her breasts.

  Faith touched it gingerly. "That must hurt."

  "Not enough to slow me down. But I suspect I can use some help with my boots." She sat on the bench at her writing desk, and Faith pulled off the boots and stockings.

  "Your leg's swollen a bit." Faith touched the weak spot on Sarah's shinbone.

  "Yes. Seems like I had a pressing reason to stomp up Main Street today, and I was determined not to limp."

  "I thought you looked elegant." Faith leaned down and kissed the spot. As she straightened up, Sarah gave her hair a short tug, bringing a grin from Faith.

  She unlaced her own shoes and kicked them off then pulled off her stockings and flung them toward her shoes.

  Sarah stood back up and undid the buttons on Faith's dress. Faith loosened Sarah's belt and unbuttoned her trousers. Then they switched. Sarah slipped off her trousers and underpants while Faith divested herself of her dress and underclothes.

  Sarah's whole being shook as they came together, body to body, skin to skin, both moaning.

  "Leah expects us for supper," Faith managed to say.

  Sarah let go of her embrace long enough to lead Faith to the sofa. "Don't worry," she murmured and kissed the side of Faith's forehead. "She'll know we're having supper in here."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sarah lay on her back with Faith in her arms, savoring the joy and satisfaction of their joining. Faith's head lay between her breasts, and warm breath tickled her skin. Just enough fading daylight came through the windows for her to see Faith's curls spread across her chest.

  "Your heart is thumping like a scared rabbit," Faith murmured.

  "Shows what you do to me," Sarah said with a chuckle. During their lovemaking, they had wound up on the rug before deciding that the sofa was a better choice. "I'm surprised I lived through it." She felt Faith jerk and heard her gasp. Uh-oh, bad choice of words.

  Faith sobbed, and Sarah stroked her hair. "Don't cry, sweetheart."

  "I almost lost you." Faith lifted her head and gazed into Sarah's eyes. "I thought you were dead. I couldn't believe it. I had so much to say to you. Suddenly, I thought I'd never get the chance to talk to you ever again."

  "I'm alive. I'm here. Tell me what you wanted to say."

  Faith rested her chin on the bruise between Sarah's breasts. It hurt, but Sarah gritted her teeth in an effort not to distress Faith any further.

  "I wanted to tell you that I had broken away from Joel. How I was such a fool to think he could ever take your place." Faith sniffled and Sarah wiped her cheeks with one hand. Faith turned her head and kissed Sarah's palm. "I love when you clear my tears away. Your touch always makes me feel better."

  "Good. Please don't cry anymore."

  Faith smiled and sniffled once more. "All right." She lay her head again on Sarah's chest and snuggled against her. For several moments neither of them spoke. Then Faith said, "It's so good to be home."

  "Uh, sweetheart, I'm the one who's been away."

  "I mean here, in your arms. That's home to me."

  Sarah tightened her embrace, and for a moment, her throat closed and she couldn't speak. Then she said, "Faith, we need to talk. We know our bodies are compatible, but we have to find out whether our minds are flowing in the same channel." She held her breath, waiting for Faith's answer.

  Faith slid her hand up Sarah's ribs and cupped her breast. "Can we please talk later? Right now my mind's preoccupied." She turned her head, licked Sarah's nipple, and kissed it.

  Sarah's breath burst out of her. "Mm-mm-mm." She laid her hand alongside Faith's cheek and pressed her head even closer. "Not giving up the hunt yet?"

  She heard a deep chuckle. "Not when the prey is so delectable." Faith's other hand moved lower and joined in the chase.

  Sarah sucked in a gulp of air and spoke as she released it. "Talking can wait."

  Afterward, they lay panting, and Sarah was close to exhaustion. But it was a satisfied exhaustion. Her body felt alive in ways it hadn't been for the seven months she and Faith had been separated. Gradually, their breathing calmed.

  Faith began to shake. At first, Sarah thought she was crying again, but when Faith raised her head, she was chuckling. "Your sto
mach's rumbling. And to tell you the truth, I'm hungry, too."

  "Stay here. I'll get us something to eat."

  Faith lifted up and rolled against the back of the sofa, and Sarah slid out from under her. In spite of their extended lovemaking, the movement of skin against skin excited Sarah. She hesitated, tempted to stay awhile longer, but her stomach rumbled again. She pulled on her trousers, donned her shirt, and padded barefoot to the door. When she opened it, the lit wall sconce revealed a pleasant surprise. She bent down, picked up one item, and walked back into the room.

  "Look what Leah left for us." She set the covered platter on the table in front of the sofa. "Let me light the lamp, and we'll see what it is." Sarah opened the table drawer, pulled out a sulfur match, and struck it.

  Faith quickly sat up and scooted toward the table. Just as Sarah turned up the wick and lifted the lamp's chimney, Faith snatched the cover off the platter.

  Sarah lit the lamp and replaced the chimney. "Hey, you were supposed to wait." She stood for a moment and filled her eyes with the vision of Faith. The lamplight glistened off her body, highlighting some alluring places and casting shadows in others.

  "When have you ever seen me wait for food when I didn't have to?" Faith eyed the sliced ham, potato salad, and coleslaw that filled the platter. Two knives and forks lay beside them.

  "Oh, my impetuous love," Sarah said in a teasing voice, "don't you know the value of anticipation?"

  "I've had loads of satisfied anticipation tonight. You wore me out. Now I need sustenance. But first..." Faith lifted her hands and looked around.

  "Wait." Sarah hurried to the door, stepped past it, and came back with a bowl of water and a towel. "Leah left us some water. She knows you always insist on washing your hands before you eat." Sarah sat down on the sofa.

  Faith looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "You're going to stay dressed while I sit here naked? Not fair."

  Sarah bolted up, shucked her clothes, and tossed them. She sat down as close to Faith as she could get. "Umm, you're right, this is a lot better."

  She and Faith washed and dried their hands and pushed the bowl of water aside. Faith wriggled her hip against Sarah's. "I hope you're still a fast eater."

  The next morning, Leah turned from the stove and greeted them with a wink when they entered the kitchen. "Just in time for breakfast. Have a seat." Faith said hello to Phillip and Amy and gave Benjamin a quick kiss. She poured coffee for herself and Sarah and sat across the table from Benjamin.

  "Good morning," Sarah called to those at the table. She walked up behind Leah and put her arms around Leah's waist. She gave her a quick hug and kissed her offered cheek. "Thanks for the food and water last night. It was well appreciated."

  "You're welcome, honey. Now sit down and eat and visit with us for a while before Faith and Benjamin have to go home." Leah grasped the frying pan's handle with a hot pad and used a flapjack turner to flip the four pancakes.

  Sarah frowned, then her thoughts cleared. "Not home. You mean back to the teacher's house."

  "Right. My mistake." Leah handed her the syrup. "Grab the crock of butter, and we can eat." She placed the pancakes on a platter loaded with the ones cooked earlier and set the platter on the table. She and Sarah sat and Phillip said grace. Afterward, the platter was passed, and they all began eating.

  "Sarah," Faith said, "why did the sheriff arrest Joel?"

  "He was the one behind the train robberies."

  Faith gasped and Leah said, "He put that gash on Sarah's forehead."

  "He hurt you? How? What happened?"

  Sarah explained everything.

  Faith looked incredulous. "I knew he had a touch of arrogance, but he never seemed criminal."

  Sarah stroked her arm. "Litchfield showed you his better side."

  "And to think, I assumed he was being considerate by not pushing his advances on me. All the while, he was visiting Calleton." Faith pushed her lips together and blushed. "I was so stupid. What if I'd let him persuade me to marry him?"

  Sarah's lip curled. "Marry that two-timing bastard? I'd never have let that happen in a million years."

  "And," Leah said, "neither would I."

  "Leah," Faith said, "I'll be forever grateful for your help gathering evidence. And for that talk we had while Sarah was gone. I think I began to look at Joel a little more clearly after that. Thank you."

  "You're welcome. I hoped your good sense would win out."

  Phillip waved a hand over the table. "Now let's have the good sense to finish this delicious meal."

  "I second that motion," Sarah said, and they turned their attention once more to eating.

  Near the end of the meal, young Bren fussed from his cradle in the corner of the room. "Sit still, Leah. I'll get him," Faith said. She checked the baby's diaper and found it dry. She wrapped him in his blanket, picked him up, and returned to her seat at the table. "Hi there, big boy." Bren's fair hair, cornflower-blue eyes, and plump pink cheeks gave him a cherubic look.

  "Hey." Sarah leaned over from her seat next to Faith and tapped Bren's chest. He grabbed her finger, brought it to his mouth, and sucked on it. She pulled her finger away, and he began fussing. "Uh-oh," Sarah said with a laugh, "I think he wants his mama."

  Leah poured some sugar into a cloth napkin and rolled the material into a finger-shaped protrusion. She reached into her pocket, pulled out a piece of string, and tied the napkin just below the bulge. She handed it to Faith. "Here. That should keep him happy until breakfast is over."

  Sure enough, Bren quieted as soon as Faith put the sugar teat in his mouth. He sucked away in apparent satisfaction.

  Sarah murmured into Faith's ear. "I think I could use one of those." Faith turned several different shades of red, Leah covered her mouth, and Phillip cleared his throat. Oh my, Sarah thought, I guess my words weren't as quiet as I meant them to be. She glanced quickly toward Benjamin and Amy, but they were busy talking and apparently oblivious to the adult humor.

  Faith pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes. "I know, I know, redhead," Sarah said, "I'll get mine later." Leah and Phillip laughed, and this time Sarah turned red.

  Around dinnertime, Sarah and Faith took a buggy ride along the path behind the house that led into the woods. Sarah stopped the buggy in a sunny glen. Faith picked up a blanket, and Sarah helped her down from the buggy. Faith spread the blanket on the ground while Sarah retrieved a basket that held a couple of sandwiches and flasks of water.

  Sarah removed her hat and laid it beside her. She and Faith sat next to each other on the blanket and kissed. When they separated, Sarah pushed softly against Faith to move her away and said, "Talking time."

  Faith nodded. "I know."

  Neither woman spoke.

  Faith gazed directly into Sarah's eyes. "Me first, I guess, though I'm not sure where to start. I told you I had refused to continue seeing Joel."

  "The idea that you were seeing him at all tears me up." Sarah's teeth ground together, and she could feel that her expression had hardened. "When I left here, I knew he was hanging around you, but I never expected you to walk right into his arms."

  "Sarah!" Faith punched her shoulder. "I didn't walk into his arms. He hugged me a few times, yes, but I never initiated that contact." Faith hesitated. She reached over and rubbed the spot on Sarah's arm that she had struck. "Bad reaction," she said. "I'm sorry."

  "That's the second time you've hit me. Or the third, if you want to count the time you knocked me on my ass in the mud."

  "That was just a push, and you deserved it. Or at least I thought you did." Faith touched Sarah's forearm. "But I've never meant to hurt you, ever. It's just...sometimes I have trouble controlling my temper."

  Sarah looked down at Faith's hand lying on her arm. "I know that, and you've never hurt me physically." She looked up and put her free hand over her heart. "You've hurt me here. This whole situation has hurt me. When I was away and would think of you and Litchfield being together, I thought I'd go mad."

&
nbsp; "We were never together, Sarah. Not in the way you mean. He never so much as touched me in an intimate way, I swear."

  "He never kissed you?" Sarah found that hard to believe. If Litchfield never tried to kiss Faith, he was a bigger idiot than Sarah thought he was.

  Faith's face reddened. "He kissed me once."

  "And how was it?" Emotion roughened Sarah's voice.

  Faith's hand closed on Sarah's forearm. "I guess it was all right. I didn't kiss him back. I got through it by pretending it was you."

  "Of course."

  "Sarah, I've already tried several times to tell you that my actions were driven by fear for all of us, but mostly for Benjamin. If he'd been hurt by the Klan because of us, I couldn't have borne it. Joel kept trying to persuade me that the only way to keep Benjamin—all of us—safe was to leave you and marry him. All that fright warped my thinking, and for a while, what he said made sense. I've begged you to understand. Can you forgive me?"

  Sarah reached for a flask of water. She removed the stopper, took a long drink, and replaced the stopper. "What changed your mind? What made you decide you weren't going to see him anymore?"

  "Yesterday morning, when I knew you were coming home, everything became clear. I realized I'd never leave you, no matter what happened. Sometimes life smacks you in the jaw and knocks you down, and we can't avoid that. But I understood that, if life knocked me down, I wanted you beside me to help me up, not Joel Litchfield. I love you, Sarah. I always have, and I always will. And I promise—on Benjamin's life—that I'll never turn away from you again."

  Sarah laid the flask down and opened her arms. Faith threw herself into the embrace so hard that she almost knocked Sarah over. But Sarah recovered and said, "I love you, too, sweetheart. I don't ever want to lose you. I don't even want to come close to losing you." She pulled Faith into a sweet kiss.

  After several kisses, Faith moved away a bit. "This has been all about me. But what about you? What were you up to while you were gone? Who's the woman who made the vest for you?"

  Sarah grinned in remembrance and Faith said, "If your eyes don't stop sparkling about her, I might smack you again."