Part 22 (2/2)

”You are a thorough wench,” I said.

”One can't be too clean.”

”And does that apply to you as well?” I asked. Before she had a chance to answer, I scooped up water with my coffee cup and flung it over my shoulder. She let out a squeal that turned into laughter. Then she grabbed both my shoulders, pulled me backward and shoved, scooting me down till my head went under.

I came up gasping and blinking, just in time to watch Sarah swing a leg over the rim of the tub. She climbed right in with me. Kneeling between my legs, she took away the cup and handed the bar of soap to me. ”Finish the job you started,” she said, and laughed some more.

I was mighty glad to oblige her.

I soaped her up good, using both hands and taking my time about it. By and by, she quit laughing. She breathed heavy and moaned, and took to guiding my hands around. I'd been working mostly on her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, but she didn't want her southern section neglected, so she took my hands down there. After a bit, she was in an awful frenzy. I could say the same for myself, actually.

She didn't wait to rinse, but sprawled atop me, all sudsy and slippery.

Well, that came to a quick, wild finish. But we didn't stop. We carried on, thras.h.i.+ng and tussling and flopping about, taking breathers now and again to soap up places we might've missed earlier, soaping some of the same places, too, then commencing to splash around and join up all over again. It's a wonder n.o.body drowned.

The water was cold by the time we climbed out.

There was near as much on the floor as in the tub.

We dried each other with towels. Then I stayed and mopped the floor while Sarah made breakfast in the kitchen.

After the meal, we dressed and went out to the stable. There, we harnessed Howitzer to the carriage and headed off. Sarah let me handle the reins, as she knew I enjoyed it. That left her to hop down and attend to the gate. After closing the gate, she rushed over and checked the mailbox. I longed to see her reach inside and pull out a letter from Mother, but she returned empty-handed. Climbing aboard, she shook her head. ”I'm sorry,” she said.

”Perhaps the postman hasn't arrived yet,” I told her, though I knew it was already past noon. Back when the General was alive, Sarah had usually brought the mail to him before he'd finished breakfast. Though he and Mable ate much later than us, they'd get done by around eleven. So the postman had certainly come along by now, but with nothing to leave.

”Maybe tomorrow,” Sarah said.

Disappointed, I got us rolling.

Sarah stared at me, looking rather solemn. Pretty soon, she said, ”Shall I buy you a ticket for England?”

The merest whisper of a breeze could've knocked me over when I heard those words. I gawped at her.

”I'm able to afford it now, you know. Would it make you happy?”

”Do you mean it?” I blurted.

”Of course. If that's what you want.”

I gazed at her, struck dumb with surprise and gratefulness. The sun was out, s.h.i.+ning on her face. She looked so beautiful it made my heart sore.

Much as I longed for home, the notion of going away from Sarah all of a sudden filled me with a sick, lonely feeling.

I'd been keen on Sarah since the moment I first saw her, the night I warned the General about Whittle and we stormed into her bedroom. It was likely Christmas night that I fell in love with her. After that, I would've been sorry to part with her. But now, what with all that we'd done since the funeral, I could hardly bear the thought of going off and never seeing her again.

”Would you come along with me?” I asked.

”What would your mother have to say about that?”

”I'm sure she'd be quite fond of you. You could stay with us. I'd show you all of London. We'd have a ripping good time!”

She shook her head. ”It's nice to think so, but...the difference in our ages. Your mother would be appalled. Everyone Everyone would be appalled.” would be appalled.”

”They needn't know that we're more than chums.”

”We'd have to behave like strangers. We couldn't so much as hold hands or kiss, much less dance or share a bed...or bathe together.”

”Why, we would find times for such things.”

”No. I'm afraid not.”

”But Sarah!”

”It would be too horrible for both of us.”

”But how can I leave you?”

”I haven't ordered ordered you to leave. I'm simply offering you the opportunity. The choice is yours.” you to leave. I'm simply offering you the opportunity. The choice is yours.”

”I can't go without you.”

When I said that, her eyes watered up. She stroked my cheek and kissed me. ”You may change your mind, someday.”

I shook my head.

”If ever you do, tell me. We'll buy the ticket for you. Next week, next month, next year. You may grow weary of me, you know.”

”Never,” I said.

Soon after that, we reached the outskirts of town. Sarah gave me directions to the attorney's office, which turned out to be in his home. Before climbing down, she handed me a wad of money and told me I should go on and buy our supplies. She would find me when she was finished with the legal matters.

I left her, and headed for the markets.

I had a fair idea what we needed in the way of food and such, and set to gathering it. But my mind was all ajumble. Had I done the proper thing, refusing her offer? I felt as if I'd betrayed Mother. I felt, too, that Sarah had somewhat let me down. After all, she could could go with me. go with me.

The more I puzzled over it, though, the more I saw she was right. Should she come with me, we'd be forced to keep apart. It would be awful.

So it came down to stay or lose Sarah, and I'd made my choice to stay. Bad as I felt about Mother, though, pretty soon I eased my mind about that. If Sarah hadn't offered to buy me a ticket home, why, I would've been staying anyhow. At least for several more months. The trick was to keep on saving my money till I'd earned enough for the pa.s.sage home, and study the situation then.

I was feeling fairly comfortable about things by the time I'd rounded up our food and supplies. I loaded them into the carriage. Sarah hadn't returned yet, so I read the World World while I waited for her. while I waited for her.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR.

Slaughter The story that changed everything wasn't in the issue of the World World which I read while waiting for Sarah to return from the attorney's office. I turned from page to page, and gave little thought to Whittle. which I read while waiting for Sarah to return from the attorney's office. I turned from page to page, and gave little thought to Whittle.

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