Read Online A Lady Like Sarah by Margaret Brownley - Free Book Online

little humor.
    She bit her lip and lowered her eyes. "It's the first time I ever done that, you know," she said, her voice barely more than a whisper.
    "First time you did what? Try to be a friend?"
    "I ain't talking about no friends. You're the first man I ever kissed."
    Hands on his hips, he stared at the ground. "I think it would be best if we don't talk about it."
    "Really?" She sounded surprised. "Is that one of those subjects that ladies can't discuss?"
    He looked up. "I suppose it's all right if you're married," he said gently, not wanting to hurt her feelings any more than he already had. "But unmarried ladies aren't supposed to talk about kissing . . . and things." He couldn't talk about such things. Not with her so close and looking so fetching.
    Sarah shook her head. "If that don't beat all." She frowned. "Is that one of those rules in the Good Book?"
    "Rules? Oh, you mean the Ten Commandments. The Bible is clear on the importance of remaining honorable until marriage."
    She chewed on her lip. "By 'honorable,' you mean—"
    "Yes," he said quickly, his terse voice meant to discourage further discussion.
    Much to his dismay, she persisted. "What about kissin'?"
    He cleared his throat. "There's nothing in the Bible that specifically addresses the subject of. . . kissing. It's just something that polite society expects."
    "So what you're sayin' is that it's okay with God if I talk about kissin', but it ain't okay with society?"
    "I suppose."
    She glanced around. "I don't see no society here, do you?"
    "Well—"
    "It's just you, me, and God." She glanced at Owen as if tryÂing to decide if his presence counted. "So that means that I can talk about kissin'."
    He stared at her, not knowing how to handle such logic. "I don't really see what there is to talk about. I mean . . ." Needing all the defenses he could muster, he slipped into his role as pastor as easily as he donned a coat.
    He continued, "Sometimes people do things when they're carrying a burden that they wouldn't normally do. In view of your troubles, it's perfectly understandable that you might do something you'd later regret."
    "I ain't regrettin ' nothin'," she said with a frown.
    Not knowing how to respond, he looked away and remained silent. Most people were quick to admit their transgressions in his presence and were enormously relieved when he told them of God's forgiveness. But Sarah wasn't like anyone he'd ever met. He wondered if she were one of a kind or if peoÂple in these parts had their own way of looking at things. If that were the case, he was in trouble, for he couldn't begin to think like she did.
    Sarah made him feel like he was in a foreign country. She didn't even speak the same language. It came as a shock to think how limited his pastoral work in Boston had been. He felt totally unprepared for the challenges of the West. Nor did he have a clue how to deal with people like Sarah, whose plain-talking ways were both refreshing and alarming.
    After a long silence, she said, "I just want to know if I done it right."
    Feeling a flicker of hope, he cleared his throat. Maybe if he put her mind at ease, she would abandon the subject. "Other than the fact that you threw yourself at me," he began slowly, "I'd say you did everything else . . . very well."
    "Is that so?" She smiled and her whole face lit up. It was the first real smile she'd given him all day.
    "It must come nat'ral , being that I lack experience and all," she said.
    As much as her boldness disarmed him he was also intrigued, and he regretted having to discourage such frank talk. "It might help you to know that it's the man who does the initiÂating, not the woman." If she would keep her distance, then surely he could keep his.
    "Don't tell me," she said. "It's one of those society rules, right?"
    "Right."
    "So if it's just God watchin '—"
    He quickly stepped back, putting more distance between them. "Same rules apply," he said firmly.

S even
     
    Where 's the