Gregory, Lisa by The Rainbow Season

Author:The Rainbow Season
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-11-20T23:45:23+00:00

Sarah found the rest of the community equally unwilling to accept her decision. As the rumors of her impending marriage grew, neighbors and relatives stopped by to express their horror and satisfy their curiosity. Each visit served merely to push Sarah a little farther away from them and closer to Luke, who put no pressure on her but went about his work and shared meals with her in a quiet, reassuringly routine way.

Reverend Carson was struck dumb at Sarah's request that he marry her to Luke Turner a week from Saturday. Sarah suppressed an urge to giggle at his popeyed amazement and an equally strong desire to hit him.

"But, Miss Sarah, my dear, you cannot be serious. So soon after your parents' death?"

"It is no disrespect to my parents, sir, and eminently practical. My cousin Grace cannot remain indefinitely at the farm to chaperone us and Luke and I cannot live for several months close together on the farm without creating a horrendous scandal."

"No, no, of course not. The solution is for you to stay with your sister or your aunt in town."

"I have to remain at the farm. I can hardly expect Luke to handle it all himself."

"You are overwrought. Very understandable, in view of your recent tragedy."

"I am not unhinged," Sarah said crisply, becoming practiced at cutting off her many advisers. "Please, Reverend, I know what I am doing. I would prefer to be married in a church, but if you refuse, I shall content myself with a civil ceremony—or go to the Methodist church in town."

Mr. Carson gave in at that threat, and Sarah was able to return to the farm with a fixed date for her wedding. Armed with that, she intended to broach the subject of meeting his family to Luke that evening. The opportunity came after supper and dessert when Gracie had left to put her children to bed.

"Luke, Reverend Carson agreed to marry us next Saturday evening—a week from tomorrow."

He looked at her, immobilized by the idea that it was really going to happen.

"I thought I would send a note to your sister and—" she paused and took a deep breath, "I want to meet your father and grandmother."

Luke said nothing, just clenched his hand until the knuckles turned white.

"Why?" he said at last, his voice despairing. "Why can't you just leave it alone?"

"Because they are your family, and they deserve at least to meet your wife, even if you refuse to invite them to your wedding."

"They don't deserve anything, believe me," he said roughly, then shrugged in resignation. "When do you want to go?"

"Sunday," Sarah said and smiled.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.