Sarah's Smile (The Daughters of Riverton Book 1) by Dawn Kinzer

Author:Dawn Kinzer [Kinzer, Dawn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Morningview Publishing
Published: 2016-10-13T18:30:00+00:00

chapteR TWENTY-FOUR

It would have been easier to stay home from worship that morning. The last words Peter had spoken to Sarah—hurtful remarks —lingered in her thoughts and heart, stealing her joy. Even worse, what she imagined he’d wanted to say and didn’t. But faking an illness never fooled Gram, and breaking a leg on purpose seemed a bit extreme. So, there she sat as always, next to her grandmother in the third row on the right.

Peter stepped away from the pulpit, making eye contact with his parishioners as he challenged them to trust God for all their needs. Afraid of what she’d see in his gaze, Sarah focused on the locket hanging from the chain around her neck, caressing the smooth back with her thumb. What had filled his mind these past hours? Was he glad to see her there? Did he yearn for peace between them? There was a time when all she had to do was glance at him to know his thoughts. Now uncertain, Sarah hungered to know the truth.

He closed with an amen, gave Rebecca a slight nod, and she played an introduction to the closing hymn. Gram leaned on her cane and rose to sing with the congregation, her voice now warbling from age.

The last verse. The song would soon end. Sarah’s stomach churned like river rapids. She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t greet Peter with a handshake and a forced smile. Ellie and Thomas were sitting in the row behind them. They’d be willing to assist her grandmother if Sarah escaped.

“I’ll meet you outside,” she whispered close to her grandmother’s ear. “Thomas will help you down the stairs.”

Her grandmother scowled, but Sarah slipped out of the pew without explaining and headed toward the door. She’d come up with an excuse later.

The air had cooled since Friday, a welcome reprieve after the sweltering Independence Day. Sarah stood beneath a large maple canopy and listened to the last refrains of the hymn filtering through the church windows. Families soon filed out of the building like hungry ants marching off to raid a picnic.

Ellie and the children marched down the stairs from the church entrance, but Thomas held Gram’s arm to steady her until she reached the ground and was joined by several other gray-haired ladies. Mary and Grace skipped off, the boys joined in a game of tag, and Ellie sauntered away from chattering adults and playful children and headed toward Sarah.

If Peter had given his sister even a hint of what happened at the Carters’ during their Fourth of July celebration, Ellie would either bombard Sarah with questions or scold her.

“Are you ill?” Ellie’s eyes were filled with concern. “You ran out of the church so fast, I thought the place was on fire.”

“I’m fine.” Sarah hadn’t wanted to bring attention to herself. “Just a little dizzy and needing fresh air.”

“The church felt stuffy, even with the side windows open.” Ellie’s shoulders relaxed. “I’m glad you’re feeling better.”

Sarah waved to Gram to reassure her. “Have

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.