These is My Words by Nancy Turner

Author:Nancy Turner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books

July 31, 1885

Savannah and I cleared the table and did dishes while the men talked. Later we sat on the porch and watched the south hills, as the sky was full of distant clouds and lightning flashes. Melissa Raalle came skipping over and called out, Auntie Savannah! Mama wants me to borrow some molasses if you have any. So Savannah went into the house to fetch it, and left me with the men and the babies on the porch. Melissa grinned and giggled into her hand.

Albert smiled at her and said, Have you got a secret, Melissa? She nodded yes. Are you going to tell it? he asked her. She shook her head no. Melissa always has a secret, he said to Jack, and both men tried to look very interested in her secret, which made her blush and giggle, entirely pleased with all the attention she was getting.

After a bit she said, I’ll tell Uncle Albert! and she climbed up on his lap and put her hand on his ear and said loud enough for all of us to hear, I saw Mr. Jack and Miss Sarah hiding in the trees and they were kissing!

Albert looked at me, kind of shocked and foolish, and said Sarah!

Jack looked at me the same way, and said Sarah! Then he said to Albert behind his hand, but loud enough for me to hear, I can tell you I was there, and it was a scandalous act! Then both of those hooligans started to laugh, and Albert whispered something back to Melissa which sent her into peals of giggles.

Well, you three can just sit there and laugh yourselves silly! I said, and walked into the house to find Savannah.

She was coming towards the door with a jar of molasses she was wiping with a wet rag, and said, Sarah, what is the matter?

Men are low and vulgar. They must be born that way, I said, As any time you get two in the same room they either fight each other or join up and nuisance someone else. Those two are teasing me. Savannah just smiled and nodded, and set the jar down. Then she took my hands and led me to her fireside chairs and we sat facing each other. She just kept looking at me, suspicious and smiling, until I said, Savannah, what is it?

Did he ask you yet? She said.

I sucked in my breath. You knew? You knew before he did it?

She nodded. He told us last time he was here he wanted to marry you. She lowered her voice to a whisper and hugged me. Oh, Sarah, I’m so happy for you!

Well, don’t you want to know what I answered?

Then she looked puzzled and a bit stunned. You mean you told him no?

Why shouldn’t I tell him no? I said. Suddenly, I was feeling strained and odd, and I said, I’m not in any hurry to get married again.

Savannah looked more shocked. But Sarah, she said, I’ve seen how you

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