TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "SWEET"

 

Welcome! It's time for Tuesday Tales again. And we have another episode in the sweet historical novel, "Sarah's Dilemma." Don't forget to return and read the excellent writers on Tuesday Tales. Just click HERE to go back. Thank you for stopping by.

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By mid-June, the scandal had died down some and Sarah finally ventured out to the general store on her own. Mr. Austin, who’d yanked his sons away from her tutoring after the accusations, approached her in the feed section of Rhodes’ store.

“Good day, Miss Chesney.” He removed his hat and held it in both hands.

Sarah stiffened, then curtsied. “Good day, Mr. Austin. How are Matthew and William?”

“Fine, fine.”

Sarah brushed by him, anxious to avoid his glare and nasty words. She hastened to the corner to get a bag of chicken feed.

Austin followed her. “Wait!”

She stopped, her face heated. She held her breath.   

He cleared his throat before speaking. “Please, Miss Chesney. My boys. Well. They miss your tutoring.”

“They do?” Sarah raised her eyebrows and turned to face him.

Austin nodded. “Yes, Missy, they do. They want to come back. I see how good their counting and adding is. They’re smarter. You did that.”

Sarah narrowed her eyes. “So, now it’s okay for them to be around me. But before it wasn’t?”

“I apologize. I shouldn’t have said those things to you.” His face pinked.

“I agree.”

“I was wondering. If you have the time. I mean. Would you take it on my boys again? I’m the one who hastened to judgment. Why should they suffer?”

“True. They are good boys.” She took a deep breath. 

“Would you accept my apology and consider tutoring them?”

Sarah nodded.

“Thank you. Thank you kindly. My wife said she’d send along two pies next time, too.  She makes the best beef and onion pie and a sweet apple one, too.”

“I look forward to it.” She turned away.

“One more thing.”

Sarah faced him again and cocked an eyebrow.

“William’s been howling how he misses that silly goat, Sunshine. Would you let him have a visit with her, if it’s not too much trouble?”

“Since the schoolhouse hasn’t been repaired yet, I'll tutor them at the Inn. William can see Sunshine every day we have lessons.”

“Mighty kind of you, Miss Chesney. Mighty kind. Shall I send them by beginning of the week?”

“Yes.” 

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That's it for this week. Don't forget to leave a comment. Your feedback is always welcome! 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "BARE"

 

    Hi, welcome to Tuesday Tales! We have another episode of "Sarah's Dilemma" today. An answer to 

the cliffhanger from last time. Don't forget to read all the Tuesday Tales HERE. 

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        “What?” Her eyes widened. “What did you say?”

“Will you marry me? If we get married, the rumors will stop.”

Sarah laughed. “You’re funny.”

“I’m serious. I’m prepared to marry you.”

“Not a romantic proposal, is it, Josiah?”

“We don’t have time for romance. Besides,” he shot her a sideways grin. “We already had the romance part,” he snickered.

Sarah swatted his shoulder and tugged on his arm. “Get up.” 

He rose to his feet. “You won’t marry me?”

“I’m too young to marry anyone.”

“If your parents consented.”

“They’d never give consent.”

“I hate you’re being shamed over a little kiss.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “There was nothing little about that kiss.”

He laughed for a moment, then pulled her close. She squirmed.

Releasing her, he said, “I figure it was the wine.” 

“Yep.” She smoothed her bodice and gave her skirt a shake.

If you change your mind about getting’ married, tell me. I’m willing. You’re the most beautiful girl

 in all of Fitch’s Eddy. I’d marry you in a second.”

“Thanks, Josiah. I’m not marrying anybody now. But thank you for proposing. It was a nice thing to do.”

“Anytime.” He doffed his hat, then took her elbow. “We’d best be getting back.”

Sarah giggled. “Don’t want to start any more rumors.”

The twosome picked their way through the rocky, rough terrain back to the Inn. Josiah bid Sarah goodnight and went up to his room. She washed up and leaned against the front window, gazing at the moon. She’d had her first marriage proposal before she was even eighteen! A grin spread across her face. Charity and Catherine Bloodgoode couldn’t say the same. Of course, she didn’t know for sure no one had proposed to them. But if someone had, she’d bet the Inn they’d be married by now. 

Sarah slipped into bed and pulled up the sheet and thin blanket. She touched her lower lip, remembering Benjamin Fitch’s kiss. The bare truth? The force behind it had almost knocked her to the ground. She’d never felt anything like it. Josiah would have to try a lot harder to equal that.  

That's it. Thanks for stopping by. 

 

  Welcome to Tuesday Tales! This week we have another episode of "Sarah's Dilemma." This one might surprise you...at least I hope it will. Don't forget to read all the wonderful Tuesday Tales stories HERE. Thanks for coming. Please leave a comment -- they are always welcome.

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“You look a mite flushed,” Martha said, casting a keen gaze on her granddaughter. “Must be the sun. Be careful, it’ll burn your skin.”

Sarah caught her mother’s sly grin before she looked away. “Yes, Gram. I’ll wear a hat next time.”

“Next time?” Martha cocked an eyebrow. 

“Uh, next time I have to go out or do something or help someone or…”

“Next time I send her on an errand,” Abigail chimed in.

“Yes. Mama. Yes. Thank you.”

Martha furrowed her brow, narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “You two are up to something. Hmm. Painting an innocent picture. I’ll find out what it is, eventually.”

Sarah busied herself preparing bread dough and avoiding her grandmother’s gaze. After supper, she went to fetch logs. Although it was late May, the early mornings were chilly.

“Psst.”

She stopped. Was that a snake hissing?

“Psst.”

There it was again. No snakes out at night.

“Sarah!”

She whirled around to see Josiah Quint steal from around the corner of the Inn. He took her elbow.

“Come with me. I need to talk to you.”

The half-moon didn’t shed much light.  She followed along, tripping over the larger weeds and rock outcroppings. Holding her to his side, he kept her from falling. The strength of his arm around her made her heart flutter. He smelled of fresh pine from the wood he’d cut and a bit of sweat. She inhaled deeply, enjoying his scent.

When he reached the edge of the woods, he stopped, drawing her into the shadows with him.

“What do you want?”

“I want to say I’m sorry for the other night. I never meant to get you in trouble.”

“I’m not in trouble.”

“Nasty rumors are all over town. They’re saying awful things.”

“Lies. They're all lies.”

“I know that and you know that, but I doubt anyone else will believe it.”

“Some will. The people who know us. Our friends. Others, well, I don’t care what they believe. I know the truth. And so does my family.”

“Still. I think I ought to do the right thing.”

“The right thing?” She raised her eyebrows.

Josiah dropped down on one knee. “Miss Sarah Chesney, will you marry me?”

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That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by. 

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