TUESDAY TALES - PICTURE PROMPT

     

        Goodness how the times flies! It picture prompt week again! Welcome. We have another snippet of 300 words -- all that's allowed on picture prompt days -- from "Sarah's Dilemma". I hope you like it. Then please return to read the other wonderful stories by Tuesday Tales talented team. Find them HERE. 

   Don't forget to leave a comment. Thanks for stopping by! 

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“I thought you wanted to talk?” Caleb said.

Abigail stood in the doorway in the early morning light. She gazed at the forest, then took a deep breath.

“What is it? Can it be so terrible you cannot tell me?”

She smiled and placed her free hand on his arm. “No, no. It’s nothing terrible.”

“Then speak.”

“I talked to Daniel Rhodes today.”

“Oh? I thought you were feeling fine.”

She put her finger on his lips. “I am. Stop interrupting or we’ll never get this done.”

He nodded.

“I spoke to Daniel today. I asked him what the chances are of my dying in childbirth.”

Caleb rose halfway out of his seat, his mouth opened.

“No, wait! Wait!” She pushed him back down and he closed his mouth. “He said since I’ve had three live births, deliveries, with no complications, the odds are greatly in my favor.”

“Odds in your favor? Not good enough.”

“Stop! Wait. He said he’d never lost a woman who had had my history. He said he’d feel perfectly safe if I were his wife.”

“Oh, really?” Caleb cocked an eyebrow. “Then why doesn’t he have more children?”

Abby stared at her hands. “He told me this in confidence. You mustn’t repeat it. Virginia had two miscarriages and one still birth.”

“Oh my God,” Caleb whispered. “Terrible.” He shook his head.

“I want to have another child.” She downed some of the liquid in the glass.

“Didn’t we already decide this?” He took a sip.

“You decided. You decided ‘no’, but I want another child. I want to have your child, Caleb. Yours and mine.”

He slid his arm around her shoulders and kissed her. “There’s nothing I want more than to give you another child. But not at the expense of losing you.”

 

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That's all. See you next week!

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "EIGHTEEN"

 Welcome! The word prompt this week is "eighteen." We have another episode of "Sarah's Dilemma." Find the wonderful Tuesday Tales authors HERE

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Caleb and Sam stood by the door as each woman paraded by in her finery. The men heaped compliments on them. Caleb had one concern.

“Isn’t Sarah’s dress a little too, uh, well, revealing?”

“She’s seventeen, due to be eighteen in another month. That’s marriageable age. She is entitled to dress like all the other grown women,” Abigail said. Her husband nodded.

This was the first time Sarah had worn a dress with such a low neckline. As a young girl, her dresses had always gone all the way up to the neck. But this dress revealed the fully developed cleavage of a young woman.

Sam looked at her and swallowed. “Don’t know how I’m gonna keep Josiah and Ben away from her.”

Sarah raised her chin. “You won’t be doing any such thing. Besides, you’ll be too busy breathing down Becky’s neck to bother with me. You won’t have to worry. No one will take my account anyway.”

 “Yeah? I disagree. Every man at the celebration will be looking you over real careful.”

Abigail made a shooing gesture. “Sam. Let it be. Sarah is old enough to take care of herself.”

After final primping, the women were ready to join the party. They picked their way across the high grass and dirt to the back of Rhodes General Store. At least three dozen people clapped and danced to a lively tune from four fiddlers. When the music ended, the buzz of the crowd chatting filled the air.

As soon as the Chesneys arrived, all eyes turned toward them. When Sarah stepped forward, a hush fell on the crowd. As quickly as the noise stopped, a wave of whispering filled the air.

“That’s her.” A woman said, pointing.

“Who?” The man next to her asked.

“That Sarah Chesney girl. You know the wanton one.” The woman’s voice got louder.

“Oh. I see.” He nodded and turned a cold stare on Sarah.

“The one in green?” Another man asked.

“No, silly. She’s the mother. The young one.” A woman answered.

“She’s fine, the one in green.” He grinned.

She clunked him on the head with her palm. “Shut up, Simon!”

Abby chuckled. Frowning, Caleb pulled her closer.

“That must be her husband,” Simon said, rubbing his scalp and pointing to Caleb. “Lucky man.”

The woman standing next to him elbowed him in the ribs.

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That's it. Thanks for coming! 

Sam stepped in front of his sister.

 

TUESDAY TALES - WORD PROMPT "ARM"

 

Welcome to Tuesday Tales. We have another episode of  "Sarah's Dilemma" and an encounter between our plucky heroine and the richest man for miles around, Elijah Fitch, father of Benjamin. The word prompt is "arm." To return to read all the fabulous stories at Tuesday Tales, click HERE. Thank you for stopping by.

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“It’s a shame to waste such finery.”  Sarah pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and reached out to wipe the mud away. Elijah Fitch raised his arm to fend her off.

“Don’t be bothering, Miss Chesney. I don’t need help from the likes of you,” he bit out.

Sarah took a step back as if his words had slapped her in the face. “Beg pardon?”

“I know who you are. No –what you are. Get on with you.” He attempted to shoo her away. “I hear what people are saying about you. Lowly creature. Stay way from my son.”

The sting of his words stole her breath.

“He doesn’t need the likes of you bringing him down. Ruining his reputation. Hear me?”

She nodded and blinked back tears.

“He doesn’t want to have anything to do with you,” Fitch sneered.

“Did he say that?”

Fitch brought his chin up and looked away. “He doesn’t have to. I’m his father. I know what he’s thinking.”

His words emboldened Sarah. “I don’t think you do. I don’t think you know much about your son at all.”

“Oh, and you do?” He held his handkerchief to his shoulder.

“Maybe. He’s a much finer person that you say.”

“Hah! Surely much too fine a person to consort with the likes of you. Go to Josiah Quint. He’s the one who ruined you.”

“He did no such thing.” 

“So he’s cast you aside, has he?”

She stuck out her chin. “He has not. If it’s any of your business. He proposed to me.”

“Fine. Saved by an honorable man. I’ll tell Benjamin he doesn’t have to worry about you chasing after him and his money anymore.”

“I told him ‘no’. I’m not marrying anyone.”

“You’d better take him up on it. No one else will have you. And certainly not my son. He can have his pick of any of the young ladies of breeding in Danbury. And when he’s ready to marry, we will find the right one.”

That's it. Thank you for coming. Hope to see you next week. Please leave a comment -- I love feedback.