Free Turner's Rainbow 2 - The Rainbow Promise by Lisa Gregory Page B

slide through his hand. He wanted her, as he always did, but he refrained, as he always did. "I love you."
    "I love you, too."
    They climbed into bed, and Sarah snuggled into his arms. She fell asleep quickly, as she did nowadays, but Luke lay awake for a long time, listening to her soft, even breathing and feeling the soft warmth of her body. He knew there wasn't a man alive happier than he was.

Chapter 4

    J ulia was amazed at how easily she and the children fit into Luke and Sarah's life. All the fears she had held about her sister-in-law proved to be wrong, Sarah was pleasant and easy to talk to. She never demanded or told Julia what to do but always asked. There was nothing in her tone or manner to indicate that she thought herself better than Julia. She treated Julia simply as her husband's beloved sister, a woman whom she wanted to know and like—and by whom she wished to be liked! That amazed Julia more than anything else, that Sarah McGowan should be concerned over whether Julia Dobson liked her and was happy in her home.
    They worked well together, both of them hard workers and neat to a fault. They fell into a natural division of labor, with Julia taking on the heavier tasks that were difficult for Sarah in her condition. At first Sarah protested that Julia was working too hard and would hurt herself, but Julia simply laughed. "Haven't you got that backwards? You're the one who should take it easy."
    "But you—are you sure you're up to it?"
    Julia shook her head, smiling. She knew that her small size and pale coloring often deceived people into thinking she was fragile. "Don't worry. I may not be big, but I'm strong as an ox. Just let me worry about the heavy things."
    Before the day was out, Sarah had to admit that Julia was right—she might look as though a hard wind would blow her away; but she was strong and loaded with stamina.
    Sarah was glad for the help. She had forgotten how much more quickly the chores went when there were two women to do them, especially with Vance and Bonnie to take care of small chores and keep Emily occupied. They were done each day with time to spare, so Sarah suggested that they use their free time to make the children some new clothes, pointing out tactfully that Julia must have had to leave most of their clothes when they moved.
    Julia supposed that she ought to be too proud to accept Sarah's charity, no matter how kindly Sarah phrased it. But she couldn't bring herself to refuse the offer. She longed to see her children in something new and pretty, just once.
    Sarah brought down several lengths of material from a trunk in the attic, and throughout the next few days, they worked on the children's clothes every moment their hands were idle. With two of them sewing, the work went quickly and by Saturday they had finished a simple outfit for each of the children. Then Sarah brought out two of her own dresses and insisted on altering them to fit Julia's smaller frame.
    Julia protested, but when she tried them on, she couldn't bear to refuse them. One dress was blue and the other, a dusky rose, and they did magical things for her coloring. The sleeves of the rose-colored one were tight, with long, buttoned cuffs, and puffed out at the shoulders. A narrow row of ivory lace decorated its cuffs and collar,
    Julia looked at herself in the mirror, wanting the rose dress so much she could taste it. "It's awfully fancy."
    "Fancy! What do you mean? It'll be perfect for church or company."
    "Well, yes, you're right." Julia turned before the minor, craning her neck to see the back. No doubt it didn't seem fancy to Sarah, but Julia had never had a dress with lace on it, even the one she had worn on her wedding day. "I just meant, it's maybe too fancy for me. I don't know if I look right in it."
    Sarah gave an inelegant snort. "Don't be silly. Luke!"
    He came up the stairs and smiled at the sight of his sister in the dress.
    "Tell her that she looks right in that dress," Sarah ordered.
    "You