Free Sarah My Beloved (Little Hickman Creek Series #2) by Sharlene MacLaren

embarrassed Sarah to be talking about her new husband, but she was curious. "Have you known him long?"
    "A good share of my life. We grew up together, attended
the same school, and," he took a breath and leaned in closer,
"got into our share of trouble as boys, I'm afraid." He threw his
head back and let forth a peal of laughter. "As we grew older
and both married," he gave his new wife a penitent look, "we
did things together as couples. He was a different man back
then, full of life." His faraway expression gave way to a trace of
sadness, but he quickly brightened. "I'm certain your marrying him is for the best. He's a good man."
    Sarah longed for his confidence. "Right now, I'm mostly
concerned for the children."
    All three cast their eyes on Rachel and Seth. The youngsters hadn't moved from their spot in the corner. "They seem
extremely quiet," Ben said.
    "And very scared," Liza added. "I still remember when they
got off the stagecoach several weeks ago. The children and I
were watching from the classroom window. I swear Rachel and
Seth's eyes were big as boulders when they first arrived."
    "Yes. I rode with them from Toledo to Lexington, and
I don't think they spoke more than five sentences the entire ride, although I did my best to coax them into conversation.
They clung to each other, frightened as a couple of baby birds
who'd just been forced from their nest."

    Just then, Rocky approached from behind, making his
presence known with a slight brush of his hand in the center of
Sarah's back. She gave a jolt then prayed her husband hadn't
noticed. "Am I interrupting?" Rocky asked the small gathering.
    "Not at all, friend," offered Ben, giving a warm smile and
pulling his wife snugly up against him. "We were just talking
about the children. They're looking a little glum today."
    Rocky glanced in the direction of Rachel and Seth and
frowned. "They're quite the pair. I don't know what goes on
in their heads, and I'm clean out of ideas as to what to do with
them. The girl is downright cranky. I'm hoping my wife will
have some fresh insights." He presented Sarah with a genuine
smile, revealing straight, white teeth.
    "I'll do my best," she promised.
    "I'm afraid my sister failed to teach them proper manners.
Ma says they're just being kids, but I'm not so sure," Rocky
said. "Truth is, I'm not used to girls, particularly sassy ones."
    Benjamin laughed and gave his pretty wife a sideways
glance. "I know what you mean, Rock. I've had to learn firsthand how to live with a sassy female." To that, Liza slapped
him playfully on the arm, which brought a round of laughter
from everyone present.
    "What's so funny over here?" asked Jon Atkins. The handsome young minister approached, Frank and Mary Callahan
coming alongside him, and then Emma.
    "We were just discussing how difficult my wife is," Ben
said.

    Liza turned cautioning eyes on him. "Oh, stop it. We
were not discussing anything of the kind." Although her tone
denoted scolding, her eyes held bounteous amounts of love. It
was clear the two were used to good-natured badgering. Sarah
could almost feel a twinge of envy for their outward show of
intimate camaraderie.
    "If anyone has a right to complain, it'd be Liza," Jon said.
"What do you say, Rock?"
    "I'd agree with that. Ben Broughton has always been a
stubborn mule as far back as I can remember." Everyone chortled, including Liza.
    "Hey now," Ben cut in, "let's be fair."
    "Fair's got nothin' to do with it. We're speakin' facts," Rocky
continued. "Remember the time we three thought to take the
trip down south byway of the Mississippi? Jon and I were bound
and determined to pack plenty of supplies, whereas Ben here
thought it best to pack light and live off the land."
    "We couldn't have been more than fourteen," Ben said
with a hearty grin.
    "We left in the morning and were home before nightfall, hungrier than coons," said Jon, recollection showing in
his clear blue eyes. "Weren't too