Jake C. Petit (e novels to read online txt) 📖

“Sara is Sara, and I don’t care if she was as skinny as a fence post. It’s her character that matters more than anything. It so happens that she’s far from being thin, nor is she plain, so that’s just a bonus.”

Kay seemed irritated by his answer and quickly asked, “How can you be in love with her after just a few days? That’s impossible. Were you seeing her behind my back while you were visiting me? Is that why you wouldn’t satisfy me?”

Jake was taken aback by Kay’s unexpected accusation and stared at her without replying for a few seconds.

But before Kay could reinforce her bizarre belief, he said, “That’s absurd, Kay. Surely you can’t believe that I spent that much time with Sara. But I wish I had,”

“Is it because she reminds you so much of me and you decided to settle for my sister? Or is it that you wanted to use her to hurt me for not running away with you?”

Jake may have been startled, but he was growing angry over Kay’s apparent refusal to believe that he could actually love Sara because she was so different from her sister and so perfect for him.

But he managed to remain calm as he quietly replied, “No, Kay. I love Sara because she’s Sara, not because she’s your sister. I thought you were happily married to Homer and pleased to be a mother. You have a good life, and I thought you’d be happy for Sara. I wouldn’t hurt you for any reason, Kay.”

Kay seemed mollified as she said, “I’m sorry that I seemed so upset. It’s just that when Sara told me that you were going to marry her, I couldn’t understand why you proposed so quickly. I was worried that you might have a less than honorable reason for courting her and I didn’t want her to be hurt.”

Jake didn’t bother mentioning that it was Sara’s idea before his, nor did he believe that she worried that he might break Sara’s heart but said, “I understand. But I promise you that Sara will never be disappointed after we’re married. She’s become the focus of my life.”

Kay smiled then said, “I’m happy to know that. Well, I’ll head back to my house and send her back, so you can take her to lunch.”

Jake smiled as she rose and was relieved that she had decided to leave earlier than he’d expected.

She looked down, smiled and said, “Good-bye, Jake. I’ll hold you to your promise to let me find a horse when you return.”

“And I’ll honor that promise, Kay.”

She nodded before she turned away and began walking west along the boardwalk. Jake continued to watch as she crossed the street and soon disappeared when she turned down Missouri Avenue.

He sighed and didn’t bother leaving the bench. Despite Kay’s apparent acceptance of his and Sara’s relationship, he couldn’t shake the belief that she was plotting something very different. He’d ask Sara about it when she arrived. He suspected that Kay might try to drive a wedge between them when he was gone and wanted Sara to be ready for whatever she might do.

Jake continued to watch the street traffic pass for another ten minutes before Sara appeared at Main Street’s intersection with Missouri Avenue. She waved when she spotted him, and he waved back. He could see the big smile on her face which lessened his anxiety, but the disturbing conversation with Kay had displaced Jerome’s revelation about Mrs. Kemper. He may not have decided to tell Sara yet, but it was no longer in the forefront of his mind as she crossed the street.

Sara’s face still reflected her anticipative joy when she reached him and before Jake could stand, she quickly sat down beside him just a bit left of the spot that Kay had used. It created another four inches of empty space between them, so they weren’t bumping lower extremities.

She quickly asked, “How was your surprise meeting with Kay? I didn’t even realize that she knew you were going to take me to lunch until I entered her house.”

“It was more than just a surprise, Sara. She kept me off balance from the very start. What did she tell you when she returned?”

“Nothing more than you would be waiting for me on the bench. How long did you two talk?”

“For about ten minutes, and it was about nine and a half minutes too long. At first, I thought she was trying to, well, sort of seduce me. She sat in the center of the bench, so I had to sit so close that our legs were pressed against each other. After some probing comments about her figure, which she described as voluptuous, she began questioning my motives for wanting to marry you. I thought she was going to press her attack when she suddenly backed off and said that she was happy for you. I was still disoriented when she left.”

Sara seemed just as befuddled as Jake as she digested what he’d told her. When Kay had asked her to watch her babies to let her meet Jake, Sara thought she was just curious and nothing more.

After a minute of silence, Jake could understand why Sara hadn’t replied, so he said, “I think that Kay might try to convince you to break off our short engagement while I’m gone. I can’t imagine which direction she would take, but I wanted to let you know of my concerns.”

Sara quickly discarded her own thoughts then smiled at Jake and said, “There’s nothing that she can do or say that would make me change my mind. You know how stubborn I can be, and nothing is more important to me than becoming your wife.”

“I didn’t doubt your ability to stop anything she might try, but I wanted