Bone Deep (21 page)

“That’s right. He wasn’t always locked up, but Reed made him believe he had no plac
e else he could go. Look at him. I
t’s true. That man made him so he couldn’t possibly fit in anyplace except a carnival.”

Now that Grace had opened her up, the thoughts Sarah had kept to herself all week
spilled out. “He kept him from having
a normal childhood, didn’t teach him anything or allow him to interact with other people.”
Except in ways she would
not
tell Grace about.
“When I discovered him in the barn last week, he barely spoke. Not because he isn’t capable, but because he is so unused to talking with people.”

Grace rocked the swing gently. “Poor guy. What about his family?”

“His mother
was a fortune teller
in the carnival and when she died Reed took control of him. Tom was only eight.”

“That’s awful.”

“There’s really no place for him to go and he’s been very helpful around the farm. It’s been good having him here.”

Grace stopped rocking and
faced
her. “But
he can’t continue to live here
. I mean, he’s not some stray dog you’ve taken in. What will people think?”

“I don’t care what they think.” Sarah heard the petulance in her voice and didn’t care about that either. Why should she have to worry about people’s opinions? Hadn’t she been through enough heartache? Didn’t she deserve some happiness?

Grace frowned. “Well, you’d better care.
I
understand that you’re simply being kind and helping this poor soul, but it might not look so innocent to others. And, honestly Sarah, you haven’t really seen the bad side of the people in this community yet. Some of them can be very narrow-minded and ... harsh.”

Sarah remained silent. The steady rasp of cicadas seemed
exceptionally loud
.

“
You should
let Tom stay
with Mike and me
. We could bunk him down in the old tool shed. It’s watertight and I could set up a cot for him.”

“Thank you, but I’m happy with things the way they are. I have plenty of room here, and like I said, Tom’s very helpful in doing odd jobs.” She toyed with the unraveling hem of her apron.

“You
have
been lonely. I knew it. You like having someone around.” Grace’s eyes widened. “Oh my gosh! Are you...? Do you
like
him? I mean, are you interested in him
that
way?”

Sarah
stared
across the yard at the garden. She could have protested, but she was such a bad liar and
Grace knew her too well
.

Grace covered her mouth with her hand
. “You haven’t... Have you?”

“Yes,” Sarah said flatly,
looking
her right in the eyes.

“Sarah
!
”

“Why not? I’m an adult and it’s my business. Besides, aren’t you the one who
’
s been encouraging me to start living again?”

“Yes, but
not like that
!”

“Don’t be such a prude,” she said lightly, trying to cover her growing fear. Would Grace find her behavior so
immoral that
she
’d
lose her friendship?

“I’m not a prude. It’s not
about
the
sex
,” Grace whispered the word
.
“
It’s who you did it with. How could you? I mean...” Her tone changed from shocked to curious. “How was
he
? Was it different?”

Sarah bit her lip, ashamed to be gossiping but
desperate
to
share everything she’d been holding inside
. “Yes. He’s nothing like John. Nothing like him at all.”

“Really? What was different? Did he...?” Grace waved a hand as though erasing a chalkboard. “Oh, forget it. I shouldn’t be asking this
. It’s too private. But,”
her voice lowered, “is he tattooed
everywhere
?”

It
was wrong to
discuss
To
m like this, but
she
needed
to confide in her friend
. “He’s beautiful
,
like a stained glass window. And he’s really good with his ... mouth.”

Grace
gasped and giggled. “But isn’t it
strange
? Touching him?”

“Skin is skin, Grace. The tattoos are only on the surface, you know. He’s a man.”
A sexy, vulnerable, intense, attractive, sweet, gentle and loving man.

Grace
exhaled
a long breath and leaned back in the swing. “Heavens to Betsy, you
are
full of surprises. I don’t even know what to say.”

Sarah leaned back next to her. “Then don’t say anything. Really, Grace, there’s nothing you and Mike need to do about this. I’m a grown woman and it’s my decision. As my friends, all I ask you to do is support me and
continue to
be
my friends.”

Grace
squinted at her.
“Have you been careful? The last thing you want is
an accidental pregnancy
.”

Sarah blushed
at Grace’s bluntness and because she knew
her precautions
had been questionable
. “Pretty careful.” Her period was due any day now and she
’
d soon find out if they
’
d been careful enough.
A flutter of fear stirred in her chest.

“Well, listen. I know Rev. Brighton says abstinence is the only godly way to keep from having babies, but Mike and I use other protection. We aren’t ready to start a family
quite
yet and God created the man who invented condoms
,
didn’t he? So
He must want us to use them. I
f you need some
,
I’ll drop some by
since you obviously can’t get any at the pharmacy
. Ed Reinholdt would spread it around town quicker than you can say jabberwocky.”

Sarah
impulsively
leaned over and hugged her. “Oh Grace, I thought y
ou were going to hate me now or maybe be disappointed in me
. Thank
you so much for being my friend
.”

Grace
returned the hug
. “I won’t preach
at you, Sarah
, but it doesn’t mean I agree with what you’re doing
. And, honey
, you
must
know this is
not
going to fly with
the
people around here. You’d better expect some rough weather ahead.”

Chapter
Ten

Grace
’s prediction proved
right.

After
a lull, which included all of that evening, a peaceful night
of
sleeping
entwined together
and
a
bright Sunday morning
,
the first rumbling of thunder
came
.

Sarah and Tom took a break
from their chores
after lunch
to sit
on the front porch, drinking coffee and discussing
plans for the
afternoon
. A
n approaching car engine signaled the end of the calm
, and a
shiny black
Hudson
pulled into view.

It took Sarah a moment to
recognize the minister’s car. She’d rarely seen
the
Rev
.
Brighton since John’s funeral. They had exchanged polite greetings at social occasions,
and
he
always
reminded her that everybody missed her at church, but
so far he hadn’t gone
out of his way to try to shepherd her back into the fold.

Today
Brighton
and his wife Barbara got out of the car and approached with pleasant smiles frozen on their faces. Sarah glanced at Tom, perched on the edge of the porch swing as if ready to disappear inside the house.

“You’re going to have to meet people. Might as well start with the pastor.
He and his wife are nice folks.
”

He nodded and relaxed slightly.

Mrs. Brighton ascended the steps. Her smile was turned on Sarah like a floodlight, but her eyes darted
toward
Tom.
Her wary glance suggested someone afraid of a dog which
suddenly bite.
“Sarah, how are you?
I’ve been remiss in stopping by to visit you.”

Sarah extended a hand, manufacturing her own smile. “Well, I haven’t been too social. There always seems to be so much to do around here.”

Rev. Brighton c
lasped her hand in his firm, double handed shake
. “I’m afraid I haven’t tended to my pastoral duties as well as I might. I apologize for that.” He face
d
Tom, who
still stood near the swing
. “I thought perhaps your friend here might be able to use the church’s aid.”

His words put Sarah a little at ease. Maybe the reverend and his wife were actually going to be helpful. Nevertheless, she didn’t want to invite them in
to the house
where they might be hard
er
to get rid of if the conversation grew strained She gestured toward the pair of rattan chairs on the other side of the porch.

“Won’t you sit and let me get you a cup of coffee? This is Tom, by the way. Tom, this is Rev. and Mrs. Brighton. Rev. Brighton is the pastor of the Methodist church.”

Tom
nodded silently
, but the minister stuck out his hand. After a
moment
Tom took it. The reverend pumped his hand several times before letting go. “Pleased to meet you
, Tom
.”

After seating their guests, Sarah went to
fetch
coffee while Tom brought out a couple of
the
kitchen chairs to place across from the Brightons. Soon the four of them sat in a circle
,
making
polite conversation and sipping coffee to fill in the awkward gaps.

“Little Aileen is
fine
,” the reverend said. “She had to have her leg set in a cast, but other than that she’s
doing very well
and should be home
from the hospital
by this afternoon. The Brodbecks asked me to pass along their thanks to you. They plan to come and thank you personally soon.” He paused then added, “But let me be
frank
. Rumors are running rampant in the congregation
.
I wanted to get the story about Tom and the rescue yesterday
directly from the source
.”

Sarah launched into her thumbnail sketch of Tom’s life at the carnival, their meeting and his psychic gift, which led to Aileen’s discovery.

Mrs. Brighton looked increasingly uncomfortable as the story unfolded, but the minister seemed intrigued. “Do you believe your visions are a gift from God?”

Tom blinked. “I don’t know.”

“Do you consider yourself a Christian?”

Tom darted
a
glance at Sarah.

“Reverend, I don’t think he received any religious education. I don’t think he can answer that.”

“Fascinating.”
Brighton
observed Tom like
an animal which had gained the power of speech
.

Mrs. Brighton set her cup on its saucer with a quiet click
.
“
Sarah,
while I admire your Christian charity
in offering aid to the needy
, I’m concerned about you putting your reputation at risk. Perhaps the church can find a
more suitable
place for Tom to stay and maybe a
menial
job somewhere.”

“
My wife’s
right. I’m afraid some of the gossips are already having a field day with this. It probably would be best if we hosted him at the parsonage until we can find other accommodations.”

Mrs. Brighton
looked at her husband sharply, clearl
y taken aback. “I was thinking of Linus Taylor
hosting him
for awhile. He’s single and lives in
his family home
alone.
A bachelor situation is much more appropriate.
”