Chapter Six
Ben came down to see Sara hobbling to work on dinner.
“Hey I can do that, sit down.” He ordered her.
“I’m okay; really it doesn’t hurt much at all anymore.” She said.
“Yeah I can tell by how much weight you’re putting on it. That means I think you’re lying.” Ben pulled out her chair and told to sit down. “I can do this for you, no problem. I’ve had to cook before. Here put this ice on your ankle and I don’t want to see you up again.
Sara sat down and looked towards the kitchen. She had laid, her ankle hurt quite a bit still. But they needed to eat dinner, what else could she do? Sally was out doing other choirs on the farm, and Henry shouldn’t cook. Well he could in emergencies, but she wouldn’t trust him to be able to boil water.
Of course she had no idea what kind of cook Ben was either. She hoped that she wouldn’t smell anything burning.
She had listened to him a while when they got back as he had talked more about the small ranch in Texas. He had seemed so happy when he talked about most of his childhood.
“So what about your parents, what were they like?” Sara asked Ben.
His face had changed instantly and the happiness faded right before her eyes. “Well they didn’t get along at all. They were always fighting about something, anything, and everything. If dad breathed the wrong way, mom would yell.” He had explained.
“Why? Didn’t they love one another?” Sara had asked curiously.
“I often asked myself the same thing, many times. I don’t know, I think they honestly loved one another. It wasn’t all moms; dad would do the same thing to her. I guess that is one of the reasons I’ve never seriously considered marrying.” Ben sighed.
“You should feel lucky to have the chance to marry. That’s been taken away from me now. I’ll never be asked to marry in this community. Not even the older widows will dare come near me.” Sara had looked down.
“I’m sorry.” Ben had said and touched her hand.
Sara had felt that same shock of heat pass through her body. She needed out of here, but she was hurt. “You know what I’m a little tired; I think I’m going to lie down for a few minutes.” She lied.
He had helped her to her bedroom door and she had told him she would take it from there.
“Oh darn it.” Sara heard Ben cry out from the kitchen.
As she went to stand up, he came rushing out of the kitchen. “Don’t you dare get up, everything is just fine. Dinner will be on the table in just a few minutes.” He said to her.
Sara plopped back down on the chair. She would have to wait to see what exactly happened, she just hoped it wasn’t too bad.
“Dinner ready yet?” Henry and Sally came in the door and looked at her.
“Well Ben is cooking tonight since I couldn’t stand on my ankle.” She explained.
“Does he even know how to cook?” Henry asked.
“Let’s hope so.” Sally said.
Sara looked at them seriously, “Now is that anyone to show thanks that he did this so you could eat?”
They both looked down ashamed, “No ma’am.” They answered together.
“Dinner’s served.” Ben came out in a flourish from the kitchen.
What he was carrying might pass for food in his part of the world, but Sara heard a collective sigh around the table. She couldn’t chastise Henry and Sally because she had sighed too.
“Looks interesting, I must say.” Sara finally said.
“Yeah that would say exactly what I was thinking too.” Henry said.
Sally just nodded her head. Sally could tell she was trying hard to hold in a laugh.
Sara was almost scared to take the first bite, but she knew Henry and Sally were waiting for her. She tried to keep her face as neutral as she could, but it tasted horrible. “Hmm, that’s good.”
She watched as Henry and Sally took a bit of their food. They weren’t as adept at holding their faces emotionless.
“Look I’m really sorry, I burnt it a bit.” Ben said.
“It’s not that bad, really. Eat all your food Henry and Sally.” Sara ordered.
They ate begrudgingly, but finished their food. Since they sister was hurt, they actually took their plates into the kitchen.
“I’ll do the dishes.” Ben shouted out as they went out of the room.
Sara heard the telltale sign of the door opening and closing as the two escaped, not even stopping to tell him thank you. She had to laugh, but she wobbled into the kitchen behind Ben.
“Look don’t say a word, let me help you, I’ll stand and wash.” Sara said to him.
He looked like he was going to argue, but finally stepped aside and let her get to the sink. He took the dishes and dried them and made sure to look around and place them in the right spots. He planned on getting up early and making breakfast, and doing a better job of it. He wanted to redeem himself with a better meal.
She picked up a pan and next thing Ben knew she was on the floor. He bent over to help her up. “I just lost my balance, I’m okay.” She said.
Ben helped her stand up, they were so close. The way she was looking up at him made him want to cover her mouth with his. She was close enough; all he would have to do is lean forward a half an inch.
He stepped back. “You sure you’re okay?” He asked.
“Yes, really, I’m fine. But that pan will have to soak with water in it overnight. I’ll never get it clean right now.” She said.
“Great, well I’m going to go to bed now then. Can you make it to your room okay?” He asked.
She looked at him as she was trying to study him. “No I’m fine, I’ll make it there.” She said.
Ben escaped to his room as quickly as he could. When he got to his room, he slowly got his emotions under control.
“What the hell were you thinking Ben?” He asked himself.
He had wanted to kiss her so badly, he had almost done it. Hell he wanted to go and find her right now and kiss her passionately.
“What is it about her?”
She was nothing like the supermodels he always had on his arm. But he had been drawn to her since he had first set his eyes on her. Ben had to admit that more than one night he had fallen asleep and had erotic dreams about her.
But he had to control himself. She would never leave this life, and he didn’t want to live it full-time. No thank you, he thought. I don’t have long left now, and I can leave and never come back. She’s not part of my future, so I have to control these feelings.
Sure I could seduce her and take her, he thought. “That would be far too low; they would banish her for sure if they found out.” For some reason he was sure they would know too.
No he would leave he and she would be left alone, he would now be sure that those emotions didn’t come up anymore.