Page 13 of Love's Harvest
“Ah, nature at its best,” sighed Sarah.
“The Great Spirit has blessed this land,” said Aaron.“Look at all this harvest.”
Sarah smiled at him.“I love how you make life seem so spiritual.”
He lifted her hand and gave it a squeeze.“Time to get the old Sarah back.I know you’ve been through a very difficult time, but you’re still the person I once knew.”
“Aaron, you deserve a woman who is whole,” Sarah said, gazing at him with tenderness.
“I know what I know,” said Aaron.“And our time will come.”
Sarah was both thrilled and worried by his words.She’d meant what she’d said.He deserved better than her.
“I like this tree,” said Emily, standing by a tree laden with delicious-looking apples.
“Okay, choose carefully and place the apples in the bag Aaron gave you,” Sarah said.She was relieved the apple trees had been pruned earlier to allow many of the apples to be within easy reach.
Watching her children pluck apples from the tree, their faces alight with joy, Sarah experienced a pang of sadness that their father hadn’t experienced moments like this.
After they picked enough Cortland apples, Sarah loaded their bags into the wagon and handed each of the girls another U-pick bag.“These are for more apples.Let’s go.”
“I’m hot,” said Mia, wiping her forehead.
Sarah handed each of the girls and Aaron a container of cold water.“Here you go.”
“Ahh,” said Aaron.“We must give thanks for water.”
“Nice thought,” said Sarah.“Can I hear a thank you from you girls?”
“Thanks,” Mia and Emily said, and studied Aaron, who was tapping a hand to his chest over his heart as he looked up at the sky.
“Okay, on to the next spot,” Sarah said, and the girls eagerly ran ahead of them as they walked to the Macoun apple section.
“You’re talking more about your beliefs,” she said to Aaron.“You didn’t speak about them much in high school.”
“No, I was trying to transition into my life in Lilac Lake.But it’s important for me to return to my tribe every so often.It keeps me grounded.”
As they drew closer, Sarah could see the girls reaching into the tree for apples.
Mia cried out and then burst into tears.
Sarah ran to her.“What’s wrong?”
“Looks like a bee sting,” said Aaron, taking hold of Mia’s arm.“Hand me some of the water,” he said to Sarah.He looked at the site of the sting and carefully rubbed a fingernail across it to pull out the stinger.
Emily stood by as Sarah held Mia, and Aaron poured some water on the dirt, mixing it into a paste.He took hold of Mia’s arm and spread the mixture across the swelling.“I think I got the stinger.This should help take the soreness away until we get back to the main building.There, we can use soap and water for the wound and get some lotion for it.”
Sarah looked at Mia.“Do you want to go back home, or do you want to stay and pick more apples?”
“I want to stay,” said Mia.She held out her arm for everyone to see.
“Okay, then, we can pick more apples, but check to make sure it’s in a spot that hasn’t attracted a lot of bees,” said Sarah.
“Bees usually don’t sting unless in self-defense,” said Aaron.“Just give them their space.”
The girls stayed close as they all began to pick enough apples to fill their bags.
“Okay, that’s enough,” said Sarah laughing as she piled more full bags into the wagon.
