Chapter 7-
Sara was out in the barn pitching hay from one of the lofts. She had to do this chore without her father's or Martha's knowledge. They were still treating her like she was a guest and if she read any more books she was going to scream!
Sara wiped her sweaty forehead with the sleeve of her Dixie outfitters' shirt. It was one of her favorites. She had bought the shirt when she was sixteen and had washed it so much the Dixie flag and the puppy with the boar was faded. Sara was so busy with her work she didn't hear the door to the barn open.
"Sara, what are you doing?" Her father's voice came up to her.
Sara looked down at Bo. He looked slightly upset. "I'm giving you a hand with the farm chores. You got a problem with that?" Sara asked, blowing a strand of sweaty blonde hair out of her eyes. She always braided her hair, but some hair always escaped from the braid.
"Yes! Martha explained it all last night. As long as you are our guest you don't have to do this," Bo said, taking the pitchfork from her.
"Does that mean you're going to start treating Clark like a guest and do the chores yourself?" Sara blurted out before she could stop herself. By the look on Bo's face she had gone too far.
"That's enough! Go into the house!" Bo ordered with deadly calm.
"Sure, Dad. Anything you say, Dad," Sara said, putting extra sarcasm on the word "Dad."
Bo's face was scarlet red with anger. He looked as if he were going to paddle her. Sara whirled around and thundered down the loft steps. She turned back to look at him. "Just remember this. I'll be gone in a few days and you can go back to being Jonathan Kent to your heart's desire," Sara said, her voice shaking slightly. She ran towards the house and up toward Clark's room. Clark had insisted that his sister take his room while he slept on the couch. She collapsed on the bed, trying not to let herself cry.
Jonathan watched his daughter storm off to the house. He really handled this really well. Sara was as mad at him as he was at her for backtalking him. Jonathan also felt kind of amused too. Sara had gotten his temper as well. Amanda always looked as if she was afraid of her husband's temper, but Sara was different.
He didn't know if he and Sara would be at each other's throats until Uncle Jessie or Luke arrived. He figured it was all up to her.
Jonathan came into the house while Martha was busy cooking dinner. "Jonathan, what did you say to Sara that got her so mad? She looked as if smoke was coming out of her ears," Martha said as soon as she saw her husband.
"I'm more used to raisin' boys than girls," Jonathan said wearily. He sat down at the counter and buried his face in his hands.
"What happened?" Martha asked again, sitting down next to Jonathan and taking his large, callused hands in hers.
"I just think having a daughter was easier when she was three. She had my temper, but it looks as if it's gotten worse with age. I got into an argument with her and it was like I was seeing myself at eighteen. I don't know how Uncle Jessie and Luke put up with me at times," Jonathan said, blowing out his breath in frustration.
"Really?" Martha asked surprised.
"Don't look so surprised, Sweetheart. Sara's a regular spitfire when you rile her. I feel sorry for Uncle Jessie and Luke. I guess I just thought she'd be more like Amanda than me. I don't know how Luke and Uncle Jessie handled her," Jonathan said, running his hands through his sandy-colored hair.
"For one thing they didn't try," Sara's voice, sounding upset, entered the conversation.
Jonathan whirled around and looked at his daughter. A deep frown was on her face and she had folded her arms over her chest. If it wasn't so terrible it would be funny! Of course Martha saw the humor right away.
"Jonathan, you're right! She looks just like you!" Martha said, starting to laugh.
"It's not that funny, Martha," Jonathan retorted, fighting the urge to laugh at the cross expression on his daughter's face. No point in making her madder at him then she already was.
"If the two of you are going to talk about me, invite me in the room, please!" Sara snapped.
Martha looked as if she were going to keel over from laughter. "I'm sorry, Sara. She was just asking what I said to get you madder than an old wet hen," Jonathan said apologetically.
Sara blew out her breath and sat down across from Jonathan and Martha. "In answer to your question Uncle Luke and Uncle Jessie didn't even try when they found out I had your temper. They both just threw up their hands and gave up. Uncle Luke said it was like another Bo Duke lived in the house," Sara said, reaching into the cupboard and pulling out a glass. She filled it with water from the tap and started to drink it.
Jonathan shook his head, unbelieving. He was still wondering how he was going to call Uncle Jessie and say Sara was down here. He hadn't the nerve to call them yet. At this point even Sara didn't know that he hadn't called them yet.
