Okay, this is a flashback chapter, I hope you're still liking it! This is a totally new chapter I didn't write this one from any skeleton of the old story, so I hope you still enjoy it!
The next two weeks went by slowly, Sara taught her classes, and finally the day before her birthday she was walking home from the school in the afternoon when she looked up from the wildflowers she had picked and was holding against her book, seeing someone else walking the path to the school. Her face broke into a wide grin when she realized that it was King walking towards her and as she walked towards him she was pleased to see him smiling as well.
"Miss Ghallager," he said as she approached him and she grinned.
"Dr. Schultz," she smiled before biting her lip. "How was trading?" she asked as he offered his elbow and she slipped her hand around his arm to rest against his elbow.
"It was dreadfully boring," he told her and she sighed.
"I'm sorry to hear that," she replied and he smiled.
"How has teaching been?" he asked and she smiled.
"It's been very educational," she replied, making him laugh gently before he lifted her hand to his mouth, kissing her knuckles as they walked back to the house. "My cousin and his wife will love to hear stories about your trades and where you went," she told him and he nodded.
"They are already asking Klaus all about it," he told her. "They've insisted we stay for a few nights- to help celebrate your birthday," he explained and she smiled as she looked up at him.
"Will you?" she asked and he smiled as he gave her hand a small squeeze.
"I wouldn't miss it," he assured her as they walked.
The mile walk back to her cousin's usually took Sara a little over twenty minutes, but with King walking with her, it took closer to thirty as the two took their time, catching up and discussing things that had happened to them over the past two weeks.
When they got back to the house, Sara put the flowers into a vase and put them on the table before she tied an apron around her dress and made her way to the small kitchen. "Dr. and Mr. Schultz are going to spend a few days here before heading on home," Sara's cousin's wife, Caroline said to her and she nodded.
"I'll make a stew," she told Caroline who nodded.
"Mr. Schultz went out hunting," she told Sara. "Dr. Schultz said he'd go to meet you at the school,"
"He did," Sara replied as she put a large pot on the stove and opened the door to check how much wood was in the stove. It could use a little more to stay warm enough to cook a stew by dinner, so she brushed her hands off and went to the front door, smiling as she passed Dr. Schultz who was playing with Milo and Caroline's baby boy Elijah. The toddler seemed happy enough to be playing with the new person who was giving most of his attention to the boy so she stepped outside and walked over to the wood pile.
After gathering an armful of wood she started back to the house, stopping when she saw Klaus riding up, a few rabbits laid over his saddle and a proud smile on his face. "How was school?" he asked and she smiled at him as he started to walk the horse alongside her.
"It was good," she replied. "How was trading?"
"The Indians like the pelts I bring them to trade," he told her and she looked up at him with wonder.
"You trade with the Indians?" she asked and he chuckled.
"I'll tell you about it later," he said before he gathered the three rabbits by the ears and handed them down to her. "Tell his highness to skin these for me. Do whatever you like with the meat, but I want the pelts," he told her and she nodded as she accepted the dead rabbits from him. "There's good game out here," he said. "It hasn't been over hunted like back home."
"I'm sure Milo would let you come hunt out here whenever you like," she told him and he nodded as he turned the horse to the south.
"I'm going to try and get some prairie hens," he told her before kicking the horse's sides and riding off while she watched him, holding the three fat rabbits and the armload of wood.
When she got back to the house she pushed the door open with her hip and Dr. Schultz stood up to hold the door open for her.
"Klaus stopped by, I see," he said as he took the rabbits from her.
"He asked that you skin them for him," she explained as she put the wood into the wood box next to the stove. "I'll cook them up for dinner," she added and he nodded.
"Mrs. Walsh," he said to Caroline. "Do you have a knife I may use?" he asked and Caroline happily showed him where the knives were, happy to not be skinning the rabbit herself.
Sara put more wood into the stove and then stood up, setting to preparing the stew they'd be having for dinner. As King skinned and dressed the rabbits he showed Sara what he was doing and found an eager student with her. On the last rabbit he let her try, and under his watch she was able to shakily skin the rabbit.
"Klaus will make some wonderful trades with these pelts," King said as he took them to the kitchen door to put outside.
"I look forward to seeing them," Sara replied as she started to cut the rabbit up, and now it was King's turn to watch what she was doing as she floured pieces of rabbit and fried it in butter and herbs before adding onion and carrots from Caroline's garden. As she cooked King stayed in the kitchen with her, taking, telling stories and helping in any way he saw fit.
While they spoke Caroline played with Elijah and when Milo came home it was with Klaus in tow who had indeed killed several prairie hens and handed them off to Caroline who passed them off to Sara to dress and prepare to cook tomorrow.
Sara took the hens outside to the front porch and sat down with a basket in front of her and the hens sitting on the table next to her while she started to pluck them. While she did Klaus came outside and sat on the edge of the porch, leaning his back up against the supporting beam to the covered porch.
"Will you at least gut them?" she asked and he laughed as he took one of the birds and started to pull feathers from it.
"You know, he talked about you quite a bit while we were gone," he commented and she looked at him curiously.
"What did he say?" she asked and he sighed.
"Well, he said he would be mad to marry a woman like you," he admitted and she frowned. "Your father may kill him for even asking, you're far too good for him you see," he explained and she smiled lightly.
"He's a doctor, I'm only a teacher," she pointed out and he scoffed.
"Then you don't know him at all if that's what you think," he told her and she looked at him curiously. "King is a big believer in education, he is very impressed with how smart you are, and how you want to stay a teacher until you're twenty one," he told her as he pulled a handful of feathers from the bird.
"He's the best man I've ever known," she said as she looked at the bird on her own lap.
"I'm sitting right here," he pointed out and she laughed before the door opened and King walked out making the two of them laugh again.
"What?" he asked, bewildered at the sight of the two of them laughing for seemingly no reason. That did nothing but make them both laugh harder, making him look between them for a moment before shaking his head. "Klaus, was erzählst du ihr da?" Klaus, what are you telling her?
"Nichts" 'Nothing' Klaus laughed as he shook his head and Sara smiled between the two as King moved to sit next to her in the other chair.
"What has he been saying, Mein Schatz?" he asked and she scoffed as she looked back at what she was doing, a small smirk on her face.
"Nothing," she replied and he looked at the two of them, exasperated as they started laughing again.
"I can leave," King offered as he started to stand up and Sara smiled as she grabbed his hand.
"Don't go," she smiled as she looked up at him, King looked back down at her and then sighed as he sat back down in the chair.
"Ooh looks like someone else can finally put his majesty in his place," Klaus commented, bringing on a fresh wave of laughter from the two of them, King grinning as he lightly swatted Sara's hand. She smiled and looked at him with a wide smile before shaking her head.
"Don't be upset," she implored him and he shook his head as he looked at her.
"At you?" he asked before lifting her hand to kiss her knuckles lightly. "Never," Sara blushed as she beamed at him and Klaus smiled as he watched the two before he continued to pluck the prairie hen.
After dinner Milo showed Klaus and King where they could stay in the attic of the house where Sara usually slept. Because they were two people she would sleep downstairs on the small couch, which she didn't mind too much, it was near the stove so she would be warm in the morning when she dressed.
After they all spent time talking while Sara and Caroline sewed, after Caroline had put Elijah to bed, eventually Milo decided it was time to go to bed himself and Caroline followed. After they went to bed Klaus decided to go to bed as well, leaving Sara and King downstairs.
"What are you working on?" King asked and she looked at what she was sewing by hand before showing him.
"It's a doll's dress," she explained. "For Myrtle's doll,"
"Ah, I see," he said as he looked at it. "Well she will be the best dressed doll I have ever seen," he told her and she smiled lightly. "I'm pleased I get to spend this time with you," he told her and she smiled as he wrapped his arm around the back of the couch. She leaned towards him, her body nestling into his side, and King wrapped his arm around her comfortably.
"I am too," she replied as she looked up at him. "Thank you for staying until tomorrow,"
"I wouldn't miss it," he told her as he looked down at her, running his finger along her jaw lightly. "I haven't had a chance to talk to your father yet," he said softly as he gently cupped her cheek and tilted her head up to look at him. "But I- I hope he wouldn't mind if I-" Sara's heart was racing as she gazed up at him, biting her lip before she made up her mind then and there.
She leaned in, pressing her lips to his as he groaned softly, moving his hand to the back of her neck to keep her there for a long moment as they kissed. It was so scandalous, sitting here along with an unmarried man, kissing him, but she didn't care; she had grown to admire him very much and wanted nothing more than for time to just stop so she could keep kissing him. Sara's hands moved to cup his face as they kissed before he finally pulled away. "I won't tell if you won't," she commented softly and he smiled as he pressed his forehead to hers.
The next morning Sara woke up with the dawn, when Milo got out of bed to milk the cow. She rubbed her face and then took her dress and changed behind the curtain he'd hung up for her for the few days that the Schultzs were staying with them. She made her way out from behind the curtain and she washed her face in a bowl of water that Milo had set up for her while she started the coffee. When Milo came back to the house the coffee was on the stove percolating and she looked up at him as he brought in some more firewood.
"The doctor?" he asked softly and she blushed before looking at him and nodding. "You think your da'll go for that?"
"I don't know," she replied softly as she started to work at making breakfast, slicing bread for everyone and counting out eggs.
"I wouldn't worry about it too much," he said as he looked at her. "You just have to let him see you two together," She smiled at that before looking back at him and sighing.
"You think so?" she asked and he nodded.
"Definitely," he replied.
After the breakfast was done Sara helped put the dishes into the wash basin before Caroline assured her she could manage since Sara had made breakfast and shooed her off to head to the school.
"Mr. Walsh, would you be alright with me walking Sara to the school?" King asked as he wiped his mouth off.
"Of course," he replied as he looked between King and Sara.
When they left to walk to the school he had her wrap her arm around his as they walked the mile to the school. As they did, King would stop occasionally to pick some wildflowers, telling her about growing up in Germany, and teaching her German words as they walked. When they got to the schoolhouse he waited while she unlocked the door and then held it open for her before laying the bouquet of flowers on her desk.
She excitedly showed him around the classroom and he brought in some more wood for her box next to the stove and when the children started to arrive they played and talked outside for a while while Sara got their lessons for the day ready.
"Do you want me to leave?" King asked and she smiled at him before she shrugged.
"I wouldn't mind you staying, but it may distract the kids," she explained and he nodded before he stepped forward, running his hands up her arms before he pulled her to him and gave her a long kiss. Sara's hands rested on his chest as he kissed her deeply before he finally let go of her and smiled down at her.
"I shall see you tonight," he whispered and she nodded before he kissed her once more and then let go of her. When he left some of the kids looked over at the doorway to the school house but didn't have time to ask questions because as soon as she had caught her breath Sara picked up the bell on the side of the desk and rang it, letting the kids know it was time to come in for class.
At the end of the day Sara locked up the schoolhouse and started to walk to the path that would take her home when King walked up the path, smiling at her when he saw her standing in the shade of the schoolhouse.
"Hello," she greeted him as he drew closer and he smiled down at her.
"How were your classes?" he asked as he ran his hands gently down the backs of her arms, drawing her closer as he looked down at her.
"They were good," she told him and he smiled before he leaned in, pressing a small kiss to her lips. Sara kissed him back, smiling into the kiss, her cheeks warming as her heart raced as it did every time they kissed. King's hands wrapped around her arms as her hands settled on his chest, still holding her book and the bouquet of flowers he'd picked for her that morning, she didn't care, she just leaned into the embrace happily.
When the kiss ended she smiled up at him as he moved a hand to gently brush his thumb over her cheek. "Would you allow me to walk you home?" he asked softly and she nodded as he offered his arm to her and she slipped her arm through his.
When they arrived home Sara put her book and the flowers down before she got her apron and hooked the bib over her dress before King stepped up behind her, tying the back of the apron for her snugly, his hands running over her hips for a moment as he stood behind her.
"What feast are you making for us this evening?" he asked and she smiled.
"I'm going to make a prairie pie," she told him as she looked over her shoulder at him.
The prairie hens they had plucked and dressed the night before were cut, cooked and mixed into a pie filling that would be put into the pie crust that Sara worked at making next. She kneaded the dough and then put it into a pie pan before setting it in the stove to cook blind for a little while.
While she worked in the kitchen, Caroline was playing with Elijah out in the garden leaving King and Sara alone. Klaus was off hunting, and Milo had gone with him to show him some of the best spots to hunt, the two had grown to be friends and were enjoying spending time together talking about animals and hunting.
"Tell me Schatz," King said as he watched her open the oven door and look at the pie before closing it again. "Is this the sort of life you would want?"
"What do you mean?" she asked as she looked over at him.
"You seemed hesitant to want to be married before, you said you wouldn't want to give up your work," he explained. "Would you want to continue to work? I could work at my dentistry, you could work at a school, and then we could spend evenings together doing chores,"
"Women don't normally go back to work when they are married," she reminded him as she straightened up and looked at the wood in the box, deciding that the box needed to be refilled soon. Almost as if he could read her thoughts, King walked to the front door and stepped outside, returning with an armload of wood and stacking it in the box.
"I know," he continued his train of thought. "But if it's what you wanted," he said as he looked at her while he stacked the wood. "I would be happy just to be with you, whether or not you were still working or you were staying at home," he told her and she smiled.
"I would be happy to just be with you too," she told him as he stood, brushing his hands and his knees off.
"Do you still want to wait?" he asked. "Knowing that I encourage you to go back to work if that's what you wish?"
"Yes," Sara replied and he sighed as he nodded. "But not because I'm unsure or anything like that," she told him as she stepped over to him. "I still need to work on my trousseau," she told him as she slipped her hands into his. "There are things that need to be done,"
"Of course," he smiled as he looked at her before lifting a hand to cup her cheek, his fingers delicately brushing her skin as he gazed down at her. "I still need to speak to your father," he added and she smiled back.
"Yes, it wouldn't do to plan all of this without first speaking to him," she told him and he smiled down at her.
"I hoped to give this to you after I spoke to your father," he said as he reached his other hand into his pocket and came back with a small ring. "But I find myself unable to wait," he told her as he looked down at her.
"Is that for me?" she asked and he smiled as he moved his hand from her face to take her right hand.
"I know traditionally," he said as he took her right hand and kissed her knuckles. "The ring is worn on the left hand, but I thought, with us having so much to do before the time that we might make this engagement official, you would wear this on your right hand," he explained as he slipped the ring onto her right ring finger. "Will you?"
"Marry you?" she asked looking up at him and he laughed before he nodded.
"Well yes, that, but will you wear the ring on this hand until the time we can make this official?" he asked as he looked down at her adoringly.
"Yes," she laughed as she looked up at him. "I will wear it," King beamed as he looked down at her before gathering her in his arms and pressing a long kiss to her lips.
Dinner that night was a very festive affair, they ate, they played some games and Caroline surprised Sara with a fruit cobbler she had made for Sara's birthday. After they had eaten their fill, Milo presented Sara with a present he had gotten her, a new slate with three perfect pieces of chalk for teaching on.
Caroline had taken in and hemmed an old dress of hers she never wore anymore for Sara and Elijah had picked her some flowers in the back garden. Sara was feeling so very loved before Klaus slipped a package into her lap. She looked at him curiously and he nodded at it. She unwrapped the paper and found a leather looking pouch absolutely full of brightly colored beads made of glass, bone and clay. She looked back at Klaus who smiled at her. "I traded an elk skin and two rabbit skins for that," he told her. "Thought you could use it to make necklaces or something," he explained and she smiled.
"These are from the Indians?" she asked and Caroline leaned forward to look at the beads in wonder.
"Yes," he nodded. "I'll take you to meet them someday, I think you'll like them," he grinned and she smiled back at the thought of meeting them. So many girls in her school were terrified of the Native people who lived outside of the town, but Sara was enthralled at the idea of going to visit them.
"That sounds dangerous," Caroline commented and Klaus shook his head.
"Not if you know how to talk to them," he told her.
As she looked at the beautiful beads, King leaned forward, placing a gift in front of her and she looked up in surprise. "Dr. Schultz," she said, astonished that he would give her something.
"Sara, please," he gestured to the gift and she smiled as she closed the pouch of beads and set it on the table.
She reached forward and opened the thin, but wide box. Inside was a gorgeous leather bound book full of rich thick white paper, and next to the book was a smaller box. She opened that and found a beautiful black metal pen with a pointed tip and a small well of ink.
"It's called a fountain pen," he told her. "You fill it with the ink and you don't have to keep dipping your pen in the ink," he explained and she looked at the beautiful present before smiling at him.
"Thank you for the beautiful gifts," she said as she looked at everyone, her heart positively full of love for everyone at the table.
After their celebration was over Caroline took Elijah up to bed and Klaus went to help Milo with the nightly chores while Sara and King cleaned up the house from the celebration, after she covered the cobbler with a towel, King took her hands and turned her to face him, cupping her face he leaned in to give her a long kiss.
Sara kissed him back, her hands resting against his chest as he held her close before gazing up at him when the kiss ended. "Happy Birthday, meine Liebe," he whispered softly as he brushed a lock of loose hair from her face.
I just needed some sweet fluff and to build their relationship. I also needed to build the friendship with Sara and Klaus because I feel like I didn't get to expand on that much in the last version of the story, so I hope you still like it! Feel free to leave me a review and tell me what you think!
And once again, thank you to Homuraak3mi for the German translations!