AN: My apologies that I did not have a chance to write out thank yous to all who reviewed. This chapter turned out to be much longer than I had planned! (20 pages, eek!) But thank you to everyone who is continuing to review, on ff.net, my website and on jsfanfiction. Thank you to all!
As always special thanks to my amazing beta, Scattered Logic.
Chapter 18: Confrontation
Sarah was very quiet as she and Jareth fed the animals and Jareth couldn't blame her. She'd had a lot on her mind the previous night and most likely she wasn't going to be finished healing anytime soon. The incident at the British camp had scarred Sarah more seriously than he had thought.
He did his best to help her feed the animals without getting in her way. Finally finished, Jareth waited for her by the barn door as she dumped the last remaining bucket of feed into the goat pen.
She joined him by the door and gave a slight smile as she looked at him. Then the smile turned into soft laughter.
"What do you find so amusing?" Jareth asked.
"You have hay in your hair, let me." She reached up and pulled some hay from Jareth's hair. Her hand moved to retrieve the rest but her fingers lingered in the silky strands. "So soft," she whispered.
Jareth gave her a small smile as he tilted his head to regard her but frowned as she jerked her hand away. "It's all right," he told her.
"We should eat breakfast before Thomas has a fit," she laughed nervously. "And then I want to look at your injury. You haven't asked me to wrap it in days."
"It's feeling better," he told her honestly.
"You said the other night that it still hurts you," she reminded him.
"Not always, just sometimes."
"Regardless of when it hurts, I want to look at it and make sure that it's healing properly," she insisted.
Jareth smiled. "Very well. After breakfast you may look at it."
She nodded, seeming content, and together they went to breakfast.
* * *
Mr. Henry was very talkative as they ate. Halfway through the meal, the rain stopped and the sun came out. He began to ramble on about Jacob finishing the painting as soon as things dried. He wanted more wood from the shed chopped, and wanted to make sure that more hay was ordered from Doc Hiller. He also wanted the crops checked. He feared that the heavy rain over the past few days might have washed the seeds away. If that were the case, there would be more planting to do. And then Mr. Henry surprised both Sarah and Jareth when he requested that Jareth join him, Jacob and Thomas out hunting.
"I don't expect you to fire a gun and I don't believe your shoulder will be able to handle shooting an arrow," Mr. Henry told Jareth.
"An arrow?" Sarah asked, eyes wide.
Jacob nodded. "Yes, sometimes we go out hunting with bows and arrows. My father learned how to use them during the French and Indian war. He fought for the British in New York. The Iroquois who lived there taught some of the colonists how to use their weaponry against other Indians as well as the French. You can sneak up on the enemy and kill them quietly. It works well for hunting game so my father taught Thomas and I when we were old enough."
"Interesting," Sarah tried to smile.
"What do you say, Jareth?" Mr. Henry asked, wiping his mouth with his cloth napkin.
"I don't see any harm in observing," Jareth told him. "When do you plan to hunt?"
"Day after tomorrow if the weather cooperates. Mrs. Henry is still hoping for a wild turkey."
"That's right!" Mrs. Henry chimed in. "I've been hoping to make a turkey dinner for weeks now. We've all been craving one."
"Yeah! Turkey dinner!" Thomas called out.
Elizabeth, who had been fairly quiet, decided to insult the boy. "With the way you love food, it's a miracle that you won't look like a cow by the time you're 12!"
"Elizabeth, that wasn't proper. Thomas has a good appetite. Nothing wrong with that," Mr. Henry told her patting his own plump belly.
Elizabeth shook her head.
"We can lend you a horse," Jacob told Jareth, ignoring his family.
"I appreciate the kind gesture, but I have my own horse to ride," Jareth declined gracefully.
"Your horse isn't well enough to carry a rider, Mr. Charles. Maybe in a few weeks or so he will be. It would be wise to use one of our animals until then. I have 3 horses, only two of which I use. I wouldn't mind lending you one."
Jareth nodded his thanks, though he didn't look pleased about borrowing one of Jacob's horses.
"Then it's settled. Mr. Charles will ride with us the day after tomorrow," Mr. Henry said, dropping his napkin on the table. "My dear, that was delicious as always, now I have paperwork to do. If you will all excuse me?"
"I could teach you to ride. I know which horse you could use that wouldn't give you any problems, " Sarah whispered to Jareth.
Jacob broke a biscuit and listened as the two talked softly about the trip and riding lesson, as well as Jareth's request that Sarah continue to care for Dan while he was gone. Jacob watched Sarah. She and her father were sitting close together, whispering and making plans. Jacob sighed heavily and took his dishes to the kitchen.
* * *
Jareth watched as Sarah gently pulled his shirt away to inspect the wound on his shoulder. She had come to life at breakfast when she had rambled on about teaching him how to ride properly and about the hunting trip, but she now was quiet again. It wasn't like her.
"It's looking a lot better. Not as well as I'd like to see it but much better." Sarah traced the outer edges of his injury with her finger and Jareth didn't wince. She helped him put his shirt back on. "At least it's starting to scab. That means it's healing."
She held out the shirt and watched as Jareth slipped his arms into the sleeves. Then she moved to sit in front of him and began to button his shirt. Jareth's gloved hands lightly covered hers.
"I can button my own shirt now," he told her and he gently dropped her hands away from him.
Sarah pulled her hands to her side and watched as he buttoned the shirt himself.
Jareth watched her out of the corner of his eyes. "What horse will I be riding?" he asked as he tucked his shirt into the top of his breeches.
"I thought maybe the bright chestnut with the white star. Jacob doesn't use him very much."
"The one in the last stall on the left?" he asked as he brushed the wrinkles from his shirt.
The gesture made Sarah smile. Jareth and his vanity. "That's the horse. I think his name is Flame. He's very quiet and good natured."
"Wasn't that the horse you learned to ride on?"
Sarah brows rose. "How did you know that?"
Jareth cursed under his breath in Goblin. She would think that he had been spying. "I just happened to see you riding." He tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "And you looked very good on the horse." He smiled broadly. "As if you have been riding your whole life."
Sarah smiled as she thought about the afternoon when she first found her rhythm with the horse. "I had a good teacher."
Jareth moved quickly to stand. "Well, why don't we head to the barn?"
Sarah nodded and she stood and walked toward the door.
Jareth followed her and then stopped halfway. "Sarah, we'll have to ask someone to saddle the horse for us. Neither of us know how to do it." He remembered their argument back at their little makeshift camp a month ago. Had he really been in the mortal world that long?
Sarah smiled. "I do now. Jacob taught me and I can teach you, too. It's really simple."
Jareth nodded numbly at her bright smile and followed her out of the room.
Elizabeth was mopping the hall floor when Jareth and Sarah stepped out of Jareth's room. The blond woman glared at Sarah as she walked past. Jareth was already making his way down the stairs when Elizabeth tossed her soap on the floor, acting like it was an accident. She had to hold back a laugh as Sarah stepped directly on the crude bar.
Sarah tumbled forward down a few stairs before Jareth caught her in his arms, stopping her less than graceful descent.
"Are you all right?" he asked immediately.
Sarah nodded. "I slipped on the soap. I'm okay."
As Jareth helped Sarah to her feet, he saw the bar of soap where it had fallen on one of the stairs. He reached over and picked it up. "And where did the soap come from, hmm?" he asked angrily.
"Oh, that's mine! Thank you for finding it, Jareth. Slippery little devil got away from me." Elizabeth took the soap from his hand and flashed him a sweet smile as she went back to mopping.
"Why don't you be more careful? Someone could have been hurt," Jareth told her.
Elizabeth hummed as she mopped the floor.
Jareth glared at her, knowing that she had dropped the soap on purpose. He made certain that Sarah was all right and they left the house without another word.
* * *
"Keep your heels down and don't hunch over in the saddle. Don't pull on the reins like that or he's going to-"
Sarah closed her eyes as Flame came to a skidding stop and Jareth flew over the horse's neck, landing on his stomach on the damp ground.
Sarah rushed to him and helped Jareth stand. "Oh, I'm sorry! Are you all right? Did you hurt your shoulder?" She tried to fuss over him, her hands immediately seeking the wound on his shoulder.
Jareth shoved her away and brushed the mud from his clothes. Sarah realized that he was uninjured.
"I tried to tell you not to pull on the reins like that," she put her hands on her hips.
"Sarah, I can't learn to ride this stubborn beast with you shouting at me. I've forgotten the small bit of knowledge I'd gained about riding back at the camp. I'm trying the best that I can. " His tone was testy and Sarah stepped back.
Jareth sighed heavily. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to snap at you. I'm not used to relying on others. I'm used to doing things myself with my magic." He sighed again. "Were I at home, I would not need this beast to travel. I could appear and disappear at my will."
Sarah bit her lower lip. "Have you gotten any magic back yet?" she asked hopefully. Her busy days sometimes made her forget who she was with and where she was.
Jareth opened his hand and made a familiar motion. Nothing appeared. He sighed.
"I guess not," Sarah said softly and she gave him a small smile. "It will come back."
"I sincerely hope so."
* * *
A shrill scream filled the barn as Jareth and Sarah were unsaddling Flame. They both looked at each other before they rushed out of the stall.
The woven basket that Elizabeth used to collect the eggs was on the ground and Elizabeth was jumping around shrieking.
"What's wrong?" Sarah asked. "Are you okay?"
"There was a dead mouse in my basket!!! Oh, I'm probably going to catch some horrible disease! Collecting the eggs should be your job!" she cried out at Sarah.
Sarah's eyes narrowed. "I have enough chores to do."
"Not nearly enough! Oh! I have to go soak in a bath…before my skin peels off or something! This is too ridiculous!" She rushed away, still panicked and the moment she had gone laughter filled the air.
Sarah spun to face Jareth.
He was laughing out loud, his hand on his stomach as he shook with merriment.
"Oh, Jareth," Sarah started, "you didn't."
Jareth stopped laughing, though the amusement was still sparkling in his eyes. "I couldn't resist the opportunity. Did you see the look on her face?" He chuckled softly and he reminded Sarah of a child instead of a full-grown Goblin King.
Sarah gave him a harsh glance before walking back to the horse stall.
Jareth rushed after her and he grabbed her arm, forcing her to turn and look at him. "What? What have I done wrong, other than have a little fun? You know that she deserved it. She's done nothing but treat you badly."
"I don't want you to fight my battles for me, okay? I can take care of myself," she told him firmly.
"I haven't seen you taking care of yourself, Sarah. You've done nothing but let Elizabeth walk all over you as if you were worth nothing more than dirt."
"I have my reasons!" she shouted.
Jareth crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head. "Oh, do enlighten me."
"Would you rather that I fought with her and got us kicked out of the house? Tossed onto the streets so the British can find us or the other colonists?"
Jareth didn't reply.
"Yeah, I didn't think so. Thanks to your methods I'll end up having another chore now. Thanks a bunch. Stop acting like a child and grow up." She walked away, clearly frustrated, leaving Jareth to stand there alone.
He watched her disappear into the stall before he angrily kicked the ground.
Not more than a few minutes later, he heard the back porch door slam shut and heard yelling.
"You'll fetch those eggs, Elizabeth Ann Henry or there will be a price to pay! Mouse or no mouse, you'll fetch those eggs!"
"But Mama…"
"Not another word about it! Out!"
Jareth watched as Mrs. Henry shooed Elizabeth out of the house. The young woman pouted and walked slowly to the barn.
The blonde groaned and grumbled, cursing under her breath as she grasped the new basket her mother had given her and made her way to the coop. She pushed the chickens out of the way as she stole their eggs and placed them in the basket. They clucked and flapped their wings angrily at her. She was nearly finished when one of the chickens escaped and clucking loudly, rushed out the back of the barn.
"Oh no! Come back here!" She slammed the coop door shut so no more chickens would escape.
Jareth stood in the shadows and watched as Elizabeth grabbed her skirt and raced after the chicken.
She groaned as the bird ran straight for the muddy pigpen. The chicken most likely hoped to find something left by the pigs to eat. "Oh, there is no way that I am going to catch the bird. No way. We'll just have to deal with the loss. I'm not getting my new blue dress dirty."
"Having problems?" purred a masculine voice.
Elizabeth turned to see Jareth. "Jareth!" she exclaimed. "Did you see what happened in the barn? There was a mouse in my basket and now the chicken has escaped." She flashed him a sweet smile and then began to play the damsel in distress. "Could you help me? I'll hear it from father if another chicken escapes to get eaten by coyotes. They're so expensive as it is…"
Jareth gave her an arrogant smile. "What would you have me do?"
"Would you lift me? I don't want to climb on the rails. I might be able to grab the chicken if you hold me. It's inside the pen right here near the fence."
Jareth's smile widened. "I would be delighted."
'Oh, how wonderful!" Elizabeth cried out. She eagerly wrapped her arms around Jareth, just as Sarah stepped into view.
Neither Jareth nor Elizabeth knew that Sarah was watching them. She had heard voices and had gone to investigate. Sarah felt betrayed as she watched Jareth put an arm around Elizabeth to steady her. Sarah lowered her chin to her chest. So Jareth planned to use her after all. With her eyes brimming with tears, she started to walk away only to halt a few steps later when she heard a yelp.
Sarah's eyes widened as she turned and watched Jareth lift Elizabeth so that she could try and reach the chicken. Jareth kept lifting and Elizabeth lost her balance, falling over the fence face first into the mud.
For a moment it was completely silent. Then there was a horrible cry. "Jareth!!! You dropped me! How could you have!?" Elizabeth was covered in mud and she was shaking.
Jareth had to fight to keep from smiling. "It was an accident. My shoulder is still not healed yet. I couldn't hold you." Suddenly a smile appeared on his face.
Elizabeth finally understood. "You awful man! You did it on purpose, didn't you?! You dropped me into the pen on purpose!"
Jareth only grinned.
"You're a wicked, wicked man!" Elizabeth began to cry as she tried to stand. She slipped in the mud only to fall into it again. Whining and sobbing, she crawled through the mud on her stomach to the fence. She climbed out of the pen and glancing at her blue dress, she began to sob loudly. "You've ruined it! My beautiful new dress is ruined!"
"We're even now." Jareth told her, sneering.
'Even?!" Elizabeth shrieked.
Jareth stepped closer to her, his eyes narrowed. "Don't think for a moment that I don't know what you've been doing to Sarah. If you try anything again, I will enjoy seeking an equal form of revenge for whatever you've done. You ruined Sarah's dress yesterday and I've ruined yours today. We're even." He stepped away from her.
"I hate you! Both of you!" Elizabeth cried, stomping her foot on the ground. She noticed Sarah in the doorway. "Were my family not in such desperate need of help, I wouldn't be afraid to tell my parents what you have done!" Gathering her muddy skirt, Elizabeth stomped away.
Jareth raised his brows and looked over to Sarah. She was leaning her cheek against the doorframe.
She sighed. "Why did you do that?"
"You know why, " Jareth told her. "She will leave you alone now and hopefully she will leave me alone as well."
"Jareth, you caused this by using her to try and make me jealous. She was only getting back at you."
'No, she took her anger out on you and that is unacceptable."
"Jareth-"
"Sarah, what's done is done."
Sarah sighed. She knew this discussion was bound to go in circles. She stood in perfect silence for a moment before she began to laugh softly.
"I have to admit that was very clever. How you dumped her in the pen. The look on her face when she sat up in the mud. It's something that I will remember for a long time." Sarah smiled.
Jareth walked toward her, smiling brightly. He laughed. "I won't forget it anytime soon either." He was almost to Sarah when he nearly tripped over the loose chicken that ran beneath him. He reached down and grabbed the bird by its tail.
"No sense in letting an innocent animal die because of her vanity." He walked into the barn with Sarah close behind.
"Oh, that is rich coming from you," she laughed.
Jareth opened the door, tossed the chicken into the coop and picked up the abandoned basket of eggs. When he turned to look at Sarah, his expression was serious.
"I apologize if you believe I've caused you more trouble. I was only trying to help."
Sarah nodded. "I know that you were. I…I'm not used to someone sticking up for me. I've always had to defend myself. I didn't mean to snap at you earlier."
"You're forgiven." An awkward silence filled the air until Jareth cleared his throat. He raised the basket of eggs. "We should get this to Mrs. Henry."
Sarah nodded.
* * *
Luckily nothing ever became of the incident where Elizabeth fell into the pigpen. Whenever her family asked about it, which wasn't often, she told them she had slipped and fallen in when she was trying to catch a loose chicken.
At first she would glare at Jareth and Sarah whenever she saw them but she soon gave up the childish behavior when she announced the very next day that she had met a charming young man when she'd accompanied her father into town. Her world was filled with some unfortunate man by the name of William and Jareth was nothing but a memory.
The next day and a half flew by for Jareth and Sarah. They continued to do chores together and took care of Dannarra. The gelding was becoming more beautiful each day with his groomed appearance and the fact that he was filling out nicely.
Finally, the day of the hunt came around. At dawn the men left for the stable to ready the horses. Sarah arrived with Jareth and together the two saddled Flame.
Jacob watched them from a distance and he cast a glance at his mother who arrived with a small bag of supplies.
"Promise me that you'll be careful. You're not even close to being fully healed yet," Sarah told Jareth as she handed the girth under Dan's belly to him. She watched him buckle it and check the saddle before he turned to her.
Jareth smiled warmly. "Could it be that you are concerned about me?"
Sarah ducked her head. "I never-"
Jareth lifted her chin with his hand and looked into her eyes. "You never said that, right?" he finished.
She grinned and nodded. She had been with him for over a month now. She didn't like the idea of not seeing him for a few days.
"I promise that I will be careful. I won't be shooting any guns or firing any arrows. I'll just be observing."
"Well, be careful to stay out of the line of fire, hmm? I don't want to nurse anymore gunshot wounds or injuries from arrows. I hear those can be nasty. You got that straight, mister?" she smiled teasingly.
Jareth laughed and then feigned seriousness, but it didn't work as his lips twitched into a grin. "I have it straight. I'll be careful."
"Jareth, ready to go?"
Sarah and Jareth moved apart from each other when they heard Jacob's voice.
"I'll be right there!" Jareth replied. Sarah had tears in her eyes when Jareth looked down at her.
Unexpectedly, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. "Please, be careful…"
He held her for a moment before reluctantly pulling away. "I will."
They exited the stall together, with Flame walking behind them. Sarah went to stand beside Mrs. Henry as the men mounted their horses.
"We'll be back soon," Mr. Henry told his wife.
"Don't come back unless you have a turkey," she teased.
"I wouldn't dare!" he laughed and then he tapped his horse lightly with a crop. The horse moved off at a trot and Jacob and Thomas cued their horses to follow.
Flame pawed impatiently waiting for Jareth's command. Jareth gazed at Sarah before he nudged the chestnut forward to follow the other horses.
Sarah watched as he rode away. She walked a few steps forward, her hair blowing around her in the morning wind. Jareth turned and gave her a bright smile, which she returned before he disappeared into the woods.
She lowered her head and prayed for his swift return.
* * *
They had not been out on the trail for more than an hour when Jacob reined his horse close to Flame. The chestnut that Jareth rode sidestepped and pinned his ears back at Jacob's bay. Jacob glanced at his father and brother as they rode ahead and then he glared at Jareth.
"I know. You realize that, don't you?" Jacob looked into Jareth's eyes, his gaze unwavering.
Jareth's brows lowered. "You know what?"
"That things are not what they seem. Sarah isn't really your daughter, is she?"
Jareth's jaw dropped in shock before he could stop it.
"I knew it." Jacob shook his head bitterly as he watched Jareth's expression. "The way the two of you have been acting. There was no way that she was your child." Jacob felt some part of him wither at learning what he feared was true. The other part of him was angry. "Why did you lie to us?"
"I never lied to you."
"Then why did Sarah lie?"
"Sarah did not lie intentionally. She agreed with you when you believed that I was her father, " Jareth told him.
"And why did she agree with me when it wasn't the truth? Are you both trying to hide something from us? Hmm? Are you spies as Colonel Davis believed you were?"
"We're not spies. Sarah only agreed with you to protect me." Jareth was becoming increasingly agitated by the questioning.
"Protect you from what?" Jacob demanded angrily.
"I was shot by the British, I was captured by the colonists and nearly hung," Jareth spat. "She feared that you would hurt me. I'm all that she has."
Jacob leaned over in his saddle, eyes narrowed. His father and Thomas were still ahead of them on the trail. "And what are you to her, hmm?"
Jareth's eyes narrowed in response. He knew what the young man was suggesting. "I'm her friend, nothing more." There was an awkward silence before he continued. "I don't see what business it is of yours."
Jacob said nothing. He gave his horse a sharp kick and trotted off to join his father and brother.
Jareth let out the breath he didn't realize that he had been holding and cursed.
* * *
Sarah's thoughts were a million miles away as she brought up the bucket from the well. She couldn't stop thinking about Jareth. Her mind had been on him all morning. Was he all right? Would he return soon? She hoped that he would remember everything she had taught him about riding. Jareth had not been gone for very long and she was already missing him. She was so deep in thought that she wasn't even aware that Mrs. Henry had come up behind her.
"Sarah, we need to talk."
Sarah jumped. "Oh, you startled me, Mrs. Henry. Sure. I'm almost done getting the water."
"No, we need to talk now. The water can wait. This farce has gone on long enough."
Sarah frowned at the tone of her voice. "'Farce?'" she echoed.
"I think you know what I speak of." Mrs. Henry raised her brows.
Sarah shook her head, looking thoroughly confused. "I'm afraid that I don't."
"So, you're going to continue to lie to me?" There was anger in the older woman's tone.
Sarah's lip trembled. "I don't-"
"I saw you with him in the barn. I saw the way that he smiled at you and the way you smiled at him when he rode away. I've seen how you two act around each other. Jareth is not your father, is he?"
Sarah eyes widened before she lowered her head and then shook it slowly. "No…he's not," she whispered softly.
Mrs. Henry put her hands on her hips. "Then why did you lie to us, child? Why pretend that the man was your father when he wasn't?"
"I didn't lie. Not on purpose. Jacob kept asking me what Jareth was to me and I was so frightened that I couldn't answer. Jacob was the one who kept believing that Jareth was my father so I went along with it."
Mrs. Henry stepped closer. "And why did you do that? Did you enjoy deceiving us? We've been nothing but kind to you!"
Tears filled Sarah's eyes. "I didn't like deceiving you! But I had to do it! Jareth was hurt and I didn't know who to trust." A tear escaped and trailed down her cheek. "What if Jacob meant to hurt him? I wouldn't know if I could trust anyone until after I'd been here a while. And I would have liked to tell the truth, but the longer we stayed here and you all accepted that we were father and daughter, the harder it became to clear things."
"So, you kept trying to get away with the story that he was your father? Sarah, that means you lied to us about your past as well. How can we believe anything you say?"
Sarah shook her head. "I didn't lie about my past. My mother abandoned my real father and he raised me. She might as well have been dead because she was to us."
"And where is your real father?"
"He's at home," Sarah choked out.
"And what about Jareth? Who is he?"
"Jareth is a friend. We have a strange past that would take too long to explain." She sighed deeply at Mrs. Henry's expression.
"Briefly, we were enemies who were pushed together by fate and we're trying to become friends to survive." Tears began to stream down Sarah's face. "Things happened that we didn't expect and we were thrust into each other's lives. We're trying to make the best of it. But then he got captured by the colonists and they thought he was a British spy-"
"And is he?"
'"No!" Sarah cried out. "He doesn't want any part of this war. Neither of us do."
"And then he was shot? And that is when Edgar, Jacob and Thomas found you?"
Sarah nodded.
Mrs. Henry sighed. "I was hoping that my feelings were wrong, Sarah. I really was. It's going to take time to believe anything that you or Jareth say. I understand why you did what you did, but you should have tried to tell us the truth."
"I know. And I'm sorry. I truly am. But I was afraid." Another tear streamed down her cheek.
"Afraid of telling the truth?"
"Afraid you would cast us out of your house or turn us over to someone who might hurt us. You have all been so kind to us. We have nowhere to go, no money, nothing but each other. Here we have more…almost…a family." Sarah leaned against the well and began to sob. She felt like the world was falling down. They knew about the deception and they were going to kick her and Jareth out of the house.
Mrs. Henry hesitated before she took Sarah into her arms. The older woman sighed. "You've obviously been through a great deal, both of you. It's going to take us time to believe you again, but you've done no real wrong to any of us." She smoothed Sarah's dark hair and sighed. "We will not cast you from our house unless you give us reason to. Fear of a friend being hurt is not reason to make you leave. We'll discuss this later. Now, finish getting the water and come into the house. Abby is ill and I need help cooking dinner."
Sarah nodded and wiped at her eyes as Mrs. Henry walked away.
* * *
Sarah was trembling as she mixed the cornbread dough. Mrs. Henry had been unusually quiet and Sarah was afraid of what she was thinking. Had she changed her mind about allowing Sarah and Jareth to stay in the house? Sarah tried to concentrate on what she was doing, but she found it difficult. The two of them were alone in the kitchen preparing dinner and the older woman had not said a word.
A voice finally broke the silence. "Did you run away with him against your father's wishes?"
Sarah turned to face Mrs. Henry. "What?" she asked.
"Did you run away with Jareth against your father's wishes? Is he your lover? Did your father disapprove because of the age difference?" Mrs. Henry rambled as she took a cornbread out of the primitive looking oven. She placed it on the table to let it cool.
Sarah's jaw dropped. Mrs. Henry thought that she and Jareth…that they? If the situation weren't so unbelievable she would have laughed. But the urge to laugh fell away when she saw how serious Mrs. Henry was.
Sarah shook her head. "No, I didn't run away with him and no, he's not my lover. He's a friend."
"Just a friend?" Mrs. Henry pushed.
Sarah nodded. Her hands began to shake as she worked the dough and she fought to still them.
"The smiling that went on between you two seems to suggest more than just friendship. He was openly flirting with you and you with him."
Sarah turned to look at the older woman. "I was not flirting with him," she denied viciously.
Mrs. Henry shook her head. "Deny what you want, child, but I'm not blind."
Sarah watched the older woman walk away. She hadn't been flirting. Had she?
* * *
It felt like ten years had passed before the men came riding into the yard, their horses loaded with the game they had killed. Two deer, some duck and a wild turkey. It had only been 2 days.
Sarah stood trembling beside Mrs. Henry as the men dismounted.
"You brought me a turkey! You wonderful man!" Mrs. Henry exclaimed as she helped her husband down from his horse and placed a kiss on his cheek.
Sarah watched as Jacob glared at her for a moment as he dismounted his horse and she couldn't understand why until she looked at Jareth. She took one look at him and she knew that something was wrong. She could see it in his eyes.
She noticed Jacob walk to his mother and hug her. Then the two nodded at each other and looked in Jareth and Sarah's direction. They talked for a moment, whispering, before Jacob stepped away and led his horse into the barn.
Sarah slowly followed Jareth into the barn to help him unsaddle the horse. As soon as they were in the stall, she began to cry.
"They know, Jareth…They know…," she sobbed softly.
Jareth pulled her into his arms and held her. "Yes, they do."
She raised her head and looked at him through eyes clouded by tears.
Jareth sighed. "Jacob decided to question me about things. I had to admit the truth. But how did you know? You weren't there with us to know that."
Sarah stepped back and wiped her tears away with the sleeve of her dress. "Mrs. Henry did the same thing. She questioned me and I had to tell her the truth."
"How did she react?" Jareth asked quietly as he began to unsaddle the horse. He knew that Jacob was in the barn somewhere.
"She took it better than I thought she would, but it's going to take a long time before they can believe anything that we say. I was so afraid that they would kick out us out of the house. But she said that protecting a friend wasn't a reason to get rid of us."
"Jacob told his father and Thomas the first night we spent in the woods," Jareth told her, leaning close. "Thomas didn't really understand what was going on. Jacob did not handle things well. He was very bitter and we argued. Mr. Henry was surprised but not too badly. He said there was something odd about us."
"We really messed up, didn't we? That's twice now." A tear streamed down her face.
Jareth gently wiped it away with his hand. "No, we didn't mess up. The truth would have been revealed sooner or later. Better now than later." He heard the sound of a saddle being tossed over the wood of a stall. Jacob had finished unsaddling his horse.
"You should go into the house. It might be wise to put some distance between us until things settle down," Jareth told her.
Sarah stepped back and nodded before she left the barn.
Jareth sighed as he watched her go.
Jacob was waiting for Sarah outside when she stepped from the barn. He caught her arm and pulled him toward her. "Sarah, we have to talk, right now."
'What is there to talk about? You already know," she told him, flustered by the way he had pulled her to him.
"I know that he's not your father, yes, but there is something else that I must know." There was no anger in his tone and his eyes were pleading with her to listen to him.
"I'm listening."
"Not here, follow me." He gently took her hand and led her away from the barn. He finally stopped by the wood shed.
"I have to know, Sarah, " he told her.
"You have to know what?" She tilted her head and wondered what this was all about. Why had he pulled her away from the barn and just what was it that he had to know?
"Is there a chance…that.." He stopped and started over. "We have been friends…you and I…I enjoy your company, Sarah. It's just…" He looked deep into her eyes. "Is there a chance to be anything more than friends? Would you say yes if I asked you to court me?"
Sarah's eyes widened and then tears formed. "I…I'm sorry, Jacob," she choked. "You're my friend and I…don't…I can't…"
"There's no need to apologize," he told her. "Friends are what we are and that is what we will stay if that is what you wish. I just had to know." His eyes were dark for a moment and then the darkness lifted as he gave her a sad smile.
"I'm still sorry. Just the circumstances…it wouldn't work." She couldn't admit to him that she was from the 20th century. He'd laugh at her, think she was crazy and she'd ruin the timeline.
'It's all right." He nodded sadly.
"I'm sorry if I've hurt you, Jacob," she told him sincerely.
He smiled. "You haven't hurt me." I've hurt myself by hoping… "I understand why you had to lie," he added softly.
Sarah looked up at him in surprise. "Huh?"
"I took my anger out on Jareth. I didn't like knowing that you both had deceived us, but I understand why it was done. I should apologize to him. You care about him and you wanted to protect him. Were it a friend of mine, I would have done the same." He looked as if he wanted to say more about the matter, but dropped the subject. "I need to help my father prepare the meat. I'll see you at dinner, all right?"
Sarah nodded numbly and watched as he walked away.
* * *
"So we were told the same story, " Mrs. Henry said within the closed doors of the study.
Jacob turned from the window to look at his mother. "I don't believe it is a story. I believe it's the truth. She truly did want to protect him. I saw it in her eyes that day. She was frightened when she met us and I kept assuming that he was her father. It was my own mistake. She merely went along with it."
Mrs. Henry gazed at her older son. "Jacob, I know you…You'd better stay away from her. You're going to get yourself hurt, allowing yourself to forgive her so easily."
'It's too late for that, Mama." Jacob sat at his father's desk.
"What do you mean?"
"I have already forgiven her and she has already rejected me as I knew she would."
"Oh, Jacob. Don't tell me you asked her to…?" She watched sadly as Jacob nodded. "You really did care for her, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did and I still do. I understand her reasons and I don't want this misunderstanding to threaten my friendship with her."
"Jacob, just let her go. It's obvious she has a past with Jareth, even if she is not willing to talk about it. You'll only end up hurting yourself if you try to remain her friend."
Jacob stood. "I've already hurt myself and I'm over it. I knew something was going on between them, I just didn't want to believe it. I wanted to believe that Jareth was her father. But I've come to a decision. I feel it is more important to remain her friend than to let my personal feelings for her get in the way. She's a good person and when Jareth isn't trying to protect her from me, he is as well."
Mrs. Henry smiled at her son. "You're a good man, Jacob. I hope they realize that. You're forgiving them far more easily than I am willing to."
Jacob smiled and walked to his mother, hugging her lightly. "I learned about kindness and forgiveness from some wonderful folk. The Henrys. Do you know them?"
'Oh, you!" Mrs. Henry had tears in her eyes. She pulled away from her son. "I have things to do."
Jacob smiled as she watched her go. He sighed as he walked to the window. It would be difficult to see Sarah with Jareth, knowing for sure that they were not family. It would be awkward and tense. But he was willing to get over it. He told her they would remain friends and they would.
* * *
By dinner, everyone in the house knew that Sarah and Jareth had been deceiving them. The air was thick with tension, but soon Thomas' dinner table antics had people chuckling softly. The men began to talk about the hunting trip, while Sarah, Elizabeth and Mrs. Henry talked about what they had done in the men's absence. Elizabeth was sure to mention how wonderful William was a dozen times or so. Jacob seemed to be his cheerful self even though that confused Sarah, but she chose not to question it. What really bothered her was that despite the light conversation, Mrs. Henry was uptight. She didn't joke with the group and was far too quiet for Sarah's liking.
After dinner Jareth walked Sarah to her room. She looked tired and he was equally as tired from not sleeping much while he was in the woods. They had both helped clear the dishes before excusing themselves.
Sarah had felt terrible when she had looked back to see Jacob watching her and Jareth walk up the stairs together. She didn't enjoy hurting Jacob, but she had told him the truth. He was a friend and they couldn't be anything more.
"They seemed to have accepted it fairly well." Jareth told her as they stood outside her door.
She nodded, but said nothing.
Jareth lifted her chin with his gloved hand and looked into her eyes. "Are you all right?"
"Mmm hmm," she mumbled softly. "Just tired."
"Did you take good care of my horse?" Jareth asked lightly, trying to break the tense mood.
Sarah nodded and smiled. "Yes, Dan is just fine."
"Good. I'll be sure to see how he is in the morning." He released her, but not before caressing her cheek with the back of his fingers. "Sleep well, Sarah."
"You too."
* * *
The sun felt warm on her face as she drifted among the rows of rose bushes that stretched for miles in every direction. Full size roses and miniature roses in every color imaginable. She stopped to smell them, taking in their sweet, pleasant fragrance.
"Beautiful, aren't they?" came a cool masculine voice.
Sarah turned and smiled warmly as her eyes fell upon Jareth a few yards away. "They're just like you told me." She looked him over carefully as he walked among the rose bushes and made his way to her. He was dressed in a long midnight blue frock coat, a pale blue poet's shirt beneath it, black breeches and his usual black knee high boots. His golden hair shone brightly in the afternoon sunlight as it moved around him in the warm breeze. He quite nearly took her breath away.
He smiled as he stepped closer and pulling one gloved hand from behind his back, produced a beautiful red rose.
Sarah smiled her thanks as she reached for the rose, but Jareth took her hand into his other hand and brought it to his lips before she could take the flower. He placed a delicate kiss on the back of her hand and Sarah felt herself shiver at his touch. He once again offered the rose and she took it gently, mindful of the thorns on its stem. She brought the flower to her nose and inhaled lightly.
"Even after all these years that she has been gone, the roses flourish. She would be proud to see them so healthy and alive."
"I'm certain that she would be proud." Sarah smiled.
Jareth stepped a little closer to her, lifting a hand to brush back a few strands of hair that had drifted into Sarah's face. He tucked them behind her ear and lightly traced his fingers along her cheek.
"Even with all their beauty, they pale in comparison to…" His sentence trailed off and his eyes locked with hers and Sarah found that she couldn't pull away.
He was so handsome…and his touch, so gentle. Sarah felt one of his hands rest upon her waist as he drew her toward him, while the other cupped her cheek. His face loomed closer and Sarah instinctively closed her eyes.
Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest and it felt like forever before soft lips gently touched her own. The kiss was innocent at first. Nothing more than the pressure of lips against lips. But slowly she felt his lips begin to move against hers. She felt his hand tighten at her waist as he pulled her even closer. The hand on her cheek buried itself into her hair.
She felt his tongue slide across her lips and she shivered before she slowly opened her mouth, allowing him entrance. She buried her hands into his golden hair and gasped as he pulled her closer still.
She could feel the heat of his body against hers, could feel his hands beginning to roam and she felt something hard and strong press against her abdomen as he shifted his hips up against her.
Sarah bolted straight up in her bed. Trembling, she ran one shaking hand through her dark hair. She tried to slow her breathing and glanced around, heart pounding as she tried to figure out where she was. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized that she was in her room at the Henry's house and that she was alone. Glancing out the window, she noticed the faint brightening of dawn to the east. Sighing deeply, she sank back onto the bed, resting her head on her pillow. It had all been a dream…An incredibly realistic dream.
But why had she dreamed that Jareth had kissed her and in a place that no longer existed? What did it mean?
'It has to be because I've been spending so much time with him lately. He walked me to my room earlier… Mrs. Henry's questions about us the other day…that's why I dreamed about him'. She tried to tell herself.
'But what if it isn't that…what if…no…no.'
Sarah shook her head on the pillow. Jareth was a friend and he would never become anything more than that. She wouldn't allow him to become anything more.
'He's manipulative, arrogant, aggressive, selfish, cruel, everything he does is for himself….He doesn't care about you…not really. He just wants to get home. Wants to see his Labyrinth restored….and when that is accomplished he'll have no need of you. You'll be worth nothing to him.'
Sarah blinked back tears as her own voice filled her mind. She knew that Jareth was all of those things, but did he really believe that she was worth nothing? Would he use her like he had used Elizabeth? She kept thinking he would, but he'd yet to actually do it.
'But there's goodness in him, too. He helps me do my chores…We take care of Dan together. He loves that silly horse. We've laughed and have begun to talk. I'm just starting to learn who he is. He's become a friend.'
'Keep telling yourself that…keep believing it and maybe in your fairytale world, it will come true. He'll sweep you off your feet and kiss away your troubles, just like in your dream. You're falling for him…undoubtedly just like all the others who traveled the Labyrinth before you…'
"No, I'm not!" she cried aloud and she quickly clamped her hand over her mouth. She froze for a minute, fearing that someone had heard her. Other than the rooster crowing outside, all was quiet. She let out a sigh.
'I'm not falling for him. He's handsome and sweet sometimes, but he's also cruel and ruthless… and he hurts me intentionally when it pleases him. How could I ever fall for someone like that?'
'Then why did you turn Jacob away?'
'I didn't turn him away…I just can't be with him.'
'Why?'
'How could I? He lives in a time way before I was even born. I'll upset the timeline if I stay here with him.'
'And that's all? Just affecting time helped form your decision? There was nothing else?"
'Well, not only that. I don't love Jacob. Not in a romantic way, anyway. He's a friend, nothing more.'
'You are even beginning to sound like him. Ask yourself the true reason why you do not want to be anything more than friends with Jacob…and you will find the truth to your dreams.'
Sarah let out a shuddering sigh as she blocked out the voices. Two parts of her were in disagreement and she had no idea what side to choose.
"It was just a childish fairytale dream, " she finally whispered. She would dismiss it as she had all of the other dreams over the past few years.
She turned over in her bed, noticing that the sky was continuing to brighten. In an hour or so she would be rising to feed the animals with Jareth and then she would prove it to herself. She would show the side of herself that believed she was falling for Jareth, where the truth really did lie.