Skylark Read Online Free Page A

said Sarah.
    “It’s a book I started. About you. About our family,” I said.
    Papa went out to the porch. Sarah sat down and opened the book. She began to read.
    “‘When my mother . . .’”
    She stopped and looked at me. Then she began to read again. Papa stood outside the screen door, listening.
    “‘When my mother, Sarah, came, she came by train. I didn’t know I’d love her, but Caleb did. Papa didn’t know, either, but he does love her. I have seen them kiss.’” Sarah smiled at me. “‘And I have seen the way he looks at her and the way he touches her hair. My mother, Sarah, doesn’t love the prairie. She tries, but she can’t help remembering what she knew first.’”
    Sarah stopped and closed the book, holding it close to her.
    “You like it,” I said.
    “I like it,” said Sarah softly.
    She put her arms around me, and I saw Papa watching us.
    Sarah got up, then, and went to the door.
    “It was a fine party, Jacob.”
    She put her hand up and he did, too, so that they touched through the screen.
    “I’d almost forgotten music,” whispered Sarah.
    Then she looked past Papa at the fence post.
    “Where’s Caleb’s glass, Jacob?”
    Papa didn’t speak.
    “Put it back, please, Jacob,” said Sarah. “It should be there when it rains.”
    Papa stared at Sarah. And when I went to bed later that night, I looked out and saw it there, shining and clean, on the fence post.

9
    T he next day, after the party, after the music and dancing, Matthew and Maggie’s well went dry. They drove their wagon to our house to say good-bye, and I could hardly look at Sarah’s face.
    The wagon was packed with furniture and clothes; Rose and Violet sat in the back, the baby on Maggie’s lap.
    “I’m sorry to be leaving you, Jacob,” said Matthew.
    “It’s all right, Matthew. I know,” said Papa.
    “I’ll miss you,” Sarah said to Maggie. Her face was tight, to keep all her feelings from coming out. She reached out to touch the baby’s hand.
    “We’ll be back,” said Maggie.
    Tears came down her face.
    “We’ll be back,” she repeated.
    The baby began to cry as the wagon drove out of the yard. When Sarah turned to look at Papa, tears sat at the corners of her eyes.
    “They’ll be back,” said Papa.
    He watched the cloud of dust that followed Matthew’s wagon down the road, his eyes narrowed against the sunlight.
     
    That night I dreamed about roses, and green fields, and water. A glass of water on the fence post, and ponds of water to swim in; Caleb spitting streams of water in the air like a whale. Sarah laughing and splashing us with water.
    A sharp clap of thunder woke me. Lottie and Nick barked as lightning lit up the sky. I turned over in bed, but then Papa’s voice from downstairs made me sit up.
    “Sarah! Sarah! It’s fire!”
    I got up and rushed to the window, and there was fire in the field close to the barn. Flames creeping up the fence, flames near the corral.
    I ran downstairs and out to the porch, Caleb behind me. Sarah was running carrying wet sacks, her hair down her back. Sarah and Papa beat the flames around the corral. Then Papa stopped to let the frightened horses out.
    “Get the cows,” he shouted to Sarah.
    Sarah ran to the barn and pulled the cows outside.
    “Shoo! Shoo!” she cried.
    Caleb ran down to get Moonbeam.
    “Get on the porch and stay there,” Sarah shouted at him as he led Moonbeam away.
    I put my arm around Caleb. I could feel him trembling.
    Sarah screamed as some hay caught fire and the side of the barn burst into flame.
    “Buckets!” shouted Papa. “Get buckets of water! Buckets!”
    Sarah ran to the barrel and filled a bucket, running back to him as the fire grew. Papa grabbed it and then Sarah stopped him. I couldn’t hear what she said, but I knew what it was. It was the last barrel. Papa stopped, then, and stared at the barn as flames caught the dry wood and then the roof. Sparks flew everywhere. And then part of the roof fell and Sarah