Sarah: Bride of Minnesota (American Mail-Order Bride 32) by Katie Crabapple

her clinging to his arm. "Is that all right with you?" he asked her, hoping she'd say she wanted to stay with him.
    Sarah nodded. "I'd like to meet some of the ladies of the congregation." It would be so much easier to cling to Karl's arm and hide behind him, but she wouldn't accomplish her goal of making friends here. Why had it been so much easier to make friends with Bobbie at her side?
    "All right." With a forced smile for Sarah, he walked away from her, feeling like he'd just been passed over for her middle aged neighbor.
    Mrs. Norman smiled. "Sarah, I want you to meet the two women who co-chair our relief society. This is Amelia Jones and Bella Adams."
    "I'm Amelia," a red headed woman about Sarah's height said. "Mrs. Norman said you'd like to join the relief society."
    "Oh, yes, ma'am. I'd love to be part of any projects you have going."
    Bella smiled at her. "We're doing a quilting bee at my house tomorrow, and I'd love to have you join us. Everyone is bringing a sweet to share, and I'll provide coffee, tea and lemonade. Each lady has already helped to patch some of the squares, and we'll sew them together tomorrow and start on the quilting process."
    "Oh, that sounds lovely. Could you maybe write down directions for me how to get there? I've been in town for less than a week."
    "She's just a couple of streets over from us," Mrs. Norman told Sarah. "Come to my house directly after lunch, and we'll walk over."
    "That sounds good. Thank you for that." Sarah was relieved she wouldn't have to arrive alone to a houseful of strangers.
    Amelia smiled at her. "I'll introduce you to all the ladies tomorrow. And then we'll beg you to host us all. You have a bigger house, and we'll be more comfortable there."
    Sarah nodded, a smile on her face. The entire upstairs was empty. They could get a lot of women into her house to do the Lord's work. "I'd be very happy to have all of the ladies over."

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Karl talked to one of his friends, not taking his eyes off Sarah. Why was he upset that she was getting to know other people? He wasn't so selfish that he wanted all her time for himself, was he? He'd laughed at other men who were that way.
    "You've got it bad, Karl," Joseph, the friend he was talking to, said to him. "You can't stop looking at her for even a moment."
    Karl flushed. "Of course I can. But she's beautiful, why would I want to stop looking at her?" He was a bit embarrassed, but he was determined not to let his friend sway him. His wife truly amazed him, and he saw no reason to deny it.
    Joseph laughed. "She's certainly not the ugly woman you kept telling everyone was coming." He looked over his shoulder at Karl's new wife. "Does she know you told everyone she was ugly?"
    Karl nodded. "Yes, and she's already forgiven me for it."
    "That's nice. You have a good wife there, Karl."
    "I think so." Karl kept watching Sarah, wishing she was beside him instead of across the church. He usually enjoyed the time he spent fellowshipping with other Christian men before service started, but he couldn't today. He was too busy wanting Sarah to choose to be with him instead of talking to Mrs. Norman.
    When the organist starting playing music, their cue to take their seats, Karl hurried back to Sarah's side without a word to his friend. "Let's find our seats."
    Sarah looked up at him with a smile, her eyes meeting his. "I'll follow you."
    He took her off to the side of the church, away from Mrs. Norman, so he wouldn't have to share her. "Did you meet new people?" he asked, once they were seated, trying not to let his jealousy show. Really, why should he be jealous of the older woman anyway? He knew she'd been kind to Sarah, and he should be pleased by that fact.
    They shared a song book, and he held her hand as they sang. Her clear sweet soprano voice surprised him. He hadn't heard her sing, and he wanted to beg her to sing more. Everything about her seemed wonderful to him.
    After the service, he kept her anchored to him