Sarah and Luke awoke early the next morning before the other members of the family and made wild love. Their experiences of the night before were fresh and clear in their minds and images of those events fired their lusts. While their lovemaking was brief, it was very intense, and they got out of bed feeling as if a new sexual world had been opened to them.
Their passion was did not go unnoticed by the rest of the family as the couple hugged and kissed at every opportunity before Luke had to leave to resume his tasks in the fields. Amos was surprised at the open display of affection, which the pair demonstrated before the entire family. It was very unusual for the Luke and Sarah to carry on in such a manner in front of the rest of the clan. Luke Jr. moaned about all the mushing stuff his parents were doing, while Rachel merely smiled and thought that such romance was soon to be hers once she and Mark were married.
Every evening during the following week Luke and Sarah would go down to the barn to visit Micah and would only return to the house late in the night. Amos wondered at what the three people were talking about for so long every night.
"What can you be talking to this Micah so much about?" Amos asked his grandson. "Seems to me that you must have jawed about everything in God's creation by now."
"We're just telling him about ourselves and he is telling us about himself and his travels. Don't worry Grandpa, we'll have you down to the barn with us before long," Luke answered his grandfather's questioning. "This Micah knows a lot of stuff and he is just about the most interesting person I've ever met."
"I told you once, boy," Amos reminded Luke, "not to let this feller con you none. Don't take his words to heart. I've lived a while in my time and I know more than a little about people. This feller just don't seem right, and you'd be well served to take my advice. I don't know what he is up to, but mark my words, it ain't anything good."
"Grandpa, Micah has only all our welfare as his first consideration, I'm sure of that. Our talks with him are helping Sarah and I understand one another in a way we never had before."
"That may seem fine to you, but the two of you are carrying on like lovesick kids. I don't know if all this kissin' and feelin' you two have been doing in front of everyone is good. Why, I even saw you and Sarah feelin' each others privates. True I stepped in on you two while you were busy with the dishes, but still and all there is a proper time and place for such carryings on. I mean, what if Luke Jr. or even Rachel saw you two like I did? What would they think?"
"They would probably think that Sarah and I love each other very much; however, we will be more careful in the future. I am sorry if we offended you."
"It ain't that," Amos shook his head, "It's just that I'm having a hard time getting my mind around the change in you and Sarah since you've been going down to that barn at night."
"Don't worry about it, Grandpa," Luke assured Amos. "Micah has helped Sarah and me a lot and I'm sure that he will be glad to help you too."
"I don't need no help. I'm fine as I am, and you and Sarah were fine too until you met up with this feller."
"I'm sorry you feel that way," Luke said in a low voice, "but give Micah a chance to talk with you and you will see things differently. He is a good man and wants only to help all of us."
"Well, I've said my piece, and you had best heed my word; however, it is your life, just be careful about how you live it."
The weekend came and Rachel went out on her date with Mark. She returned from her night out happy and filled with excitement. She described to the family where Mark had taken her and how the evening had been one of the best of her life.
The following weekend was to be the church party and members of the church showed up all through the week to help with the decorating of the barn. During that time, Micah was introduced to everyone and it seemed that he captivated every person he met, with the exception of Amos, who remained suspicious and aloof. While Amos helped every day to make the barn ready for the party, he stayed distant from Micah. No matter how hard Micah tried to win over Amos he could not overcome the old farmer's mistrust. Micah could not understand how the old, hardy, farmer could resist his will.
Two days before the party, Luke Jr. became sick and had a high fever. His parents made sure he stayed in bed and ensured he was well tended for during his illness. The following day Amos came down with similar symptoms, and while he protested, Luke, Sarah, and Rachel insisted that he too recover by having plenty of bed rest. Both Luke Jr. and Amos complained that would miss the church party if they were confined to bed, but the rest of the family insisted that the first priority should be on the two recovering fully and not spreading there illness to the congregation.
Amos had few sick days during his lifetime and it was with the greatest of reluctance that he took to his bed. He felt that it was his duty to lead the family and he do that best by being up working everyday. However, he had to admit that he felt terrible and that the care, which Rachel and Sarah gave him was very welcome both to his body and his soul.
The party took place that Saturday and members of the church party committee began to arrive early that morning to prepare the tables and food. Around noon the rest of the congregation and their guests began to arrive.
Amos looked out one of the windows on the second story of the house to see the people arriving. As the cars began to fill the driveway of the farm, the party got into full swing. There were two types of entertainment, one for the children and one for the adults. There were three legged races, spoon holding egg in the mouth races and bobbing for apples; in addition, several members of the congregation formed a band and were playing country and western music.
"I wanna go out there and have fun too," Luke Jr. said as he came up behind his great grandfather and looked out on the festivities. "Everyone is having all the fun and I gotta stay here in the house. It isn't fair!"
"Darn right it isn't fair," Amos told the boy, "but that's how it is in life. I don't like missin' out on all the goings on either. You and me gotta think of those other people down there too. We don't want them to git sick the way we are, do we?"
"No, I don't want that, but it sure is hard not being down there with my friends."