Sarah's Prayer: A Sunset Single (Sunset Series 1.1) Read Free Page A

forearm wouldn't have been near his watch like that. He would have to have his arms around you for that to happen and you would have to struggle to get away from him. Is that what happened?"
    Sarah didn't answer, at least with words. She looked at her father with the fear that he had figured it out. She felt like she had been caught in a lie. Tears welled up in her eyes and began to roll down her face. "I'm sorry, Daddy."
    "For what, Sarah."
    "For not telling you the truth."
    "What is the truth? Was he... trying to... force himself on you and you resisted?"
    She answered with deep sobs.
    Jim responded with compassion and love for his broken-spirited child. He held her in his lap like he had done so many times so long ago and allowed her to release as much pain as she could.

    Gabriel walked up and down the street that was so familiar and comforting to him. This evening it brought him no solace. He loved his family more than life itself. During his overseas deployments his family picture was one of his prized possessions. He had to leave things like that behind during Long Range Surveillance missions deep into enemy territory. Of course, what wasn't enemy territory in places like that? Personal photos would jeopardize his family's safety if he were captured.
    Gabe always felt protective of Sarah. She was a fragile and soft-hearted soul that needed the protection of someone strong but sensitive. She didn't deserve the likes of Brian Travers. That jerk had to pay for what he did to his little sister. And pay he would. While he walked he formulated a plan and made a few calls to his buddies at Ft. Hood.

    The next morning Loretta called for help from the most objective but supportive person outside the family, Dr. Alma Johnston. As the family's gynecologist, she had helped all the women in the Newsome family with her caring disposition and forthright advice. Dr. Johnston was just what Sarah needed right now, a thorough check up and the compassionate counsel that Sarah grew to trust through the years. She made time for Sarah that morning.
    "Sarah, you know that anything we discuss is covered by doctor-patient confidentiality and I will not reveal it to your parents or anyone else unless required by law, but you know that given your line of work."
    "Yes, ma'am. And I appreciate that. It was hard enough facing them last night. Heck, it was hard enough facing this myself." Sarah lightly stroked her arm.
    "Tell me what has been happening."
    "Well, I met Brian at a student mixer the beginning of my first year in grad school. We hit it off just great..." Sarah smiled as she described their early relationship, but caught herself as she remembered the purpose of her visit.
    Dr. Johnston listened patiently as Sarah explained some of the issues that made the relationship sound less than wonderful the way it was coming out of her mouth today.
    "Sarah, I know your heart, your commitment to God and to a high moral standard. We've talked about the fact that you want to wait until marriage for a sexual relationship. Has Brian pressured you to do anything physically that you don't want to do?"
    Sarah's hesitation to answer that question was answer enough. Her inability to answer with anything but tears was all Dr. Johnston needed to know. She waited until Sarah seemed able to continue.
    "Sarah, as your physician, I need to be concerned about your physical well-being. Have you had any sexual contact that would put you at risk..."
    Sarah sat up straight like she had been shocked. "No... I told him no." She sat for a moment to collect her thoughts. "That's what started everything going downhill, I guess. He became more insistent and angry after that. I just didn't want to admit to what was going." Sarah pulled up the sleeve of her loose long-sleeved blouse to show the wounds on her arm. "This was last week when he got a little too demanding..."
    Dr. Johnston had seen scrapes like this before. Abrasions of various depths on the outer right forearm