Читать книгу A Convenient Christmas Bride - Rhonda Gibson - Страница 12

Chapter Three

Three days later, the sun came out and melted most of the snow and ice, making it possible for Anna Mae to return to town. Mud squished under Josiah’s boots as he hitched his horse to the wagon. He’d decided to leave the mule in the barn. It would be hard enough driving the wagon through the mud without trying to pull a cankerous mule behind it. Josiah had assured Anna Mae he’d bring it back to town as soon as the ground hardened up a bit.

Anna Mae remained inside, preparing the kids for the trip. Her illness had taken its toll on her body and she appeared much slimmer than she’d been when she’d arrived two weeks earlier. He wasn’t sure if the weight loss was due to her being sick or from worrying about her job. She’d lost her appetite but had kept up her good nature.

He watched as Anna Mae stepped out onto the porch, holding a child in each arm. What he could see of her dress looked clean and pressed. She also wore her green cloak and gloves. She’d drawn her hair into a tight knot at the nape of her neck, giving her pale face a pinched look.

Josiah guided the horse up to the porch and reached for Rose.

“Thank you, Sheriff Miller.” She passed the child to him and waited as he placed Rose upon the seat and then handed the child a small rope attached to the bench for her to hold on to. Next, he took Ruby from Anna Mae’s arms and did the same. The twins looked at each other and grinned happily as they clung to the rope. The word go was about the only recognizable thing they said to each other. The rest of the sounds they made were not real words, but the twins seemed to have no problem understanding each other as they nodded and smiled.

Anna Mae turned back to the open door and retrieved a picnic basket. “I packed a lunch for you and the girls’ return trip.” She offered him the hamper.

“That was very nice of you, Annie.” He took the basket and placed it in the bed of the wagon. He checked that the girls were comfortable and covered with a thick blanket before turning to assist Anna Mae.

“Please, Sheriff Miller, don’t call me Annie while we are in town.” Anna Mae twisted her hands in the folds of her dress.

He gave her a gentle smile. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Anna Mae gave him a doubtful look, then took his hand while she pulled herself up onto the seat beside the girls. “See that you are.”

“I promise.” Josiah planned on being the perfect gentleman once they entered town. He had to admit, though, that he felt a sense of loss already with her leaving. He shook his head regretfully. He sure was going to miss Anna Mae.

When he seated himself on the other side of the twins, she asked, “Is it very far to the Bradshaws’ place?”

“No, just across the pasture.” Widow Bradshaw lived a little too close for his comfort. True, she supplied him with fresh bread each week, but her constant hinting that she’d make a good mother for the girls was becoming a nuisance.

“Good. I know you think I’m being silly, but I want to make sure that Bart is doing all right,” Anna Mae said, smoothing the wrinkles from her skirts.

Josiah raised the reins and was about to gently slap them over the horse’s back when he heard another wagon pulling onto his property. He looked behind him and saw Mrs. Bradshaw and Bart. “It looks like Bart made it home,” he said matter-of-factly.

Anna Mae nodded. “Yes, it would appear so.”

The widow called out as their wagon drew closer. “Yoo-hoo! Sheriff Miller! I see you are able to get out today, too. I’ve been so worried about you and the girls.”

Josiah put a smile on his face, praying that it looked sincere. “Yes, ma’am, we were just heading to town.”

The wagon stopped beside them and Mrs. Bradshaw’s smile faded away. “Why, Miss Leland, what are you doing out here?”

“Uh...”

The widow’s face slowly began to turn red. Whether she was angry or embarrassed, Josiah wasn’t sure. “We were just headed to your house, Mrs. Bradshaw. It seems that Bart thought it funny to strand Miss Leland out in the snowstorm last week.”

She looked to her son. “Bart, darling, what is he talking about?”

The boy glanced down at his feet. “It was just a joke.”

“A joke that could have cost your teacher her life,” Josiah answered in a firm voice.

“What was just a joke?” Bart’s mother demanded.

Bart sank deeper onto the wagon seat and refused to answer. His brown hair was tousled. And his deep brown eyes focused on his feet.

Mrs. Bradshaw turned her attention back to Josiah. “I don’t understand.”

He nodded toward the boy. “Bart told his teacher that one of the younger boys was hurt, and led her into the woods right before the storm. Then he disappeared, leaving her lost. When the freezing rain and snow hit, Miss Leland almost froze to death before she arrived here at my farm.”

The boy looked up as if shocked by his words. Had Bart not realized the danger he’d put his teacher in? Probably not. Josiah held Bart’s gaze with his own.

The widow looked to Anna Mae. “Are you saying she’s been here for over two weeks?” When no one answered, she crossed her arms and huffed. “She doesn’t look injured to me.”

Josiah cleared his throat and then said with quiet emphasis, “Regardless of how she looks now, Miss Leland has been very sick due to your son’s deceitfulness. The facts are, he lured her into the woods, then left her in the middle of a fierce storm.” Josiah so badly wanted to add that all of the above were offenses against the law.

“I don’t believe it.” Mrs. Bradshaw glared at Anna Mae.

Still sounding a little hoarse, Anna Mae answered, “I’m afraid it’s true, Mrs. Bradshaw. Isn’t it, Bart?” Her gaze moved to the little boy.

“Yes, ma’am,” he answered, before ducking his head once more. “I didn’t think about you getting caught in the storm,” Bart admitted.

“I believe you owe your teacher an apology. She’s been very worried about you and whether or not you made it home safely,” Josiah told him.

Bart looked up. “I’m sorry, Miss Leland.” His young voice sounded hopeful as he asked, “Were you really worried about me?”

A tender smile touched Anna Mae’s lips. “Of course I was.”

His young cheeks turned a bright pink and once more he looked away.

Mrs. Bradshaw’s voice sounded colder than the icicles that had been hanging from the roof a few days ago. “Well, it’s done and over and the boy has apologized. Since you’ve had a woman to cook and bake for you, I don’t suppose you need fresh bread.”

“No, we don’t, but thank you for offering,” Josiah answered, still looking at the boy. Bart had been doing lots of mischievous things over the last few weeks. Josiah wondered if the boy simply craved attention. “Now, back to Bart.” He let his words hang between the two wagons.

“What about him?” his mother demanded.

“I think the boy needs to be punished for leaving his teacher out in the woods to freeze. Don’t you?” Josiah asked, fearing what she’d say.

“No, I don’t.” She sputtered. “I think you are—”

Bart’s young voice interrupted her. “He’s right, Ma.” The boy turned to look at him. “I could chop your wood for you, Sheriff, if you think that would be a good punishment,” he offered.

“What do you think, Miss Leland?” Josiah asked.

Anna Mae nodded. “I think that would be good for the boy. Plus, he could cut some for the school, as well.”

Mrs. Bradshaw sat on the wagon bench with her mouth hanging open. “You are seriously going to punish my boy for a childish trick?” She shook her head.

Bart looked to his mother. “I shouldn’t have deceived her and then left her in the woods, Ma.” He turned his attention back to Josiah and lifted his chin. “I’ll cut the wood.”

Mrs. Bradshaw slapped the reins over her horse’s back. “Good day to the both of you,” she said, turning the horse back in the direction of town. Josiah watched her leave, utterly mystified.

* * *

Anna Mae leaned back and sighed. Her fears had been realized, and they hadn’t even left the Miller property. Mrs. Bradshaw would be knocking on the door of every school board member as soon as she got to town. It was as plain as the nose on her face that the other woman was interested in the sheriff and that she’d assumed the worst when she’d learned that Anna Mae had been staying with him.

She turned to look at the little girls, who up to this point had sat quietly listening to the adults talk. Rose pulled at her left ear and puckered her little face into a frown. Was she coming down with an ear infection? Anna Mae reached across and touched her forehead.

“Something wrong?” Josiah asked.

“I’m not sure. You might have Doc look at the girls’ ears when we get to town. Rose acts as if hers might be hurting.” Anna Mae turned back around on the hard seat.

Josiah nodded. “I’ll do that as soon as I drop you off at the boardinghouse.” He snapped the reins over the horse’s back and the wheels made a sucking noise as they pulled free of the mud.

Anna Mae wanted to bring up Mrs. Bradshaw, but didn’t know how to go about it. She couldn’t come right out and say that the other woman hadn’t been happy to see her with Josiah. Did he realize that the widow was sweet on him?

That didn’t matter. What did concern Anna Mae was that the widow would tell the whole town that she’d been out at the Miller farm for over two weeks. She feared the other women in town would think ill of her. Anna Mae chewed the inside of her cheek as she worried about what would be waiting for her in Granite.

Would the school board demand her resignation? Or simply fire her on the spot? Would the women avoid her? Would she ever be able to look anyone in the eyes again?

She’d gone through this before, but at least when her fiancé had left her at the altar, the women knew that she’d done no wrong. He simply hadn’t loved her enough to keep his word or take her with him when he left town. This would be different. The women would talk. Everyone would talk. She was sure to be fired from her job and looked upon as a wayward woman.

As they pulled up in front of the boardinghouse Josiah said, “It looks like the good widow has gotten here before us.”

Anna Mae saw three of the board members’ buggies already parked in front of the boardinghouse. She offered a wobbly smile. “Well, she did have a head start.” Anna Mae climbed down from the wagon and took Ruby from Josiah.

Levi Westland stood on the porch waiting for them as they walked up to the front door, hands shoved in his pockets, shoulders hunched forward. He tipped his hat to Anna Mae and nodded to Josiah. “Glad to see you are safe, Miss Leland.” His voice was calm, his gaze steady. Icy fingers of fear seeped into every pore of her being.

“Thank you, Mr. Westland,” she answered, her voice shakier than she would have liked, fully aware that he was a member of the school board.

His mouth spread into a thin-lipped smile. “So the rumor is true.”

“Rumor?” Josiah repeated the word, but Anna Mae watched him tighten his hold on Rose. His vexation was evident.

The talk had already begun. Anna Mae hugged Ruby to her and inhaled the baby smell. It had a calming effect on her and she looked to Levi. With a slight smile of defiance, she responded, “If the rumor is that I’ve been out at the Miller farm waiting out the storm, then yes, the rumor is true.” She pulled her shoulders back and raised her head. Anna Mae knew she had nothing to be ashamed of, but if Levi’s manner and tone of questioning mirrored the rest of the town, then she didn’t stand a chance.

Levi sighed in resignation. “I hoped it wasn’t. We’ve been worried about you, but with the weather the way it was, none of us could come looking for you. We searched the school and about town, but weren’t sure where to look from there.” His handsome face twisted in regret. “I’d intended to come out and get Josiah to help round up a search party, but Mrs. Bradshaw just arrived in town and said there was no need.” He paused, the silence stretching between them as the severity of the situation became clearer. Finally Levi offered her a sad smile. “I truly am glad you are safe.”

Josiah placed his hand at the small of her back and gently urged her toward the door. “Let’s go inside and talk where it’s warmer.”

Levi nodded and held the door open for them.

Anna Mae slipped inside. Her heart raced in her chest. She felt her face flush with humiliation. She didn’t want to lose her job or reputation, but deep down felt as if she probably had already lost both. Anna Mae just couldn’t accept the dull ache of foreboding. And once again in her young life, she experienced the nauseating, sinking feeling of despair.

A terrible sense of bitterness threatened to overwhelm her. She glanced at Josiah and found his expression grim as he watched her. He’d said he’d stand beside her, but what good would that do? Would his being there only make things worse?

Tears filled her eyes, but she refused to release them as the questions roared through her mind, one more insistent than the others. What was she going to do now?