Читать книгу The Gift Of Twins - Gabrielle Meyer - Страница 14

Chapter Four

On Monday morning, Ben trudged through the snow before the sun had crested the eastern horizon. His breath billowed out in a cloud of white as he turned and glanced at Zeb and Levi who followed behind, their mitted hands clasped together. Levi’s pants were about an inch too short, and a hole in Zeb’s pants showed his knobby knee. Ben wished he had found proper clothing for them before they started school, but there hadn’t been time. Sundays were always a busy day for him, and especially so with two little boys in tow. If Mrs. Carver came to live with them, he’d ask her to sew them a new set of clothes immediately.

The school was only three blocks up Main Street from Ben’s front door, but with the snowdrifts and the boys lagging, it took much longer than he’d anticipated.

“We’re almost there,” Ben said over his shoulder.

The boys didn’t respond. They had been quiet since their aunt had left them and they only spoke when spoken to. Ben had used every conceivable idea to draw them out and so had the ladies in the church. When Charlotte and Abram had invited them to lunch yesterday, the boys had sat in the kitchen with the grown-ups, while the Cooper children played in the other room.

More than anything, Ben wanted them to feel safe in his care—but he knew better than to expect too much, too soon. It had taken him months, years really, to get used to his life at the mission when Father left. And, as soon as he’d come to accept the Ayers as his guardians, there had been an ambush by the Dakota and the Ayers had fled for their lives, leaving Ben with the Chippewa missionary, John Johnson. He’d felt abandoned all over again, and it had led him to rebellion and the darkest moments of his life.

He shook off the memories as he spotted the schoolhouse just ahead. A lantern was lit within the white clapboard building and smoke puffed out of the chimney. He’d hoped to get to the school before Emmy to start the fire and haul in wood for the day, but he wasn’t surprised to find her already there.

A movement behind the school caught Ben’s eye. Emmy was wrapped in the scarf and cap he’d lent her, and she was filling her arms with wood.

Seeing her again sent a warm sensation straight through Ben’s chest. It had been a pleasant, if somewhat unnerving, experience to see her shining face in the congregation yesterday. His gaze had returned to her several times, and each time he’d looked at her pretty face, he’d had a hard time concentrating on his sermon.

He smiled now as he watched her determination. She tried to pile the wood high, but she’d have to return to the pile three or four times to have enough wood for the school day.

“Come, boys,” Ben said. “Let’s help Teacher bring in the wood.”

The boys followed obediently around the schoolhouse and into the back lot where a pile of wood had been stacked earlier that fall by members of the community.

Emmy didn’t notice their arrival as she continued to stack the wood precariously on her arms. She turned, and swayed under the cumbersome weight, but Ben reached out and put a steady hand on her elbow.

“Whoa, there,” he said.

“Oh, my!” She startled at his touch and the wood cascaded from her arms.

“I’m sorry.” Ben still held her arm to steady her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”

She was breathing heavy and her cheeks were pink from exertion. Her free hand came up and rested over her heart. “I was so preoccupied with my chore I didn’t hear you arrive.”

Ben reached down and picked up the wood one piece at a time. He could carry three times as much as her, but he didn’t want her to feel incompetent. “The boys and I are here to help. I should have made our presence known a bit sooner.”

She straightened her cap and smiled at the boys. “Good morning.”

Ben handed a stick of firewood to Zeb. “Hold out your arms.”

Zeb obeyed and Ben stacked three pieces in his grasp.

“Your turn, Levi,” Ben said.

“I can hold more than three.” Zeb puffed out his chest.

“Zeb’s strong,” Levi said to Ben. “He’s stronger than anyone I know.”

Emmy smiled as she started to gather more wood.

“One more piece, then,” Ben said with a serious nod, though he caught Emmy’s eye and smiled. “Now you, Levi.”

Levi took a few pieces and then Ben filled his own arms.

“Thank you,” Emmy said to all three of them. “But you didn’t need to bother.”

They followed her into the back of the school and filled the wood box near the door.

“We’ll plan to get here before you tomorrow and have all the chores done,” Ben said. “It’s the least we can do.”

Emmy’s eyes showed her appreciation as she shook her head. “I don’t expect such treatment. I’m capable to do the work required of the teacher.”

“We’d like to help.” Ben looked at the boys, who stared at the schoolroom with a bit of awe. “Wouldn’t we like to help, boys?”

Zeb glanced toward Ben and nodded, but Levi didn’t seem to hear Ben. He took a step away from his brother and looked at the shelf full of primers.

Emmy’s gaze followed Levi and she watched him for a moment, a knowing look on her face.

“I’ll fetch more wood and then bring in fresh water,” Ben told her.

Emmy looked his way. “I’d be happy to fetch more wood.”

“No need.” Ben stepped outside before she could protest and returned to the woodpile.

The sun peeked over the horizon when Ben entered the school with the last load of wood. He filled the water buckets and then put more wood in the stove as the first children arrived outside the schoolhouse, their conversation and laughter filling the air.

“Boys, you’ll need to go outside until Miss Wilkes rings the school bell,” Ben said to the boys. “You can join the other children in their games.”

Zeb and Levi looked at one another, apprehension in their green eyes.

“It won’t be long.” Emmy stood in front of the chalkboard, a piece of dusty chalk in hand. “I’ll ring the bell in about fifteen minutes.”

The boys walked quietly toward the door, in no apparent hurry.

“I’ll be back to pick you up at the end of the day,” Ben said as they slipped outside. Zeb glanced at Ben before he closed the door, his sad eyes filled with uncertainty.

Ben let out a sigh. “It’ll take them time to trust me.”

“I’m afraid you’re right—but you’re off to a great start.”

He turned and met her gaze. “I’m heading to Mrs. Carver’s to see if she’ll agree to keep house for me.”

“I hope she’ll say yes.” She smiled, and the light in her eyes made him want to stay right where he was for the rest of the day, but she looked at her pocket watch and then glanced out the window, and he knew it was time to leave.

“I need to get going,” Ben said quickly. “I’ll see you later this afternoon.”

“Goodbye.”

Ben left the school, looking around for Zeb and Levi. They stood off to the side, alone, as they watched the other children laugh and play. He hated to see them excluded, but there was little he could do. They weren’t like the other children, nestled into warm and loving families. They were twice abandoned, living with a man they didn’t know, in a town they’d probably never heard of. The other children didn’t seem to notice them, and the boys didn’t try to join the games.

Maybe, given time, they would warm up to the other students—but by then, they’d probably be back with their father and need to readjust all over again.

* * *

That evening, Emmy wanted nothing more than a quiet corner, a comfortable chair and a good book. Instead, she sat awkwardly on the bed she shared with Rachel, her feet hanging off the edge, and her back against the hard wall. In place of a good book, she held a large tome titled: A School Atlas of Physical Geography, while balancing a piece of paper on another book on her lap to take notes. Her handwriting was wobbly and her patience waning.

Supper had been an exhausting affair filled with eager young men all clamoring for her attention. They begged her to stay in the parlor afterward, but she had returned to her room to study. Though she was in the back of the house, she could still hear the piano music and boisterous laughter from the front.

“What is the point in studying?” she asked herself as she closed the atlas with a thud.

“Miss Emmy?” Rachel opened their door and peeked inside. “There’s coffee and cookies if you’d like some refreshment.”

“What I’d like is to prepare my lessons for tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll leave you in peace,” Rachel said, closing the door.

“Oh, no!” Emmy scrambled off the bed and opened the door, embarrassment warming her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t mean for you to think you’re the problem.” It had been a long first day of school and things had not gone smoothly. From Mr. Samuelson’s daughters, who treated her like an imposter, to the Trask twins who had been teased by the other children, she’d had her hands full just dealing with discipline. It had taken most of the day to test the children and see where their strengths and weaknesses were, and she’d been disheartened to realize they were farther behind than most their age. Was it because they hadn’t had consistent teachers? “Maybe I do need some refreshments.”

Rachel gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll find it in the front parlor. I’d bring you some, but Mrs. Hubbard is feeling poorly and she asked me to fetch her another blanket.”

“The baby?”

“Not yet, but soon.”

Emmy thanked Rachel and left the kitchen, taking a deep breath to prepare herself. Maybe, if she was quick, she could get her refreshments and return to her room in peace.

At least a dozen men sat in the parlor. Some were playing cards, others were singing around the piano and still others were sitting on the furniture engaged in conversation.

The one named Mr. Archibald was the first to notice her. He stood near the piano, his boisterous voice louder than the others, but he stopped singing and let out a whoop. “She’s here, gents!”

Everyone paused what they were doing, and for a heartbeat, there was complete silence—then all of them started talking at once. Mr. Archibald rushed across the room and took her by the elbow. “This way, Miss Wilkes.”

He practically pulled her to the piano. “Do you sing? No matter. Everyone sounds good around Mrs. Hubbard’s piano.”

“I only came for the coffee,” Emmy protested, trying to pull away. “I have work to do this evening.”

“Ah, work,” Mr. Archibald said it like it was a dirty word. “We work during the day and play at night, right boys?”

A chorus of agreement rang in the air.

“How about a little dancing?” someone yelled from across the room. “I get the first dance.”

“No.” Emmy shook her head. She had no desire to spend the evening in frivolity. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.”

“You’re here now.” A man with red whiskers pulled her into his arms, as if he was spinning her in a waltz.

Emmy yanked out of his hold and straightened her skirt. “Gentlemen,” she said in her sternest teacher’s voice. “I have no intention to dan—”

The piano music started again, drowning out her objection, while all the furniture was pushed to the edges of the room.

“Really,” Emmy said. “I don’t want—”

“Come on, Aaron,” Mr. Archibald said to the man who had suggested the dance. “You’re up first.”

Emmy shook her head while the man named Aaron climbed over a chair, his eager gaze focused on her, his mouth in a lopsided grin.

She dashed behind a table and shook her head, out of breath. “No!”

“Ah, come on.” Aaron circled the table like a cat on the prowl. “Just a little fun is all we want.” He lunged for her, but she was fast and dodged his advance.

“The lady said no.” A firm male voice filled the parlor.

The piano music came to a jarring halt, and all the men turned to stare.

Ben stood under the archway, still in his outdoor clothing, his brown eyes full of authority.

“We were just funning her, Reverend,” Mr. Archibald said. “No harm done.”

Emmy still stood behind the table, her hands braced, her feet ready to take flight, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths.

Ben looked her over. “Are you all right, Miss Wilkes?”

She stood straight and ran her hand over her hair, tucking a wayward curl back into place. “Yes.”

Ben surveyed the room, looking at each man with intention, and nodded at Aaron. “See that all of Mrs. Hubbard’s furniture is put to rights.” He then looked at Emmy. “Could I have a word with you?”

She almost sighed in relief. “Of course.”

“Ah,” Mr. Archibald whined. “We got to her first.”

“Miss Wilkes is not a prize to be won,” Ben said to the other man. “She is a lady who is to be respected. Now leave her in peace and quiet.”

Emmy took a tentative step away from the security of the table and kept her eyes on the men as she stepped out of the parlor, across the foyer and into the dining room. A lantern had been left on, but dimmed, making the room intimate. Thankfully it was quiet.

Emmy sank into one of the chairs, her legs wobbly.

A smile quirked Ben’s lips as he sat near her. “That was quite something to watch.”

“How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough.” He couldn’t hide his grin.

Emmy sighed and shook her head. “I just want a quiet, comfortable place to study. I suppose I’ll have to stay late at the school to get things done.”

“It’s not safe for you to be there so late alone.” Ben’s smile disappeared. “Little Falls is a lawless town, thanks to our sheriff, and there’s no telling how long it will take for the men to discover you’re at the school alone.”

“What will I do? I have to study.”

Ben was quiet a moment. “You could always come to my home in the evenings. With Mrs. Carver there, she’d act as chaperone, and the boys are not loud.”

“Mrs. Carver agreed to stay with you?”

“She’s there now getting to know the boys and putting her things in place.”

Emmy smiled, truly relieved for him. “I’m so happy she could come.”

“So am I.”

“Do you know what you’ll do once she leaves?”

Ben looked down and fiddled with his cap. “I plan to find their nearest kin as soon as possible. I’m going to Abram Cooper’s this evening to see if he can help me locate their father. That’s partially why I stopped here first. I wanted to make sure you were getting along and see if you needed anything before I go to the Coopers’.” He chuckled. “It appears that you were in dire need, actually.”

“Unfortunately, I was.” She smiled, thankful he had come. “But I don’t believe I have any other needs right now. You’ve done more than enough.”

Ben stood and put his knitted cap back on. “I should go, but before I do, I’d like to reiterate my invitation.” He looked at her, his brown eyes so warm and friendly. “You’re welcome to come and study at my home whenever you’d like.”

The prospect of being in Ben’s snug home was appealing, especially with all the commotion at the Hubbards’. “I just might.”

“Good.” He glanced across the foyer, into the parlor. “Will you be okay?”

She stood. “I’ll go back to my room.”

“That’s probably for the best.” He pulled his mittens on and met her gaze. “Good night, Emmy.”

“Good night, Ben.”

He took his leave and Emmy stood in the dim dining room for a few moments, her thoughts full of Zeb and Levi, and their dashing guardian.