Читать книгу Prairie Cowboy - Linda Ford - Страница 11

Gabe stared after Miss White and as soon as she was out of earshot, let out a low whistle. “You sure know how to pick ’em.”

Conor snorted. “She’s Rae’s teacher. I had nothing to do with her being hired.” His insides had gradually grown tenser as he watched for Rae to return from school and when he’d seen Miss White escorting her, all he could think was Rae had been hurt. He’d crossed the field in great leaps. To discover Miss White only wanted to check on him had only twisted his insides further because of the strange mix of unwanted emotions—embarrassment at the state of his house, defensiveness at her silent accusation and—he didn’t want to acknowledge it but he couldn’t deny it—loneliness. He’d had a sudden flash of what life could be like with a woman to share the load.

Even now he kicked himself mentally at his nonsense. He’d learned the pain of expecting a beautiful, gentle woman to accept frontier life. He dreamed that dream and reaped the disappointment and grief. A lesson he didn’t intend to repeat. He’d ask for and expect help from neither God nor man—or perhaps he meant it was only from women he couldn’t expect help.

Not that he’d lost his belief in God. Just his trust.

“Being a teacher don’t make her less pretty.” Gabe poked him in the ribs to emphasize his point.

Rae hung from Gabe’s arm. “I told Pa she was pretty, too.”

Conor shot them both a look burning with fury. “Tell me what good pretty is.” He strode out the door. Of course it was too much to expect Gabe would take the hint and shut up on the matter.

“Pretty is mighty nice to see when a man returns home tired and hungry.”

Conor put up mental barriers at Gabe’s reminder of what he missed. “I suppose you count yourself an expert? Don’t see you inviting young Diana to join you.” Gabe had left his intended back in Philadelphia when he came West promising to send for her when he was settled. That was two years ago.

“Figure it’s about time. Soon as I get the barn up and the harvest in.”

Conor scoffed. “Heard that last year.”

“My barn’s still not up.”

“We’ll do that this fall.” He figured mentioning that fact would give Gabe something to think about. Seems he came up with more excuses than necessary for not sending for Diana. Conor kind of figured Gabe wasn’t quite ready to commit to marriage. He guessed the delay wasn’t a bad idea and wanted to warn Gabe that Diana might have unreal expectations about what pioneering meant but didn’t want to turn the conversation back to the one topic he wished to avoid—the risk of expecting a woman to labor at his side. Gabe’s side, he corrected.

“So what was Virnie doing out here? Seems a long way from the schoolhouse.”

“Miss White—” he emphasized the proper title “—seems to think she should visit each of her students’ homes.”

He felt Gabe’s amused grin directed at him but ignored it and tromped toward the field where the last of the sheaves waited to be stoked. “Rae, you look after your chores.”

“Yes, Pa.” She dropped back, disappointed at missing out on the conversation.

Gabe waved to her. “See you later, little gal.” He closed the distance between himself and Conor. “So how many other homes has Virnie visited, do you suppose?”

“I’d guess none.”

“Mighty interesting that she chooses this place first.”

Conor stopped and faced his friend. “I know what you’re doing. But I am not interested in Miss White. You saw her. Does she look the type to embrace frontier life?”

Gabe shrugged. “She came of her own free will, one would assume.”

“And I expect she will leave of her own free will before Christmas.”

“Conor, not every woman is like Irene. Some are even stronger than their men. Why, you only have to look down the road to the Faulks. It’s the old lady who does most of the work while the mister supervises and her son wanders about looking for who knows what. Sure, he says he has a farm somewhere but I have my doubts.”

His example supported Conor’s argument. “When was the last time you had a good look at Mrs. Faulk? She’s built like a small ox. Nothing pretty or soft about her.”

Gabe laughed loudly. “I bet all that padding’s plenty soft.”

“You know what I mean.”

Gabe stopped and faced him, forcing Conor to stop, too, or reveal his dislike of this conversation by ducking around him. He chose to face the man squarely.

“I know what you mean better than you do.” Gabe seemed intent on speaking his mind.

“Humph.”

“Yup, you’re scared you might get hurt again. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Not all women are like Irene.”

Conor refrained from voicing a warning that Gabe might soon enough discover for himself the true facts of the situation. “Look, are we going to stand around jawing all day or get this crop harvested? Could be you’re delaying so you don’t have to send for Diana.”

“I guess I’ll have to prove you wrong.” He bent his back and worked like this was the last day available.

The next two days Rae teased Gabe into giving her a ride to school and picking her up afterward. It interrupted their workday and made Conor uneasy. Sure, Rae liked Gabe’s attention but was this something else? He began to suspect Miss White had said or done something to make Rae think she must be escorted to school. On the third morning, he decided to test his theory.

“Rae, Gabe’s too busy to take you to school. You’ll have to walk. Same after school.”

“Okay, Pa.” She skipped off down the road.

Conor stared after her. There went that suspicion and with it the argument he’d used to deflect the memory of Miss White standing in this very room.

Gabe, as always honing in on his secret thoughts, punched him on the shoulder. “If you didn’t want me seeing Virnie every morning you only had to say so or take Rae yourself.”

Conor grabbed his hat. “Come on, let’s get to work.”

Several days later they worked on the last of Conor’s crop. He enjoyed the hard work. It kept him from thinking too deeply about anything but the grain, the cows and his plans for the fall. Like Virnie White. It seemed everything he said or did made him think of her.

“I warned Diana how cold Dakota winters can be and she says she will bring lots of warm clothes and make some extra warm quilts.”

If Gabe brought Diana out right after harvest, the two of them would share the cold winter months. Conor straightened and let his gaze rest on the house across the field. His house. His lonely house. When he’d moved West he had envisioned a home full of warmth and welcome. A flash of Virnie’s pretty smiling face flitted across his mind. He blinked and dismissed it. He wasn’t lonely enough for the kind of pain brought by sharing his life with a pretty woman.

Gabe watched him. “Virnie seems like a fine woman. I saw how she handles the kids. A fine woman, indeed. Perhaps you should get to know her better.”

Conor didn’t answer but he tossed bundles to Gabe fast enough to make him pant.

That night they scrounged a meal by opening several cans. They gave three plates a quick wipe and found a place to set them by pushing things off the table.

Conor saw the knowing look in Gabe’s eyes and silently dared him to mention the state of the house and suggest it needed the touch of a woman. “Now my crop is done I’ll make arrangements for Rae then we’ll go to your place.”

After they’d finished their simple meal, he rode over to the Joneses’ where he normally left Rae if he planned to be gone overnight. They lived close enough Rae could run back and forth to look after the cows and the chickens. But Mrs. Jones was down with something and said she couldn’t manage.

He returned home with the awkward news. “Can’t take her with us. She needs to tend to the chores.”

Rae edged forward. “You could get someone to stay here.”

Something about the look on her face warned Conor her suggestion wouldn’t be to his liking. “Maybe. But most everyone has chores at home.”

“I know someone who doesn’t have chores. Miss White.”

“No.” The word exploded from him.

Gabe chuckled. “You sound mighty scared and you won’t even be here.”

Conor did not want to picture her in his house, touching his belongings, filling his kettle, sweeping his floor. “No.”

Gabe laughed hard. “Man, what’s gotten into you? You’re jumpy as a spring colt. Virnie must really have gotten under your collar.”

“You can’t begin to understand. And her name is Miss White.”

“Ain’t what she told me.”

Conor knew an incredible urge to physically remove that teasing grin from Gabe’s face.

Gabe leaned closer, making it even more tempting. “Seems to me you’re overreacting, unless…” He dragged his sentence out as he sat back waving a finger. “You’re more interested in her than you’re willing to admit.”

“You’re plumb loco.”

“Then ask her.”

“Please, Pa, please.”

Conor sighed loudly, letting the pair know just how annoying they were. “Fine. I’ll ask. But don’t expect she’ll say yes.”

Virnie had been grateful to Conor’s friend for bringing Rachael to and from school. But it only lasted a few days. When Virnie got a chance to speak to Rachael privately, she learned the Faulk boy or man, whichever he was, had left again and taken the dog with him.

“Did you tell your pa about the dog?”

“Didn’t need to. He’s gone.”

“What about when he comes back?”

Rachael gave an unconcerned shrug. “Maybe he won’t.” And Virnie had to be content with that. So why did she stare down the road every morning until Rachael arrived and check every afternoon, sighing in disappointment when Rachael marched down the road, swinging her lunch pail and kicking up little clouds of dust? It wasn’t because she hoped Conor would ride up for his daughter. It couldn’t be. Because she wouldn’t allow herself such silly thoughts. His behavior was too much like her father’s. And forget the worry and concern she’d seen in his face over Rachael. It didn’t count.

And forget the way his probing look had stirred such an unfamiliar response deep inside in places she had never known existed. Now those places refused to be ignored despite her firmest efforts. The ignited feeling both frightened and thrilled her. With a decided shake of her head, she pulled her thoughts into submission and focused on the letter from Miss Price.

She skimmed over the suggestions on ways to help the Schmidt boys learn English more quickly and nodded as she hurried through the problems Miss Price had sent that would require George to do extra reading before he could solve the challenging arithmetic problems. She found what she really wanted at the end.

As to your questions about your little student, bear in mind that not all parents are willing to let their children benefit from personal involvement with a teacher. In my experience, there has only been you and Belle.

Belle had been a student before Virnie. She came from a large family and when her parents decided to move farther west they made the choice to let Belle continue her education. Boarding with Miss Price had been a perfect solution for Belle. Her parents had left her reluctantly.

Unlike Virnie. In her case, she had learned to accept that her father was glad to be rid of her.

She turned back to the letter.

“That is not to say there aren’t other ways of helping this child both inside and outside the classroom.” Miss Price went on to list several scenarios such as involving Rachael in extra reading, or performing in a drama or being involved in some community endeavor. “I will pray for such opportunities.”

Virnie folded the letter and put it in the drawer with the previous letters from Miss Price. She owed it to her mentor to do something for Rachael even if it meant having to deal with Conor and her errant feelings around him.

But what?

God would have to provide the answer.

The next day, Conor surprised her by bringing Rachael to school. Rachael ran to Virnie. “Pa wants to talk to you.”

She wondered at the excitement in Rachael’s voice. But her main concern when she crossed the yard to where Conor waited was controlling the sudden roll of her heart that left her breathless.

“You wanted to speak to me?” She kept her voice admirably calm despite the way her insides vibrated at speaking to this man who had inadvertently opened up an unwelcome door in her heart. She didn’t know what lay past that open door and didn’t intend to find out. She had her life plans laid out firmly. She would be a dedicated teacher such as Miss Price had trained her to be. And because it was what she wanted.

Conor seemed very interested in the reins draped across his palm. “Umm. I have to go to Gabe’s farm and help him with his harvest.”

She nodded. “Does that mean yours is done?”

“Yes, and a fair harvest, too.”

“Good. I’m glad for you.” Though she wondered what it had to do with her and why he continued to twist the reins.

“Rae can’t go with me.”

“Of course not. She has to attend school.”

“And do the chores at home.”

She nodded. “You’ll miss her, I suppose.” She had to see his response, assure herself he did care, that Rachael being a girl wasn’t reason enough to resent her.

Conor’s gaze rested on Rachael standing near the school watching them. Then he turned to look hard at Virnie.

She saw his stark feelings about his daughter. He loved her so much it seemed to almost hurt him.

“I will miss her.” His voice was low, edged with roughness. “But out here we do what has to be done without complaining.”

She nodded, not understanding the warning note in his voice.

He sucked in air and jerked his gaze away as if aware of the tension lacing the air between them. “She needs someone to stay with her.”

“Certainly she does.”

He shifted back to look at her. “Would you?”

His gaze was so intent, so demanding, she found it difficult to think. “Would I what?”

“Would you stay with her?”

Her mouth fell open. She forced it shut and swallowed hard. Was this God’s answer for a way to spend more time with Rachael? He’d certainly found a unique way of doing it.

Conor took her hesitation for regret. “I wouldn’t be there. Be gone for a week or two.”

“Why I’d love to stay with her. On one condition.”

His eyes narrowed. “Tell me before I agree.”

“You allow me to teach her a few skills around the house.”

Darkness filled his eyes. “Don’t need fancy stuff.”

“Seems to me from the little I saw that you would benefit from someone knowing a few basics like washing dishes and tidying up.”

They did silent battle with their eyes and then he nodded. “So long as you don’t teach her to be a silly, weak female.”

She laughed, despite feeling like her past had slapped her full-on. “Female doesn’t necessarily equate weak and silly.” She’d tried to prove it to her father. Unfortunately, she had failed so miserably he had sent her away and never again contacted her. She pushed the hurt of her former life back into the shadows. This was not about her. It was about Rachael.

Conor only quirked his eyebrows at her quick defense. “I have to leave immediately. Take good care of her.” He waved Rachael over.

Rachael raced to his side, darting cautious glances at Virnie. “She’s going to do it?”

Conor nodded.

Virnie thought he looked like he regretted it already. She left them to say goodbye. But as she walked away she overhead him say, “Don’t expect her to stay when things get hard.”

Virnie grinned. If he thought she’d turn tail and run at the first challenge she encountered, he didn’t know the things she’d faced in the past.