Читать книгу Frontier Engagement - Regina Scott - Страница 13

Chapter Five

Rina’s fingers felt numb as James pulled away and headed for the door. She hadn’t been able to catch her breath since she’d heard noises outside. First had come a rattling sound outside her window, as if something was shaking the bushes. Then those hideous cries had pierced the night. She might have been raised in civilization, but she’d read about the mournful call of the wolf. How was James to defend himself against an entire ravenous pack?

“Please, stay inside,” she begged, following him to the door. “If anything happens to you...” She couldn’t make herself finish the sentence.

His smile was sad. “Life would go on. I’m not that important in the scheme of things. But you are. Now, stand back.”

She scuttled away from the door. Lord, please protect him! Send those creatures away before they harm any of these kind people!

He edged out the door and shut it behind him.

Rina ran to the panel and pressed her ear against it. How many were out there? Would they jump on him? They certainly sounded too fierce to run away. Why, oh, why had she agreed to travel all the way to Seattle, to come out into the wilderness with him? This chance for a school was beyond wonderful, but nothing was worth the loss of a man’s life.

From outside came a crack and a yelp. Was he hurt? Should she go help? Her hand was on the latch, fingers trembling, when she heard footsteps crossing the porch. Wolves did not wear shoes. She backed away, hands pressed to her chest, as the door opened.

James stood there, fir needles speckling his hair, smile on his face, all limbs accounted for and not a scratch on him. “Problem solved.”

Rina peered around him, unable to believe things had been settled so easily. “Have they gone?”

“Not exactly.” He raised his voice. “Levi, Scout—inside. Now.”

His younger brother slunk through the door, curly-haired head bowed. A slighter boy with a misshapen nose followed him.

“Miss Fosgrave is your teacher,” James said, his look more severe than any of her tutors had ever given her. “And she deserves your respect. But I think you have something to teach her at the moment. She seems to think we have wolves besieging the schoolhouse.”

Levi snickered, and his friend smiled. Why was that funny? Did they know some way to subdue the beasts?

James focused on the smaller boy. “Is there a wolf pack in this area, Scout?”

So this was her other student. His brown hair was as thick and wild as a crow’s nest, sticking out in all directions, and his clothing appeared to be several sizes too big and several days past a washing. At James’s question, he visibly swallowed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his tattered trousers. “No.”

The word came out reluctantly, sullen. She would not allow James to be so disrespected.

“No, sir,” Rina corrected the boy.

James looked surprised. So did Scout.

“Why?” he asked, glancing at James. “It’s just James Wallin.”

“Listen to your teacher,” James ordered him.

Scout bowed his head. “All right. Sir.”

James nodded. “And do we occasionally see a rogue wolf in the area, Levi?”

His brother jumped as if he hadn’t thought he’d be questioned too. “Yes, but don’t expect me to call you, sir.”

More disrespect. It simply wasn’t right. James was their elder, a man who, it seemed, had earned a certain stature if his charter to bring them a schoolteacher was any indication. They had every reason to treat him with deference.

“A simple yes or no will do, Mr. Wallin,” Rina said.

Levi colored.

“When was the last time we saw wolf tracks, Levi?” James persisted.

Levi scratched his head. “I don’t know. Maybe two years ago now?”

“Two years ago?” Rina glanced at James, truth dawning. “So, those noises...”

“Were most likely not made by wolves,” James concluded. “At least, not the four-footed variety.” His gaze returned to the youths. “Anything you’d like to say to Miss Fosgrave, gents?”

Scout wiped his nose with the back of one hand. “Too bad you came all this way fer nothing.”

Levi nodded. “Maybe you could teach Beth how to talk all fancy-like so she can attract a rich husband, but I don’t reckon you got anything to teach us.”

Something pricked at her. Like her so-called father, Levi Wallin was so certain he knew more than anyone else that he was somehow above the petty rules that others obeyed. She might not be able to reach such a closed mind. But then again...

“Tell me, Mr. Wallin,” she said, raising her chin. “What do you hope to do with your life now that you’re a man?”

James shook his head as if afraid she’d given his brother too much credit. Levi straightened with a sneer to James. “I’m moving into town first chance I get.”

James’s gaze drifted to the ceiling as if trying to look anywhere else but at his brother.

“And what will you do there?” she pressed.

Levi grinned at Scout. “Anything I want.”

Scout grinned back.

“What a delightful life,” Rina said. “How do you intend to pay for your frivolity?”

Levi’s grin faded. “Frivol-what?”

“All the fun you’ll be having,” James explained with a smile to Rina.

“I assume you want to have fun, Mr. Wallin,” Rina confirmed.

His grin returned. “Yes, ma’am!”

Rina took a step closer, gaze drilling into his. “How will you pay for it? Fine clothes and food must be purchased, sir. Money doesn’t grow on trees, even here in Seattle. So what will you do? Labor for Mr. Yesler at the mill? Work in a shop?”

Levi’s chest swelled. “I don’t need another person telling me what to do all day. I’ll open my own shop.”

James chuckled and turned the noise into a cough when Levi glared at him.

“And how will you do that?” Rina asked. “Do you understand the language of a warranty deed? Can you calculate the interest on a loan? Do you know how to amortize payments? How much will you need to earn from your goods to turn a profit? How much profit will you need to invest so that you can continue to expand your business?”

With each question, Levi’s color fled a little more. Before he could answer her, she turned to Scout. “And what of you, Mr. Rankin? Do you intend to move to town and have fun like Levi?”

“No, ma’am,” he said, gaze dropping to where his bare toes were pressed into the floor. “Makes no sense, as most folks in town wouldn’t give me the time of day. I’d like to homestead. Don’t reckon you know how to do that.”

His voice held more despair than defiance. There was a story behind this boy. She wondered if it was anything like her own—abandoned, lied to, left to fend for herself. Still, she had clean clothes, food, the hope of a future. She wasn’t so sure Scout Rankin had any of those things.

“I know nothing about homesteading, Mr. Rankin,” she admitted. “But I know about the Farmer’s Almanac. I can teach you to understand it, and from there you can learn how to calculate crop yields, determine the best times to plant and harvest and even predict the weather.”

His head came up, and his eyes widened. Like his hair, they were a muddy brown, but she could see the light of intelligence in them, the flicker of hope. “That would be right helpful, ma’am.”

Levi narrowed his eyes as if he thought his friend was giving in too easily.

Rina refused to be daunted. “Good,” she said. “Then I expect to see you both tomorrow morning at eight when I ring the bell.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Scout said, though Levi merely snapped a nod.

“And I expect,” James added, “that Miss Fosgrave will hear no more wolves outside her window or find threats on the blackboard.”

“Yes, sir,” they chorused. James pointed to the door, and they shuffled out.

Rina shook her head. “You knew all along it wasn’t a wolf pack, didn’t you?”

“I suspected,” James said with a shrug. “But I thought it best to make sure. I’m sorry they frightened you, Rina.”

She sighed. “They terrified me. Nothing in my life prepared me to fight off vicious predators.”

He wrinkled his nose. “I don’t imagine too many people have that preparation. Beth, Ma and Catherine can handle a rifle if needed. I suppose we better teach you how to shoot, just in case.”

She raised her brows. “Just in case of what? Do you expect more wild beasts, real ones, to come calling?”

He laughed. “No. Once in a rare while, something wanders a little too close to the barn, but normally the wild animals give us a wide berth. They’ve learned humans can be dangerous.”

So had she. “Then I doubt I must carry a gun.”

“Maybe just a whip and chair for your wild students,” he joked.

Rina shook her head. Levi and Scout were going to be a handful, but she supposed she couldn’t blame them for resenting the school. They were both at an age where sitting around learning had to sound tedious and tiresome. She’d have to find ways to make the lessons relevant for them.

But for all her fine arguments, what did she know about opening a shop or understanding the Farmer’s Almanac?

Her concerns must have been written on her face, for James put a hand to her elbow as if to steady her. “You dealt with them brilliantly. You’re going to be a great teacher.”

She drew in a breath, feeling as if she drew in strength as well. “It will be a challenge. Thank you, for the encouragement and for routing my wolves.”

He dropped his hold and saluted her. “Any time, ma’am. James Wallin, wilderness scout, at your service.”

She smiled. “I hope this is as close to the wilderness as I ever come.”

He cocked his head. “It’s not so bad, you know. Come on. I’ll show you.”

He held out his hand, but Rina couldn’t make herself accept it. “Where do you intend to take me, Mr. Wallin?”

He grinned. “Into the wild.”

* * *

James thought she would refuse. Those clear eyes were crinkling at the corners from doubt. When her fingers slipped into his hand, he felt as if she’d entrusted him with her life.

He led her out onto the porch. Between the trees and the usual cloud cover, it wasn’t always easy to see the sky in Seattle. Now thousands of stars set the darkness to shimmering, bathing the clearing with silver. The light from the main house and Drew’s and Simon’s cabins offered a golden counterpoint.

She sighed as if she saw the beauty too. Down by the lake, frogs chirped a chorus and something splashed in the water. The breeze touched their cheeks with gentle fingers.

“There now,” James said. “Not so very scary.”

“Only because I have an escort,” she said. “And the cabins remind me that there are others just across the way. It was another matter when I was alone in my room.”

“And a strange room at that,” James commiserated. “Though, mind you, I think my sister’s designs are always a little strange. Those wide skirts and puffy sleeves.” He shivered as if the very idea was unthinkable.

She didn’t laugh. “Your sister is a dear. I just feel a trifle unsettled.”

“I know what you need,” James said. “Horses.”

He’d been trying for a smile or at least one of her scoldings that he was talking nonsense again. Instead, she straightened, squeezing his hand. “Oh, yes. That would be wonderful!”

Bemused, James escorted her to the barn.

The cool of the night had yet to penetrate the log structure. Earthy smells and familiar calls greeted them as James pulled open the door. He lit a lamp and led Rina toward the back of the barn, where Lance and Percy had their stalls.

The pair were standing, heads down and backs toward the aisle, their dark coats gleaming in the lamplight. Both turned to greet him, hanging their heads over the door of the stalls and nickering. James stroked each velvety nose in turn. Lance’s dark eyes were stern.

“Yes, I know it’s after bedtime,” he told the horse. “But you’d never been properly introduced to the lady. Rina Fosgrave, meet Sir Lancelot and Sir Percival.”

Rina spread her skirts and curtsied like a grand lady greeting the president. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance, my fine sirs.”

Lance raised his head as if he were above such things. Percy craned his neck to demand her attention.

Rina reached out and touched his cheek. “Such a bold fellow. I bet you are your master’s favorite.”

James pressed his hands to Lance’s ears. “Shh! Not so loud. He’ll hear you.”

Lance shook away from his touch and turned in the stall to put his back to James.

“There,” James declared. “Now you’re done it. I’m going to have to bring apples for a month to make it up to him.”

Rina giggled. It was a soft, silvery sound, brightening the barn, lifting his heart. A man would do almost anything to hear that laugh again and know he’d been the cause of such joy.

“Why don’t we go for a drive?” he asked, reaching for the stall door.

She dropped her hand from Percy, and the horse nudged her shoulder to urge her to continue. Instead, she stepped away with a frown. “I would never take them out after dark for fear they would fall into a hole and break a leg.”

There was that. He never had been all that good about thinking through consequences. “Of course,” he said. “You just looked so happy with them.”

Her frown eased. “They are impressive fellows. And if we have an opportunity after school some time, I would be glad to go for a ride.” She raised her voice. “Especially with you, proud Sir Lancelot.”

Lance snorted as if he couldn’t care less, but James saw his ears tip back to listen.

They stayed a while longer, then James walked Rina back to the school. The farther the barn lay behind, the more he felt her stiffen. Was she still worried about teaching?

“You’ll be fine tomorrow,” he assured her as he opened the door for her and the light from the teacher’s quarters spilled across the boards of the porch.

Her stiff smile told him she didn’t believe him.

“I imagine every teacher is nervous her first day of school,” he tried again. He nudged her with his elbow. “Just think how nervous your students must be. They’ve never been in school before. At least you’ve been a student.”