Herding the Hellions

by Danni Roan

“We won’t burn down your kitchen Mr. Beans,” Albert confirmed. “We’ve even been working for the parson all week to pay for the privy,” he added.

  Beans looked up at Helena in disbelief as Henry clattered into the kitchen. “I’ll watch them with you Beans,” Henry said grinning. “It’ll be nice to catch up a bit.”

  Beans finally nodded waving his spatula again. “All right, but if you boys put a toe crooked, I’ll slap you down,” the old cook growled.

  “Is Violet in the office?” Helena asked.

  “Was last time I looked,” Beans said watching Helena carefully before returning to his work while keeping a wary eye on the Pennington boys.

  Helena knocked on the door wondering what took Violet so long to open it until she saw Chance looking flustered where he sat behind the desk.

  “I suppose you’ll be leaving on the next train,” Mr. Redburn said glaring at her. “I knew you should have listened to me. Agi isn’t made for a woman like you,” he finished pushing himself from the desk.

  “What?” Helena asked looking between the matchmaker and Violet. “No, I’m not going anywhere. Mr. Pennington and I are getting along very well actually,” she added with a blush.

  Agi had been far more present over the past few days, kissing her each morning before he left for work and even attempting to return home at a decent hour each night. They still weren’t fully committed as she liked to think of it, but a deep affection was developing between them as they learned to live together.

  “Then what are you doing here?” Chance asked running his hands through his hair and casting a glance at Violet.

  “I came to speak to Violet,” Helena said. “I have questions about Ryan’s education.”

  Violet tipped her head inquisitively. “Isn’t he in school?” she asked.

  Helena shook her head. “Apparently he was banned some months ago.”

  Violet gasped. “Hasn’t anyone done anything about it?”

  “That is what I’m attempting to do,” Helena said. “With Agi’s approval of course,” she added with a blush.

  Violet smiled. “Come sit in the parlor with me,” she said. “I’ll do what I can.”

  Helena explained the problem Ryan seemed to be having with reading over coffee and cookies in the parlor, all the while listening to her father, Beans, and Mr. Redburn’s hushed voices in the kitchen.

  “So you’re saying that he seems to get the words mixed up?” Violet finally said setting her delicate cup on a table.

  “Yes, he’s a very bright boy. At least he has no trouble coming up with trouble to get into,” Helena said with a giggle. “He has no problems with math, or any other subject, and he has an amazing memory.”

  Violet studied on the problem for a few moments. “You said your father is helping him with reading?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ve seen children who have problems keeping the words in order on the page,” Violet continued. “I think I have a suggestion. Have Ryan put a ruler under each line of text so his eye can see exactly what letters are in the line. I know it has helped others before.”

  Helena smiled. “I knew you’d have some answer for me,” she said. “He’ll have to keep working, but I hope this will help.”

  Helena rose reaching out to hug Violet. “I hope your endeavors are coming along as well,” she said. “Is there any change in Myrackle?”

  “Not yet,” Violet said blushing slightly. “We’re all working on it though, and I know that Joseph is determined to win her back.”

  “Is it all right if I leave the boys here for a while?” Helena asked. “Agi and I are going to speak with Mr. Parnell during the lunch hour.”

  “I’m sure that will be fine,” Violet said. “As long as Beans doesn’t protest,” she added with a smile.

  Helena walked along the stream toward the mill, the sound of the big water wheel and machinery growing louder with each step.

  “Augusta,” she called toward the table with a huge saw blade spinning at dizzying speed. “Augusta” she called again trying to get her husband’s attention. “Agi!” Helena shouted over the noise her heart fluttering when Agi turned dancing blue eyes and a dazzling smile on her.

  Agi shouted something to the young man who was moving a log along the long table, patting him on the back and heading her way.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked taking her hands.

  “We’re supposed to meet with the teacher about Ryan,” Helena shouted over the noise.

  “I completely forgot,” Agi said shaking his head. “Come on,” he finished tucking her hand into the crook of his arm and heading toward town.

  Helena grinned. She’d been stunned at the pure joy she had seen on Agi’s face when he saw her, and her heart still pattered with delight.

  “We’ll go talk to Mr. Parnell then get some supper,” he suddenly looked around as if trying to find the boys. “Where are the boys?” he asked.

  “They’re with my father at Miss Viola’s house,” Helena said. “Father and Beans will keep an eye on them. When I said good-bye, Mr. Redburn was teaching them how to twirl a lariat.”

  A short time later the couple stood at the door of the little schoolhouse knocking as they prepared to speak with the teacher.

  “Come in,” the man said. “Mr. Pennington,” he greeted his eyes falling on Helena. “How can I help you?”

  “We’d like Ryan and Albert to come back to school,” Agi said politely.

  “Your son is a serious distraction in the classroom”, the man said seriously. “I can’t see that his returning to school will benefit him.”

  “I beg to differ,” Helena said bristling. “He’s a very bright young man and is learning to be a responsible part of our society.”

  “And who might you be?” Mr. Parnell asked.

  “I’m his new mother,” Helena said straightening her spine. She felt suddenly defensive of Ryan. She knew the boy’s shortcomings, but she also knew that if he were given a chance he would do well.

  “You realize that he is seriously behind on his lessons and his reading is terrible?”

  “Yes,” Helena said before Agi could reply. “We are taking steps to remedy these issues. We do however; want to know when he can return to classes?”

  “If you can improve his reading I’ll accept him back in two weeks,” the tall man said. “If he causes problems again though, I can’t promise I’ll allow him to stay.”

  “We will see to it,” Helena said looking at Agi who stood dumbfounded at her attitude. “I will expect that you will keep others from teasing him about his reading struggle.”

  Mr. Parnell smiled. “I’ll see to it,” he agreed.

  Helena let her breath out in a whoosh as they stepped out of the school. “Thank heaven that’s settled,” she said. “I thought that he was going to refuse.”

  Agi chuckled, “let’s go get the boys and have some supper,” he said patting her hand as he smiled. It was nice to know that she was willing to fight for his boys.

  “So I don’t have to go to school yet?” Ryan asked as he took a seat at the Inn’s dining hall.

  “Not yet,” Agi said, “but I expect you to work hard to improve your reading and catch up on your studies. I shouldn’t have let it go on so long Ryan, and I’m sorry.”

  Ryan blinked at his father, amazed that he would say such a thing. “Thanks Pa,” he said realizing how much things had changed in his life. Helena really did want to be a real mother to him. He might not always like what she asked him to do, but something in him was happy that she was there.

  Agi looked across the table at Helena and smiled, his heart full. Only a few short weeks ago he couldn’t have imagined sitting down to dinner in a restaurant as a family like this.

  He had been eaten up with work, worry, and care, but now his heart seemed to sing, and it struck him that he was falling in love with his wife.

  When he had first met her she seemed the answer to all of his problems; an easy way to get the b
oys fed and his house cleaned, but she had done so much more.

  That night at the dance she had seemed sweet and pliable but she was strong, and bold, and lovely; traits he didn’t even know he needed.

  Reaching under the table Agi grasped Helena’s hand smiling when she turned to him in surprise. He knew that this woman was meant for him, and he loved his new family.

  “Henry, is everything to your liking?” Agi asked feeling a new kinship with his father-in-law.

  “It is,” Henry agreed, “and Tim seems to think my lunch is better than his,” he added with a chuckle as the boy pinched another potato from his plate.

  After dinner Agi loaded everyone back into the wagon leaning in to kiss Helena making her blush as the boys gasped.

  “Pa you kissed her,” Albert said.

  “Yes, I did,” Agi agreed. “You’d better get used to it as well,” he said climbing up into the wagon seat and wrapping his arm around Helena. “You see boys I think I’m rather in love with your new mother, so you’d better listen to her from now on, or you’ll have me to answer to.”

  Helena looked up into Agi’s face her eyes wide as he leaned in and kissed her one more time. “Do you think you can live with that,” he asked shuffling the horses into a walk.

  “I think I can,” Helena admitted. “I think I’ve been falling in love with you since that night at the dance,” she confessed.

  “Yuk!” Ryan said rolling his eyes. “I’m never gonna fall in love with anyone,” he said. “But I’m still glad you’re our ma,” he finished.

  Helena snuggled into Agi’s arm as he turned the wagon toward home. They had a long way to go, but she knew that tonight would be the turning point for her relationship with Augusta Pennington. She had given him her heart, and now they could be one unit raising the boys and learning to love each other day by day.

  Epilogue

  Helena smiled brightly as Ryan dashed out to meet his father. A new summer had come and with it the heat of a bright sun had them sticky from sweat after working in the garden all day.

  “Wait till you see what me and Al did,” Ryan said. After nearly a year in school where he had successfully completed a full year of study, the boy had more confidence and was starting to show a knack for invention and ingenuity.

  “Why?” What have you done now?” Agi said teasing as his oldest dragged him toward a small shack that had been built by the back door of the house.

  “It’s a way you can get washed up real easy,” Ryan said. “Ma already tried it out and she thinks it’s pretty good.”

  Agi looked up at Helena who stood with her hands at her back with a smile playing across her lush lips. His wife was mighty pretty and looked fresh as a daisy even on a hot day like this one.

  “What do you do?” Agi asked looking into the little shed and examining a series of buckets suspended on a rafter across the roof.

  “Al, bring the water!” Ryan yelled waiting until his younger brother came toward them, a bucket in each hand.

  “First you pour the water in the buckets,” Ryan said, “hot and cold so you don’t get scalded. Then you pull this string,” he continued nodding to his brother who had filled the bucket above them. “See this big bucket has holes in it and a slide that pulls up when you want water.”

  Ryan demonstrated letting water trickle down to the wood shake floor below. “You can get in, get wet, then soap up and rinse off all at the same time,” The boy finished with a flourish.

  “You came up with this all by yourself?” Agi asked.

  “Well, when I told gramps what I was thinking, he helped me plan it out. It’s like standing in a rain shower, but the water is as hot or cold as you want it.”

  Agi beamed at his son amazed at what he had done. “I think your mother will appreciate it if I get some of this sawdust off before I come into the house,” he said. “Can you boys fetch me some more water.

  “Sure thing Pa,” Albert said hurrying back to the kitchen for more hot water.

  “I’ll bring you fresh clothes,” Helena called laughing at the men and their antics. Ryan had truly solved one of her biggest problems though and hopefully life would be easier for Agi with this new bucket shower.

  Agi grinned as Helena headed to the house. They hadn’t told anyone yet, but she had just found out she was expecting their own addition to the family, and he imagined he could see the slight rounding of her belly as she stepped up on the porch.

  If someone had told him a year ago that his whole world would be turned around, he never would have believed them. He had reached out to Miss Viola in desperation and had walked away with a new love and a new lease on life.

  His boys were growing, and his home was back up to a standard that it should never have lost. He had even been training a few of the men at the mill to run things if he needed a day off, and the hours he worked were now more conducive to the life of a family man.

  “What’d you think?” Ryan asked as Agi stepped out of the wooden box dressed and free of sawdust.

  “I think it is wonderful Ryan.” He said dropping an arm around his son as they headed indoors for supper.

  Taking a seat at the table Agi reached out as his family clasped hands and bowed their heads in thanks.

  The End

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  Other Books by this Author:

  From the Cattleman’s Daughters

  Katie Isabella

  FionaAlexis

  Meg MMae

  Tales from Biders Clump

  Christmas Kringle

  Quil’s Careful Cowboy

  Bruno’s Belligerent Beauty

  Tywyn’sTroubles

  A Teaching Touch

  Prissy’s Predicament

  Lucinda’s Luck

  Ferd’s Fair Favor

  The Travels of Titus

  Winter’s Worth

  Strong Hearts: Open Spirits

  Maggie’s ValleySadina’s Stocking

  Celestre’s Song Beloved Beulah

  Whispers in Wyoming

  Love Letters & Home

  Counting Kadence

  Mercy’s Light

  Falling Forward

  Racing Destiny

  The Ornamental Matchmaker

  Carousel Horse Christmas

  Loose Goose Christmas

  Pineapple Persuasion

  July’s Jubilant Christmas Jumble

  Shutter Shock Christmas in July

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  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for choosing to read my book. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it. If you enjoyed the story please feel free to leave a review wherever you purchased the book. Leaving a review will help me and prospective readers to know what you liked about this book. It is an opportunity for your voice to be heard and for you to tell others why the story is worth a read.

  About the Author

  Danni Roan, a native of western Pennsylvania, spent her childhood roaming the lush green mountains on horseback. She has always loved westerns and specifically western romance and is thrilled to be part of this exciting genre. She has lived and worked overseas with her husband and tries to incorporate the unique quality of the people she has met throughout the years into her books. Although Danni is a relatively new author on the scene she has been a story teller for her entire life, even causing her mother to remark that as a child “If she told a story, she had to tell the whole story.” Danni is truly excited about this new adventure in writing and hopes that you will enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.

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