“You’ve done a lot of work for it. I can’t wait to dance with my beautiful bride.” He walked over and kissed her once more before lying down. “I like being able to grab you and kiss you whenever I feel like it. It makes me happy.”
Before Rica could figure out how to respond to that, he was already asleep. She frowned at him for a moment before turning to her work. Having him around was certainly making life more interesting. Only two days with him, and already she couldn’t figure out if her heartbeat would ever return to normal.
She worked for an hour steadily before getting up and starting supper. She wanted him to be able to eat as soon as he was hungry. She was making extra as well, so she could send him to work with a good lunch the next day.
It had never occurred to her that she would someday be managing a career and a husband, but she was doing it now. Her marriage came first, of course, but her pupils were almost as important to her. She knew other women were able to do it, and she would do it, too.
As soon as her supper was cooking, she sat back down at the table and wrote a letter to her parents. They were expecting her to come home the next weekend, and she didn’t feel like it was a good time with being newly married. And of course her parents weren’t yet aware of her marriage. The letter she wrote explained that she’d married suddenly, but that she was happy. She would come home in a few weeks once she and Darryl had settled into married life a bit better.
She folded the letter, hoping her parents would understand. She knew her mother would, but her father had always been a little less understanding than she would have preferred. She guessed his reaction truly didn’t matter because there was nothing he could do about it now.
She was above the age of consent by a long way, and she was content being married to her Darryl. Hopefully someday they would realize they loved one another, and she could be truly happy. It sounded like a fairy tale ending to her, and she wasn’t one to believe in fairy tales, but she would hope and dream.
She settled down to read a novel, curled up on the couch. Sundays had always been novel-reading days for her, though she had to keep her novels hidden in case someone came by. Schoolteachers were not to read frivolous literature like novels, but sometimes she just didn’t care. Shakespeare was all well and good, but give her one of the Bronte sisters any day.
Even her mother didn’t know of her penchant for novel reading, and she’d have been scandalized if she had. Never mind, though, because the novels kept Rica’s mind filled with laughter and thoughts of love, while the common every day works of literature she used for lessons with her students didn’t.
Without the novels, she would never have had the courage to marry a stranger—even if he was the twin brother of one of her closest friends. It was hard to believe that she was now in a marriage and a courtship at the same time. They really were doing things backwards, but she had hope because she had read novels. Maybe that wasn’t something she should be proud of, but having courage was something foreign to her. She’d married a stranger, and she was going to do everything she could to make the very most of it.
Chapter 7
Monday morning, Rica was up a bit earlier than usual to make a good breakfast for her and Darryl. She usually just had toast or something equally easy, but she was certain that wouldn’t sustain him through hours of hard, physical labor.
As soon as breakfast was ready, she woke him. She hated that he didn’t have a little more time to rest before starting his full work schedule, but she understood where Harv was coming from as well, needing the help desperately.
Darryl woke up to see his beautiful wife standing over him. Her hair was still down, and he smiled at her. “An angel waking me in the morning. I think I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
She laughed. “You’re silly. It’s time to wake up. You need to be at work in an hour. I have your lunch made, and your breakfast is ready.”
“And coffee? Did you make plenty of coffee? I might need a few gallons to make it through the day.” Why couldn’t he spend another week in bed with his beautiful bride?
“I made a pot of coffee, not gallons.”
His hand whipped out from under the covers and pulled her down into bed with him. “I won’t muss you, because your hair isn’t fixed yet.”
She grinned. “But your breakfast might get cold.” Not that she minded at that moment.
“There is that . . .” He pulled her head down for a kiss, running his hands up and down her sides. She was still in her nightgown and a robe, and he liked how she looked that way—she wasn’t the proper teacher and instead was just Rica, his very kissable wife.
She sighed and sank into him, enjoying the kiss more than she really should have. She was starting to wonder if she was a wanton woman with as much as she enjoyed him, but then she realized that she was worrying too much. She needed to just let things happen as they would.
“Wait . . . did you say coffee and breakfast were ready? What are you doing lying on top of me? Get off me!”
She shook her head at him as she got up, walking to the stove to pour his coffee. Sometimes she had no idea to react to his teasing. It was odd, but no one in her life had ever teased her. Not even her brother. He was two years younger than her, and they’d treated each other with politeness, not teasing. After watching the way Darryl was with Doris, she could see that he had never even thought to not tease his sisters.
After he’d finished his breakfast, Darryl got to his feet, pulling her to hers. “I don’t want to leave you. Do you think I could talk Harv and the school district into giving us each about three months off? We could just gaze into each other’s eyes.”
“You don’t think that even that exciting event would get boring after a while?”
He shrugged. “Not for me. You have the most beautiful eyelashes I’ve ever seen. They’re so long and thick. I look into your eyes, and I feel like I’m completely losing myself.”
She stepped back into his arms and held him tightly. “You are a truly good man. Thank you for coming into my life.”
He grinned, grabbed his lunch from the counter, and headed out the door. “I’ll be home as soon as my evil brother-in-law releases me from my bondage!”
She grinned as he left, closing the door behind him. He really did bring excitement to her otherwise-dull world. She hoped she wouldn’t realize it was too much excitement as time went by.
Once the dishes were done and the cabin was neat and tidy, she took her books to the schoolhouse. The children started to get there around eight most mornings, though school didn’t start until nine. She did her best to always be the first person there, available for any of the children who felt like they needed extra help.
That particular morning, she sat at her desk, going over her lesson plans and making certain she was ready for the day. They would start their art project that included making decorations for the dance the next day, and she planned to announce to the children there would be a dance after lunch. She knew they’d be excited—especially the older children.
As she read over her history lesson, one of the older girls came into the schoolhouse, and she didn’t notice her until the girl said her name. “Miss Hughes?”
Rica looked up and smiled. “Yes? How can I help you, Gloria?” The girl was sixteen and one of her best students. She enjoyed talking to her when there was time.
“Could I ask you something?”
“Of course.” Rica frowned at the girl, wondering what her topic of conversation was that she was starting out that way. Usually Gloria didn’t have a problem asking whatever was on her mind.
“Mr. Jackson has asked my mother if he can court me, and my mother said yes. He has six children, and his wife died last year. Do you know him?”
Rica shook her head. “None of his children come here, do they?”
“No, ma’am. His oldest is a ten-year-old girl, and she has to stay home and take care of the other children. From what I understand, she’s expected to do all the cooking and
cleaning.”
“That’s terrible!”
“I think so, too,” Gloria said. “Anyway, Mr. Jackson is going to take me out driving after school, and I really don’t want to go, but my ma keeps telling me that this is a good opportunity for me. I should be pleased that a man his age wants to court me and possibly marry me. She thinks I’m too ‘bookish’ and that no man would ever want to marry me as a result.”
Rica frowned at that. “I’ve always been a book lover. If I have a spare minute or two, my nose is buried in a book, and I’m reading as many pages as I can until I’m forced to return to reality. Did you know I got married on Friday afternoon?”
Gloria shook her head. “No, ma’am.”
“Well, I did. I married a wonderful man who has no problem at all with how much I enjoy reading. If you wait for a man who suits you and don’t marry the first man that comes along, I think you’ll be happier in the long run.”
“But how do I convince my mother of that? She’s certain that I’ll die an old maid if I don’t allow Mr. Jackson to court me. But he’s an old man. At least thirty-five!”
Rica smiled at her student’s idea of what constituted old. “Would your mother be amenable to a visit from me to discuss things with her? I don’t want to interfere, but I can’t imagine you being happy getting married right away. You need to go to college. You’re the kind of girl who would thrive surrounded by books for the rest of her life.”
“I think so, too, but make sure you don’t say that to my mother. I think she would have a heart attack at the idea of me going off to school. She wants me to be under her thumb for the rest of my life, having babies and just being an obedient daughter, I guess.” Gloria frowned as she looked down at her hands. “I’ve always been obedient to my mother. I do what she tells me with no hesitation or question. But I don’t want to be courted—and especially not by an old man.”
“I can understand that, Gloria. Don’t worry. If your mother will receive me, I’ll be certain to talk to her.” Rica wasn’t certain she’d be able to get through to her, but she thought she could. She said a silent prayer, thanking God for sending her a mother who understood her so well.
“I’ll ask her tonight.” Gloria got to her feet. “I always appreciate you taking the time to talk to me, Miss Hughes. It’s like you think I’m an adult and worthy of your respect. No one else seems to feel that way.”
“Well, I really do. We’ll make sure you don’t have to marry old Mr. Jackson.” Rica watched as the teenager left the schoolhouse to go and wait outside with all the others. She wanted to slap the girl’s mother for making it seem like she was less for not courting. Marriage wasn’t what everyone wanted, and someday women would be able to make all their own decisions. She just wished that someday was now.
She stood to write her new name on the blackboard. She hadn’t thought to do it until right that minute, but Gloria had called her Miss Hughes. It would take her a bit to be able to respond to Mrs. Miller, but it was her new name, and it made her heart flutter a bit, thinking about what had given her the name.
After lunchtime that day, she made her announcement. “On Friday evening this week, we’re going to have a dance, right here at the school. All of you need to bring anything you think you can use to make decorations for the dance.”
“Why are we having a dance, Miss Hughes?” Peter, the boy who asked, blushed. “I mean, Mrs. Miller.”
“Because I’ve never been involved in a dance in this community. Most communities do more things together than this one, and now that I’m married, I’m going to do my best to help people here become tighter knit.”
Molly, the youngest of Mrs. Lindon’s children, raised her hand. “My ma says you and your friends are troublemakers, and you want nothing more than to change Salmon into something that no one here wants. Is that true?”
It was all Rica could do to continue smiling at the child, forcing herself to remember that she couldn’t take out her anger with Molly’s mother on the girl. “It is not true. My friends and I want Salmon to be a good, welcoming place for anyone to live. We’re working hard to help it become just that.”
Molly shrugged. “Are students allowed to go to the dance?”
Rica smiled and nodded. “It’s my hope that everyone in town will attend the dance. There’s no cost to get in, but we are asking everyone bring either a plate of cookies or a cake to share.”
“My mother bakes the best cakes in all of Oregon. Maybe the whole world!” Bobby said. It was out of turn, but Rica couldn’t argue with him. Doris made wonderful baked goods.
“Then you’re going to have to make sure that she sends a cake for us!”
“Are you and Uncle Darryl going to be at the dance?” Matthew asked.
Rica nodded. “Yes, we are. I hope your parents will be there as well.”
“Are you going to kiss Uncle Darryl in front of everyone like you did at your wedding?” Bobby asked.
She gave him her sternest look as all of the children giggled. “I’m married to your uncle now, but we won’t be talking about the two of us kissing during school—or at any other time for that matter.” She turned to the board and wrote down an arithmetic problem. She needed the children to concentrate on school again, and she needed her cheeks to stop flaming red.
As soon as school was out, Gloria came to the front of the class again, lingering and making it clear she was waiting for the other students to leave so she could have a private talk with Rica. “Would you mind sending a letter home with me, so you could ask my ma if you could stop by? She’d like that better than me asking her if you can. She likes things to be done all proper like.”
“I’d be happy to. Just give me a minute, and I’ll write the note for you.” Rica pulled a clean sheet of paper from her notebook and quickly wrote the note in her perfect handwriting. “There you go. Tell her I’m happy to meet with her, whenever is convenient for her.”
As the girl took the note and hurried away, Rica cleaned the blackboard and walked through the school to make sure the students had left everything tidy, endeavoring to sweep every corner. It was her job to make sure the schoolroom was clean at all times, after all.
After she had finished, she walked over to Doris’s house, wanting to ask her advice about Gloria’s situation. She couldn’t actually mention Gloria’s name, but if she could find out a little more about Mr. Jackson, she would feel as if she was better equipped for the upcoming conversation with Gloria’s mother.
Doris had obviously been watching for her because as she raised her hand to knock, the door was opened, and she was pulled inside. “You were seen picnicking in the meadow with my brother. And I hear there were at least a few kisses exchanged . . .”
Rica shook her head at Doris. “Do you have spies everywhere?” She looked over at Gretchen, who was sewing and trying not to laugh. “Hi, Gretchen!”
“How was school today?” Gretchen asked, giving Rica an out from the interrogation Doris obviously had planned.
“It was good. I talked to the children about the dance on Friday night. I’m really getting excited about it.” Rica sat down across from Gretchen, reaching for one of the cookies in the middle of the table. Doris really did make the best baked goods.
“We haven’t had a dance here in town in . . . I can’t remember how long! I wasn’t old enough that my mother would allow me to go with an escort, though. I had to go with her and Papa, and I had to stay beside them. Reginald asked me to dance one time, and neither of my parents were pleased, but at least they didn’t stop us.”
Rica covered Gretchen’s hand with her own. “It must be really hard for you.”
Gretchen shrugged, ignoring the tear that coursed down her cheek. “I always knew I’d marry him. It was like the moment we met, we knew our souls were meant to live as one. We were inseparable at school and would have been the rest of the time if our parents had allowed it.”
“I’m so sorry you lost him.” Rica hadn’t ever really thought about the
man behind Gretchen’s condition. Yes, she knew his name, but thinking of him as Gretchen saw him—she couldn’t imagine the pain the other girl was going through. She was already falling in love with Darryl after just a few days. Reginald and Gretchen had years together.
Gretchen smiled. “As my mother tells me every single day, I can’t bury myself with him. Especially not with a baby on the way.”
Doris sat down at the table with them and grabbed a cookie of her own. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do when the baby comes? Can you stay in the house with your mother then?”
Gretchen shrugged. “I’m going to have to. I don’t have anywhere else to go. I’m hoping Mother takes one look at her grandchild and falls in love with him. Stranger things have happened.”
“I hope so, too.” Doris smiled at Gretchen, and then her eyes met Rica’s. They both knew it was unlikely, but what could they do? Gretchen was making the choice to stay there.
Rica sighed. “I have a question for you both. Do either of you know a Mr. Jackson with six children who lost his wife last year?”
Gretchen wrinkled her nose. “As soon as Reginald died, he asked to court me. His wife hadn’t been dead for four months. He’s a horrible man. I think his wife killed herself just to get away from him.”
“Really? That’s awful!”
“You should smell him. And his breath. Everyone says that his daughter, who just turned ten, is taking care of the house, doing all the cooking, and taking care of her younger siblings. He’s asked out every eligible woman here in Salmon, and now rumor has it he’s taken to trying to court some of the schoolgirls. Gloria was seen talking to him at her house last week, and everyone thinks her mother is going to make her court him.”
Rica didn’t want to admit that was true, but it sounded like Gretchen already knew exactly what was going on anyway. How she always knew so much when so few people would talk to her always surprised Rica. “Gloria talked to me before school today. Her mother is making her go for a drive with him because she’s afraid that Gloria is going to be an old maid because she reads too much.” Rica took off her spectacles and rubbed her eyes. “Gloria is my very brightest student. If anyone could go to college, it would be her, and that’s what she wants. Of course, all her mother wants for her is marriage.”
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