A Changed Agent

by Tracey J. Lyons

  Bounding out the door, she hurried on to the schoolhouse, anxious to take the book out of the package. After unlocking the schoolhouse and setting the precious cargo on her desk, she made her way over to the potbellied stove to start the fire. Once she was sure it would take, she hurried to get the room ready for the day, leaving a few extra minutes before the students started arriving.

  Going back to her desk, she carefully unwrapped the brown paper on her package, revealing the small leather-bound book. She ran her fingers over the embossed cover, following the indents of the title, The Smithson Travel Guide. It was touted to be the most comprehensive travel guide available, and Elsie hoped the money she’d spent was worth it.

  As though holding the Good Book itself, she gingerly opened the cover, eager to get lost in the contents. She smelled the newly printed pages. Running a finger along the first few pages and seeing the chapter titles, she began to imagine all the wonderful lessons the students would get from this book. The excited chattering of their voices interrupted her thoughts.

  Closing the book, she left it in the center of her desk and went to greet the first arrivals. Half an hour later the classroom had filled, with the exception of the last two seats in the front row.

  Harry’s and Minnie’s.

  Checking her timepiece, she saw it was a quarter past nine. They were running fifteen minutes late. No need to be too worried yet. As she made her way over to where Mr. Scott’s eldest child sat, she imagined they were not yet used to waking up in their new home.

  “Good morning, Avery.”

  Bright blue eyes blinked up at her. “Good morning, Miss Mitchell.” He squirmed a bit in his seat. His hand quickly covered a sheet of paper with what looked to be the arithmetic problems she’d given to him yesterday to work on at home.

  “Avery, is there something you’d like to tell me?”

  “No, ma’am.”

  Deciding to leave it at that, though she suspected Avery was trying to finish his assignment at the last minute, Elsie instructed the children to open their reading primers. She heard the squeak of buggy wheels and glanced toward the doorway expectantly. When the buggy continued on and Minnie and Harry still hadn’t appeared, she focused on the class, helping several of the younger students with deciphering some of the harder words.

  While the students at the higher level took turns reading aloud from their books, she checked her timepiece to find that another half hour had slipped by. What’s happened to Minnie and Harry? Fretful, she walked to the window facing the roadway and looked out. She found no sign of them.

  Had Mr. Benton been called to work and left the children to fend for themselves again? The memory of finding them outside the saloon haunted her. Elsie’s stomach started churning at the thought of those precious ones alone. If they didn’t appear soon, she would ask Amy to watch her students while she went to find them.

  “Miss Mitchell. Avery is tearing up his paper.”

  Spinning around, she saw the young man crumpling and tearing at his homework. “Avery! Stop that this instant!” She rushed over to his desk. “Why are you tearing up your work?”

  Tears welled in his eyes. Kneeling next to him, she placed her hand on his fingers. Speaking softly, she asked, “Avery, what’s all this about?”

  “I couldn’t decipher the problems you gave me.” His lower lip trembled.

  “Tearing up your work isn’t going to make it go away, Avery. You come to my desk at lunch time and we’ll work on them together.”

  Standing, she glanced at her timepiece again. Where are those children? She looked around the room for a student who could be trusted to watch over the classroom until Amy could arrive. She was approaching her oldest student, thirteen-year-old Maggie Wills, when she heard Harry’s voice.

  “Miss Mitchell!”

  Relief flooded through her as the twins entered the room. She tried not to focus on their appearance. Harry’s hair was a bit mussed, and his shirttail stuck out every which way through his suspenders. Sweet Minnie wore a wrinkled pinafore over a bright-yellow calico dress. She clutched her doll close to her.

  Mr. Benton stood behind the children. Elsie couldn’t decide whether the look he wore on his face was one of determination or anger. Perhaps he expected her to criticize the way the children looked or to admonish him for their tardiness. On the contrary, Elsie was just relieved and happy to see them.

  “Good morning, ma’am.” He tipped his hat. “I apologize for being so late getting Harry and Minnie to school.”

  “Good morning, Mr. Benton. I’m glad they’re here.” When Harry made a move to go around her into the schoolroom, Elsie caught him by the arm. Quickly, she straightened his shirttail, tucking it into his pants. Doing her best to smooth Harry’s hair, she said to Mr. Benton, “I take it the children spent a restful first night in their new home?” She caught the pained look on his face.

  “Um. They didn’t exactly take too kindly to sleeping in the room you set up for them.”

  Harry began to squirm, and she placed a hand on his shoulder to still him. Upon closer inspection, Elsie took in the dark circles under Mr. Benton’s eyes. His clothing was looking a bit rumpled as well. And she thought she heard a rumble of hunger coming from the vicinity of his stomach. She released her hold on Harry.

  “Take your sister inside to your seats,” she told Harry. What on earth is going on with this family? She wished she understood.

  Will had honestly done the best he could. Last night had been a nightmare. Even though he’d told Harry and Minnie he would leave a lamp burning low throughout the night, they’d insisted on being with him in his bedroom.

  Though Will had tried to accommodate the children, Harry liked to sleep lengthwise across the bed, and Minnie was a tosser and turner. That child hadn’t held still for more than five minutes, leaving Will to get short segments of sleep punctuated by either a foot or a hand poking him awake. He felt like he’d been in a saloon fight. Battered and sore, he’d somehow managed to get everyone washed and dressed this morning—two hours late—only to find out that the stove had gone out during the night and he didn’t have time to restart it and get their breakfast porridge cooked.

  After a few minutes of poking around through their food supplies, he’d found a jar of jam and a package of crackers. That was what he’d given the children for their meal. No complaints from them, but he found that preparing their breakfast and fixing their midday meal didn’t leave him time to see to his own needs. So now he stood before the formidable schoolteacher with his stomach growling like a tom cat.

  “It appears you’ve had yourself a rough go of it.”

  “Let’s just say I’m happy you’ll be joining us later.” Looking beyond her shoulder for a moment, he gathered his thoughts. “I saw your father this morning. He didn’t seem too pleased with our arrangement.”

  “I explained to him that the children need me. He knows I’ll be staying in a separate apartment.”

  “Miss Mitchell, I understand how a man wants to protect his children, especially a daughter. The last thing I want is for your decision to cause problems for you and your family.”

  “Don’t worry about my father. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

  Since she seemed mighty sure of those words, Will decided not to argue the point. If there was one thing he’d learned about the schoolteacher, it was that she presented herself as a very confident young woman. But then again, she’d have to be in order for her to have agreed to take on his little family.

  “I really shouldn’t leave my students alone much longer.”

  “I’ll see you back at the house.”

  “Yes. If you can leave a low fire in the cook stove, I can put together a proper dinner.”

  Will didn’t know what to make of having someone cook him a proper meal. He worried that Miss Mitchell might be too exhausted after dealing with a room full of children all day long. The last thing he wanted was for her to take on too much.

  “We could eat at
the hotel dining room.”

  “Wasn’t my meal last night good? You ate every bit of it.”

  “Your soup was the best meal I’ve had in ages, ma’am. I thought you might be tired after putting in a long day with the children, that’s all.”

  “Don’t worry about me, Mr. Benton. I’ll have supper on the table by six o’clock.”

  “It’s settled, then.” Tipping his hat to her again, he said, “I’ll make sure the cook stove is ready for you.” All this talk of food set Will’s stomach to growling again. “Have a good day.”

  “You, too, Mr. Benton.”

  He watched as she turned and walked back to her students, thinking he’d best be getting back to the house to clean up. Miss Mitchell had no idea how inept he was at running a household. What would she think of him if she could see the mess he’d left the house in?

  He passed by the saloon and the small post office. A gentle breeze carried the sweet smells of springtime and the savory, mouthwatering scent of the bakeshop’s famous cinnamon rolls.

  He made a beeline for the bakery, walking right up to the counter to place his order. The owner of the shop greeted him with a shy smile.

  “Good morning, Miss Montgomery. I’ll take one of your delicious cinnamon rolls, please.” Seeing the row of freshly baked bread resting on the countertop behind her, he added, “And a loaf of that fine-looking bread.”

  He waited while she wrapped up his order.

  “I hear that my friend Elsie is going to be helping you out with your family.”

  He sensed a bit of trepidation coming from Elsie’s friend. He wanted to reassure Miss Montgomery that he needed Miss Mitchell, plain and simple. There was nothing more to this arrangement than a business deal. He was paying her more than a fair wage, and he’d be willing to bet she was putting every last cent of those earnings toward her travel fund.

  “Mr. Benton?”

  “Yes?”

  “Elsie is a kind woman who has a big heart. What I’m trying to say is, she’s just gotten over a broken engagement.”

  Suddenly, Will knew exactly what Amy feared. He had no intention of having a relationship beyond that of employer-employee with Elsie Mitchell. His life was complicated enough at the moment.

  “I can assure you, you’ve nothing to worry about as far as Miss Mitchell and I are concerned.”

  “I’m pleased to hear you say that.”

  Collecting his order, he bid her a good day.

  Walking along the street again, Will realized that even though this town was small by his standards, it was one filled with activity. The saloon was the only place in town that wasn’t awake at this hour. Remembering how angry Miss Mitchell had been with him yesterday, he thought it best to keep his distance from the establishment for now. He would find other avenues of pursuing his quarry.

  Francis Moore sat in a rocker outside his dry-goods store. His round, ruddy face burst into a broad grin when he spotted Will. “Howdy, Mr. Benton!” Indicating the empty rocker next to him, he invited, “Come, sit down. Take a load off.”

  Will stepped up onto the narrow walkway. “Don’t mind if I do.” He sat and then asked, “Having a slow day, are you?”

  “Nah. The missus is inside rearranging the sewing notions. It’s best I stay out of her way.” The man nudged him in the side with his elbow. “I snuck out.”

  Will laughed. “Smart man.”

  “You getting settled in?”

  “We are.”

  “That schoolmarm’s a fine young woman. She’ll be a big help for your children.”

  Cocking an eyebrow, Will turned to look at the man.

  “Told you I know most everything that goes on in this town. Folks don’t just come in here to buy from me. We chat. Being friendly is good for business.”

  Will pondered his statement. He’d have to be extra careful around Mr. Moore.

  “You going to be heading up to Oliver’s lumber camp anytime soon?”

  “As soon as I have a full crew,” Will embellished. “I was hoping some of the men might have arrived by now.”

  “Nope. Only people who got off were city people heading up to the Great Camps. They arrive here in their fancy clothes, thinking there will be coaches taking them. The one camp only sends down a buckboard, and it’s not even covered! The men don’t seem to mind the elements. The women, they complain and squawk like a bunch of chickens in an overcrowded henhouse.”

  Tipping his hat back, Will studied the man. “You sure you didn’t see anyone who might not have been going up to the resort?”

  “Not a one.” He pushed up from the chair. Standing in front of Will, he said, “Tell John his supply list will be filled by day’s end tomorrow.”

  Just because Mr. Moore hadn’t seen anyone unusual get off the last train didn’t mean the person Will was looking for hadn’t come into town on horseback. Though remembering the trip up from Albany, he imagined coming here by horse would be a long, tiring trip.

  Will made his way down to the livery, and after asking the same questions, he discovered there had been no odd horses boarded there in recent days. He went back to the house to wait for the children and Miss Mitchell.

  His stomach rumbled, reminding him he had to get the fire in the stove lit. He hoped Miss Mitchell was true to her word about cooking up a proper meal. Right now he felt as starved as a bear coming out of hibernation. The cinnamon roll had barely filled him.

  Grabbing an armload of wood, he carried the cut-up logs through the back door into the kitchen. Finding some leftover kindling, he began to build up a decent fire. Once he felt certain the fire would take, he washed up at the sink and then headed into the front parlor. Standing in the doorway, he put his hands on his hips, surveying the mess. No point in procrastinating.

  To start, he piled the tossed clothing back into the children’s trunk, closed the latch, stood, and hefted it over his shoulder. Going upstairs, he deposited it in the first bedroom off to the left. He knew full well that this was not where Harry and Minnie wished to be; however, he needed to get a solid night’s sleep. He hoped that Miss Mitchell would be able to convince them to spend the night here.

  Leaving the trunk at the foot of the bed, he went back downstairs, and after setting his things right, hauled his trunk up to the bedroom across the hall from the children’s.

  The bed linens sat in a rumpled heap in the middle of the mattress. Will tugged and smoothed the covers as best he could. He had just tossed the pillow on top of the blankets when he heard voices and footsteps coming up the front walkway.

  Closing the bedroom door behind him, Will headed downstairs to greet Harry, Minnie, and Miss Mitchell.

  Will stood on the threshold, taking in the sight before him. Harry led the way, with Minnie holding on to Miss Mitchell’s hand and walking at a slower pace behind him. They looked like the perfect family returning home after a day of school and work. Normalcy, something Will hadn’t experienced in a very long time. He caught the smile Miss Mitchell gave the little girl, and for one brief moment he wished the look had been directed at him. Instead, when she lifted her gaze to meet his, she gave him a more cautious half smile.

  She had to be feeling much as he was, wary of this new living arrangement. He’d no doubt the children would thrive under her care.

  “Uncle Will! We’re home!” Harry rushed past him into the house. “Miss Mitchell promised us a snack if we helped her clean up the classroom.”

  Will took the heavy book from her hand, saying, “I take it Harry was a great help.”

  “He erased all the chalk from the chalkboard and made sure all the window shades were drawn. I’d say he was a big help.”

  Will stepped aside to let her enter the house ahead of him. Blowing out a breath, he wondered what she was thinking of the place now that she’d be living here.

  Stepping over the boy’s jacket that had been tossed in a heap on the floor, she carefully took her coat off and hung it on the peg near the door.

  “Harry,
could you come back here?”

  Poking his head out from the kitchen, Harry answered her with his mouth half-full of a sugar cookie. “What?”

  “Where did you find that cookie?” Will wanted to know.

  “In the basket where Miss Mitchell said they would be.”

  “Oh.” It never occurred to him to look inside the basket. Perhaps if he’d done that earlier, he wouldn’t be standing here with hunger threatening to eat away his stomach lining.

  “We don’t talk with our mouths full, Harry. And I need you to please come hang your coat on the hook where it belongs when you’re not wearing it. And then we are going to talk about some rules that everyone will need to abide by.”

  Remembering all the ones she’d imparted to him yesterday, Will didn’t think he could take any more of her rules. He frowned at her. Harry came into the room and stood dutifully before Miss Mitchell.

  “Harry. First things first. When you come into the house, please wipe your feet and then hang up your coat and hat.” Folding her arms, she waited while Harry picked up his coat and hat and then, standing on tiptoes, stretched his arms, attempting to reach the hook high above his head.

  Taking the things from him, she said, “Your uncle can install some lower hooks for you and Minnie to use.”

  Will added the item to the mental list he’d been keeping.

  “And Harry, I know you don’t need to be reminded to wash your hands before touching any food.”

  Pushing his hands into his front pockets, Harry nodded.

  Helping Minnie off with her coat and bonnet, she then took off her own overcoat and hung everything up. Smoothing down the front of her dress, she walked into the kitchen and began unloading the basket her father had left this morning.

  “Miss Mitchell?”

  “Yes, Harry.”

  “You said we had to wash our hands before we handled any food.”

  Cocking her head, she let out a little laugh. Then she reached out and rumpled his hair. “You’re absolutely correct. Thank you for reminding me.”

  After she completed that task, she set about cooking the best meal Will had had in months, possibly even years.