Learning to Love

by Catherine Harper

  "Just today, you hear me, you scallywags," Robert said, stepping back to allow the stampede go out the door. "And tell the other class."

  Now in an empty classroom, Robert laughed, looking off toward the doorway. "They're a great bunch of kids."

  "A bit too advanced for my liking," Mary chuckled.

  "So you think I'm handsome," Robert said with a grin.

  "I did not, it was them that put words in my mouth," Mary said. "And by the way, what brought you in here?"

  "I heard the laughing and thought you might need my help."

  "You think I'm out of my depth?" Mary asked, tidying up her desk. "I would have them under control before you let them go-"

  Robert put up his hands. "No, that's not what I was thinking. I was just worried that they were taking advantage of you. Sorry I didn't mean-“

  "Because if you think I'm not fit to teach them…"

  "Wow wait, I don't know how we've found ourselves in this situation. Look, how about I take you out to dinner tonight, my treat. Call it a staff outing, what do you say?"

  "I think Clara's mother won't be very happy about it," Mary said. "You think that's wise, I've already got Tom's father on the warpath."

  "George, he's a pussycat. A few days from now and you'll having eating out of your hands," Robert smiled. "Now I better keep an eye on that lot out there before they get any ideas—so, see you tonight?"

  "Alright."

  "I'll pick you up at seven," Robert smiled. "Looking forward to it, never had a staff outing before."

  Watching him leave, Mary had to admit that part of her was looking forward to it too. She just hoped she didn't bump into Clara's mother while she was out with him. One enemy was enough for now.

  Chapter 8

  Picking up a wine glass, Robert toasted his guest. "Here'ssss to our new member of the teaching staff." Looking around their empty table he added, "I hope you'll all welcome her to our sssschool."

  Mary looked to the empty seats beside her. "And I think you've had too much to drink. If anyone's driving you home tonight it's me."

  "You're a dear," Robert said and drank from his glass.

  "And you're drunk," Mary added.

  Lowering his glass, Robert pointed to himself and slurred his words. "Me? I beg your pardon, but I think it's you that'sssss drunk, Mary."

  Mary picked up her glass and smiled. "We'll see in the morning. But my moneys on you having a bigger hangover."

  "Soooo, did you have a good time?" Robert grinned drunkenly. "Because I know I did.—Care for another bottle? Waiter!"

  Mary watched the waiter wander over at Roberts's request. Looking to him and shaking her head she was glad that he'd picked up on Roberts's drunkenness.

  "I'm sorry, Robert but we've run out of that vintage. I promise we'll have it the next time you come in," he apologized.

  Mary nodded her head and mouthed a silent thank you. Turning her attention to Robert, she remarked. "Well, I guess that's the end of the staff outing then."

  "Appearsss so," Robert said and drank the remaining drop from his glass. "I don't know about you, but I'm in no fit state to drive. Would you do the honors?"

  Mary pushed back her chair and got to her feet, helping Robert to his own, she remarked. "You have a good night?"

  "The besssst!" Robert smiled. "Why wouldn't I when I've got such beautiful company with me."

  "You're drunk," Mary said, waving away the fumes from his mouth and walking him toward the door.

  "And you're gorgeous," Robert said and give her a peck on the cheek. "I might have a hell of a hangover in the morning but you'll still be beautiful. Beautifullest woman I ever saw, you know that?"

  Mary looked around and found some of the other dinner guests watching their drunken path toward the door. "You might want to keep your voice down."

  "What? But it's true," Robert said and slapped a bald man on back of the head. "Hey, you!"

  Seeing him turn with an angry look on his face, Mary tried her best to apologize.

  "You see this woman, isn't she wonderful? Well, isn't she?"

  Mary shook her head and tried to pull him toward the door. "Don't mind him, he's had a little too much to drink. I'm sorry for disturbing you."

  Annoyed that he got no response, Robert turned back to Mary. "Ah, what would he know, the old bag he's sitting with?"

  Pulling off his napkin and throwing it to the table, the man remarked, "I beg your pardon?"

  "I'm very sorry," Mary said and pulled him even harder than before. Finally getting him going, she looked back over her shoulder and was relieved to see that the man had stayed put in his chair.

  "Thank God for that."

  Prodding him in the shoulder, Mary demanded. "I don't want to hear another word out of your mouth, you hear me?"

  "Yes, Ma'am!" Robert saluted. “I'd do anything for you, you know that?"

  "Good. Well, shut your mouth and help me get you into your buggy," Mary said, leaving the restaurant and guiding him on a diagonal path back to their ride home. Lifting him up and watching him fall drunkenly into his seat, she remarked to herself. "And people trust you with their kids? I swear this town is worse than I thought."

  *****

  Now underway, Mary was looking forward to recalling the night out and the fool he'd made of himself. Wondering if this was his usual behaviour, she heard him remark.

  "Mary, I think I'm drunk, do you think I'm drunk?"

  "A little."

  "I'm sorry if I spoiled our night out," Robert groaned and put his hand to his forehead. "It's just that—it's just that I was nervous of you and I---and I-"

  "Forget it, it's alright. I had a good time," Mary took one hand off the reins and patted him on the leg. "The end of the night was a bit of a highlight alright."

  "Good, I'm glad. I love you, Mary. You know that?"

  Mary said nothing and let the statement hang there.

  "Mary?"

  "Yes."

  "I don't care what Clara's mother thinks."

  "Good for you, Robert."

  "You know sssomething else?"

  "What's that?"

  "A part of me is glad that James isn't here."

  "Don't talk like that," Mary said.

  "I know, it'sss not right, but that's how I feel," Robert muttered. "I don't think I could have bared it if he was married to you."

  Not knowing how to respond, Mary said nothing while she thought over what he'd said. Finally finding her voice, she turned to ask him something and found him fast asleep. Wondering how much he'd remember in the morning, Mary decided that there were some things that didn't need to be repeated back to him. Pulling his coat over him, she turned her attention back to their journey home and the trouble that lay ahead of her. Clicking her reins once more, she decided that going to Roberts's house was out of the question. There was no way she could handle him on her own. Taking the next fork in the road, she steered the buggy in Sarah's direction. This was one job that would take two women to handle.

  Chapter 9

  Going through the motions of getting herself organized, Mary turned from the blackboard.

  "As you can see, Mr. Hagan isn't here today. He's very poorly at the moment."

  Thinking over her little fib, Mary knew it wasn't far from the truth. Calling on him this morning before she left, Mary found him dead to the world. But by the time he did get up she knew he'd wish he was.

  "So because of that, I'll be teaching you all today." Reaching for a book, Mary continued. "If you'd like to turn to page…"

  Hearing a commotion at the back of the room, Mary looked up and found Tom and his brother coming in. "Come in, Tom, Henry, take your seats. It's so good to see you…"

  "Miss Samuels."

  Looking in the direction of the new voice, Mary found Tom's father enter the school house.

  "Mr. Winston, it's great to see the boy's back-"

  Looking around the room, he asked, "Where's Robert?"

  "Sorry?"

 
; "Mr. Hagan, where is he? I wanted a word with him."

  Guiding her guest to the back of the room, Mary tried her best to appease him. "He's come down with a stomach bug or something, why what's up?" Mary asked, as his searched passed her once more.

  "So, he's not here."

  "No."

  Pushing her aside, he called for his two son's. "Tom, Henry, get your things we're going-"

  "What?"

  "You heard me, we're going. I'm not leaving you in the care of my two sons, filling their heads with nonsense. Other people might be happy with it, but I'm not."

  Lost for words, Mary watched both boys fall into step behind their father and head to the door. "But wait, Mr. Winston, if you'd just let me-"

  "The boys won't be back until Roberts here, you hear me?" Winston pointed and walked away.

  Trying her best to control the situation, Mary remembered what Robert had said and tried to put him at ease. Following him to the cart outside, she added. "Now, Mr. Winston, I know you and I got off on the wrong foot, but I'm sure that we could…"

  Telling the two boys to run on ahead he turned and spat. "Listen lady, just shut your stupid mouth. I told you before and I'll tell you again, I'll not have you put nonsense in my child's head. Robert knows the way I like my boys taught."

  Hearing the words come out, Mary surprised herself with her response. "Why, because he pays you?"

  Winston snarled. "What was that?"

  "I know, he's being paying you to teach his kids. What kind of man does that? Well, I'll tell you what, maybe that's what you're afraid of. Once they've got a little knowledge in their heads they'll leave you far behind them. Is that what you're afraid of?" Mary said and instantly regretted what she'd said. Watching the man come up close to her, he froze with a hand held high. Lowering it, he took a step closer and whispered.

  "You'll pay for that."

  Mary felt her heart pound in her chest and wondered if he could hear it too. Taking a step back toward the school house, she heard him threaten her once more.

  "You better watch your back."

  Not listening to anything more, Mary ran for the safety of the schoolhouse and locked the door behind her. Going to a nearby window she watched with relief as the man got in his cart and drove off with his son's.

  "Something wrong, Miss?"

  Mary jumped on hearing the voice. Turning around she found Clara standing behind her. "What?"

  "You and Mr. Winston, you were shouting at each other-"

  "What? You thought that?" Mary asked, checking the window once more. Finding the coast clear, she ushered the child back to her seat. "No, we were having a little discussion. He and I just didn't agree on something that's all."

  "You're shaking, Miss," Clara asked, looking to her hand.

  "Am I?" Mary said, putting her hand away. "Must be the excitement of teaching you all on my own—yes, that's what it is. Now take your seat, Clara." Happy that she'd sorted the child's answer, Mary found the rest of the class looking at her. Wondering what to do and knowing she was in no fit state to teach, she grabbed the first idea that came to her mind.

  "How about we all have an easy day, seeing as Mr. Hagan's not here? I don't know about you, but I'd love to see your art work. Who here would like to do some painting?" Hearing a cheer, she nodded her head. "OK. And the best ones go on the wall."

  *****

  Waving the last child off, Mary turned her attention to locking the schoolhouse for the night. Finding her hands a lot steadier than earlier, she hummed to herself as she turned the key.

  "Hey!"

  Jumping at the noise, Mary spun and backed herself against the door. Holding her hands to her chest she fought to control her nerves. Seeing Robert at the bottom step she snapped at him. "What the hell do you think you were doing, creeping up on me like that?"

  Relaxing a little and seeing a confused look on his face, she tried to soften her tone. "I swear to God you scared the life out of me, Robert-"

  "You OK?"

  Mary shook her head. "It's nothing. I just a bit of a tough day."

  Robert bounded up the steps and took hold of her hand. "What was it, the kids? Just tell me who and I'll have a word-"

  "It wasn't the kids, it was Mr. Winston," Mary said and felt her eyes well up. Unable to get any further, she found him smother her in his arms. Holding her tightly, he stood back and looked her over.

  "Ah, come on. What happened?" Robert said and took the key from her hand. Opening the door once more, he gestured her to go inside. "I think you could do with a seat."

  Finding a place on a bench at the back of the class, Mary slid over and allowed Robert to sit beside her. Putting down the key, she watched him take hold of her hand and rub the back of it.

  "Tell me what happened?"

  Mary took a deep breath before beginning. Not sure how far she'd get before her tears would stop her, she recounted the story as quick as she could. Getting to the end, she shook once more at the treat Winston had made at her.

  "Son of a bitch," Robert swore, before apologizing. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

  Mary shook her head. "It's OK."

  "He threatened you," Robert said, getting to his feet.

  "Yes, but maybe it was my fault as much as his," Mary said. Afraid of the anger that shone in Robert's eyes, she grabbed hold of the sleeve of his coat. "Don't do anything, Robert, please. I shouldn't have lost my temper and said what I did. I know that now. Bringing that thing up about you and him-"

  "I don't care, he's not going to get away with it," Robert said and tried to break free. "I won't have him talk to you like that-"

  Seeing she was losing her grip, Mary got to her feet. Standing between him and the door, she put her hands on his chest. "Robert please, don't. I don't want to see you get hurt. It's nothing, forget about it-"

  Robert shook his head and tried to get by. "I'm sorry, but I'll not have him act like that around my school."

  Seeing that she was losing the fight, Mary knew she had to change her tactics. Surprising herself by what she did next, she gripped her hands behind his head and kissed him long and hard. Wondering how he would react to this, Mary found his mouth surrender to hers and join her. Closing her eyes and dreading what she'd see on his face, Mary pulled away and looked to the floor.

  "I'm sorry, it was all I could think of doing."

  Hearing nothing for a moment and dreading the silence in the room, she found Robert take hold of her chin and tilt her head upwards. Now looking him the eye, Mary found her face blush.

  "I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do. I was afraid that something would happen to you and I—I'm sorry, but I wasn't going to let another man get hurt because of me and that's-"

  Not given a chance to say anything more, Mary found herself silenced with a long and lingering kiss. Trying to come up with an excuse not to keep going, she found none and let him take her. Losing herself in the moment and feeling like she never wanted it to end, she found herself disappointed as he pulled away.

  "What was that you said?"

  Mary shook her head, trying to remember her thoughts before the kiss and found her mind totally blank. "You know I can't remember."

  "You know I've fallen for you, and I don't expect you to…" Robert said, tucking a piece of loose hair behind her ear and touching the side of her face.

  Mary held his hand in place and liked the feeling of it being there. "Let's just take it slowly…"

  "OK," Robert said and kissed her softly once more.

  "And Mr. Winston?"

  "I'll get the sheriff to have a word with him," Robert said and smiled. "I also didn't get a chance to apologize about last night."

  "You mean slapping the bald guy?" Mary said and laughed at the horrified look on his face.

  "What bald guy?"

  "Or insulting his wife?"

  "Oh sweet Jesus, what else did I get up to?"

  Leaning in close Mary pecked him on the cheek and linked her arm in his. Leading h
im to the door, she chuckled. "Let's just say I think last night's staff outing is going to the first and last we've ever going to have."

  Chapter 10

  Robert closed the door. Walking past both her and his aunt, Mary wondered what had gone on at the door.

  "Well, what happened? What did the Sheriff say, did he have a word with Mr. Winston?"

  Seeing Robert with a confused look on his face, Mary heard him mumble to himself. "I can't believe it?"

  "Can't believe what?" Sarah asked. "Come on, stop leaving us in the dark, what happened?"

  Now present in the room, Robert looked at the pair of them. "You know the fire?" Mary nodded. "Well, he did it?"

  "George?" Sarah asked.

  "I hadn't thought of it at the time, I assumed it was one of the kids pulling a prank that went wrong…" Robert shook his head. "I never thought about the argument he and I had the day before. I mean, why would I? But setting fire to the school, it beggars belief."

  "Did he admit it?" Mary asked.

  Robert shook his head. "It was Tom. He said he was afraid that his father would burn the school down again after seeing him argue with you. He came clean on the whole thing. How his father had broken the small window and made him squeeze inside. I think the poor child was worried about you.—What would make a man do something like that-"

  "He's mentally unstable, that's what he is," Sarah added and blessed herself. "And them two boys, it's not worth thinking about…"

  Robert got back to his feet. "George is in custody at the moment, I'll have to go down there—the two boys have no one to take care of them and the sheriff asked-"

  "Bring them boys here," Sarah said, lifting her knitting off her lap and putting it aside. Getting to her feet, she pointed to the other side of the house. "We've got a spare room out back. They could bunk in for a few days until we get this thing sorted."

  Robert nodded. "Thanks." Turning to Mary, he said, "I'll be back as quick as I-"

  "You're not going on your own," Mary interrupted. "Remember, I teach there too, I want to help them."

  "Alright, but we better hurry, I don't want them boys hanging around the sheriff's office any longer than they have to," Robert said and went back to the front door. Joining him at the door and getting her own coat, Mary found him thank her.