“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” Louisa called from the porch.
“Got some business out at the Jenkinses’ place.”
Wrinkling her nose, Louisa shuddered. “That awful place! Anthony, what possible business could you have out there?”
“Personal business.” He smiled to take the sting from his words.
Sparks shot from her eyes, and she jerked her chin. “I don’t think that place is very sanitary. And that awful child! She deserves a good spanking, if you ask me.”
Which he most certainly hadn’t. “I think learning about Jesus would do Laney a sight more good than a spanking.”
As if sensing his irritation, Louisa smiled invitingly. “We don’t have to talk about her, do we? Why don’t you come down from there and join me in a nice cup of tea?” she said. “Rosa made some delicious molasses cookies earlier.”
“I’m sorry, Louisa,” he replied, knowing she could hear the distraction in his voice. He glanced toward the direction Tarah had taken. “I really have to go. Maybe another time.”
“Oh, come now, just one little solitary cup of tea? I’ll be so hurt if you refuse me.”
Hesitating for only a moment at her pleading tone, Anthony shook his head. “I can’t today. I’m sorry.”
He held his breath as her face clouded over. All he needed was for Louisa to throw a temper tantrum in public. But her angry frown cleared so quickly, Anthony wondered if he’d imagined it.
Fingering the lace on her high-collared neckline, she gave him a pretty smile. “All right. I suppose I can wait until our picnic on Sunday to have you all to myself.”
Anthony groaned inwardly. He’d forgotten about the picnic he’d promised her. Knowing he couldn’t back out now, he simply nodded and tipped his hat.
“I’ll be seeing you, then.”
“Bye now.”
With a relieved sigh, Anthony left her behind and urged Dodger into a full gallop.
Chapter 8
Tarah, stop!”
The near panic in Anthony’s voice sent Tarah’s heart racing. She halted the team and spun around in her seat to wait for him to catch up. “What on earth is the matter?”
“Are you crazy?” he thundered, a deep frown creasing his brow.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“What were you thinking, driving out to the Jenkinses’ by yourself?”
Taken aback by his accusatory tone, Tarah’s temper flared. “I have things to deliver for the children. Besides, why shouldn’t I go out there alone?”
He slapped his hand against his thigh with a resounding smack. “The man’s a drunk and a ne’er-do-well, Tarah. You don’t know what he might be capable of doing.”
“Honestly.” Tarah dismissed his words with a wave of her hand, though she had to admit his concern thrilled her to the core. “You heard Laney say her pa sleeps the day away. He probably won’t wake up for a couple of hours yet.”
“You don’t know that for sure.”
“I do know if we sit here arguing all day, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll catch him awake.”
“Let’s go, then. If he wakes up, I can speak to him about our idea to help with repairs to the homestead.”
She cut her gaze upward and flashed a coquettish smile. “Why, Anthony, did you come all the way out here just to accompany me?” she asked in a singsong voice that would have put Louisa Thomas to shame.
His lips twitched, and one eyebrow shot upward. “I wasn’t exactly planning to sling you over my shoulder and force you back to town.”
Stung by his less-than-flattering response to her attempt at flirting, Tarah tossed her head. “I’d like to see you try,” she challenged. “Besides, you needn’t have bothered. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” he drawled. “But just in case, I think I’ll tag along.”
“Suit yourself.” She flapped the reins to nudge the horses forward.
Astride Dodger, Anthony stayed beside the wagon. Silence hung between them like a heavy fog.
Tarah felt like a fool for believing that just because Anthony worried about her safety, he was growing to care for her as a man cares for a woman. Louisa had set her cap for him, and obviously he had put up no resistance.
Still, in her mind, Tarah replayed the image she often conjured up these days—of Anthony realizing Louisa was not the woman for him. Of his declaring what a fool he’d been and begging Tarah to forgive him and be his wife.
Anthony’s voice broke through. “What’s in the box?”
Pulled from her dreams of a white gown made of silk and lace, Tarah jumped at the intrusion. “Pardon me?”
“The box? What are you delivering to Laney and Ben?”
“Oh. Some clothes I picked up at Tucker’s.”
“I thought we were going to ask for donations.”
The memory of Laney’s humiliation came rushing back, and Tarah spoke with conviction. “We were. But I didn’t want Laney to wear the other children’s cast-off clothing. I seriously doubt she would anyway.”
“Sounds like you are encouraging her to be prideful,” Anthony admonished.
Tarah frowned. “I don’t mean to, Anthony. But Laney showed up at school today, and the children were horrible to her.”
“Not Jo,” he said with a groan.
She nodded. “Among others.”
“I’m going to have to wear the tar out of that girl. She promised no more shenanigans.”
“In this case, it wasn’t only Jo. Laney is rather…offensive in some ways.”
“So I’ve noticed,” he said wryly.
Tarah rose to the girl’s defense. “It isn’t her fault. She’s been raised without a mother to teach her how to bathe and dress. We can’t expect her to come by such things naturally with the pa she’s got.”
“You’re right of course.” He grinned. “I hope you got plenty of lye soap to go along with that washtub.”
A gasp escaped her lips. “Honestly, Anthony, I forgot all about soap.”
Anthony chuckled. “Plain water’s not going to do much to cut through all that dirt.”
Though tempted to turn the wagon toward home and beg soap from Ma, Tarah put the thought from her mind. Doing so would take another half hour at least, and she didn’t want to take a chance on Mr. Jenkins waking before she returned.
“Well, there’s nothing to be done about that now. Maybe we can get the first couple of layers off, anyway.”
The sound of Anthony’s laughter filled the air with a pleasant ring. “Tarah, you’re some fine woman. That girl is blessed to have found you.”
Her heart soared at the compliment. “I can’t help but believe God brought Laney into my life. I was feeling like such a failure as a teacher and just about ready to give up,” she confided. “Then, from nowhere, Laney appeared at the river, so obviously in need of love and care. I just knew she was a child I could help.”
“God has a way of lifting us from our own problems by showing us how much greater need exists in the world.”
The homestead loomed before them, the squalor once again causing Tarah to cringe. Laney stood outside, along with an equally dirty boy who could only be Ben.
“Howdy, Tarah.” Laney waved her hand wildly.
Tarah waved back and smiled. “Hello!” She slowed the horses to a stop and wrapped the reins around the brake. Anthony dismounted Dodger and hurried to the wagon.
She accepted his proffered hand, thrilling at the warmth of his touch as their fingers met. Pulled into the depth of his gaze, Tarah climbed down, unable to breathe.
Rather than dropping her hand immediately as propriety demanded, Anthony tightened his grip, causing her pulse to quicken. Oh, how she wished he would draw her into the strength of his arms! As if reading her thoughts, he took a step closer.
Laney’s voice brought Tarah to her senses. “You make yer girl stay home this time, Preacher?”
Tarah snatched her hand away
and quickly averted her gaze. Idiot! she chided herself. It’s Louisa, not you, Anthony wants.
“I told you, she’s not my girl,” Anthony insisted.
Laney smirked. “She’ll get her claws in you—’lessen you get smart and send her packin’.”
Tarah couldn’t disagree with Laney’s assessment, but from Anthony’s pleading gaze, she knew he expected her to bail him out of the embarrassing predicament. “Laney,” she said firmly, “that’s Reverend Greene’s business. Why don’t you introduce me to the handsome young man with you?”
An impish grin split Laney’s face. “Don’t see no han’some young man ‘round here.” She elbowed the suddenly red-faced boy. “Ain’t nobody but my brother, Ben, near as I can tell.”
“Aw, hush up, Laney,” Ben said, keeping his eyes on his dirty bare feet.
Boots! Tarah groaned inwardly. These children were both barefoot. Why hadn’t she thought of buying boots while Mr. Tucker was being so generous?
Stepping forward, she extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ben. I’m Miss St. John. The schoolteacher.”
Tarah hadn’t planned to bring up the subject of Ben attending school until she had convinced Laney to come back. But the eager light in his eyes spurred her to do just that. “I’d love to see you in school. I have a brother I’ll bet is just about your age. Are you twelve?”
“Fourteen.”
So he, too, was small for his age.
“Luke will be thirteen soon. That’s pretty close to your age. So you see? You already have something in common.”
A loud snort from Laney drew Tarah’s attention from Ben. “I ain’t goin’ back to that school, Tarah. And neither is Ben.”
“You don’t tell me where I am or ain’t goin’, Laney,” Ben said hotly. “Iffen I want to go to school, I’m goin’.”
“Then yer about as dumb as Pa says. I tol’ ya what them kids said to me. All pluggin’ up their noses and sayin’ how I was dirty and all.”
“They was right. Ya are dirty, and I don’t blame ‘em for pluggin’ up their noses. Ya stink!”
“I ain’t takin’ none of yer insults.” Laney flew at Ben, the force of her weight knocking him off his already unstable feet. She landed atop him. Fists flying, she made little or no contact before his arms came around her, pinning her arms to her sides. “If you don’t settle down, I’m gonna have to tie you up.”
Tarah looked helplessly at Anthony. He gaped at the pair, disbelief plastered across his face.
“Honestly, Anthony. Do something.”
“Sorry,” he muttered. “I just can’t believe…” He shook his head and stepped forward. Grabbing Laney around the waist, he pulled her off Ben.
“Let go of me!” she hollered, twisting and kicking.
Anthony set her on the ground, keeping a firm hold on her arms. “Simmer down.”
Raring back, Laney gave him a sound kick in the shin.
“Ow!” Anthony growled. “Why, you little—”
“No one tells me what to do. ‘Specially not no preacher.”
“Good grief.” Tarah shook her head at the spectacle. How in the world had the situation gotten so out of hand? “Laney, would you like to know why I’m here?”
Sudden interest flickered in her eyes, then her face clouded over. “I figure yer here to try and get my pa to make me go to school. But it won’t do no good,” she said, setting her jaw stubbornly. “I don’t go where I ain’t wanted. ‘Sides, ain’t seen Pa ‘round here since yesterday. We figure he probably got locked up again.”
Tarah caught Anthony’s gaze, noting his look of bewilderment, which in all likelihood matched her own.
“You’ve been all alone since yesterday?” she asked incredulously, thinking of her own small brothers and sisters. “What have you eaten?”
“Aw, Tarah,” Laney said, kicking at the ground. “Don’t go worryin’ about us. Me and Ben can take care of ourselves.”
“Now that sounds familiar,” Anthony said, the corners of his lips curving into a wry grin.
Tarah felt herself blush. “I’m not exactly a child.” She turned her attention back to Laney and Ben. “I’m sure you’re very self-reliant—”
“We ain’t neither!”
“Hush up, Laney,” Ben commanded. “The teacher means we can take care of ourselves.”
“Well, ain’t that what I just said?”
“Honestly.” How would she ever get these children to accept help? Their fierce pride radiated through dirty faces and showed strongly in the stance of their thin bodies.
Helpless fury swept through her, and she had a strong urge to snatch up the pair and take them home with her—kicking and screaming if need be.
Anthony’s grip on her elbow brought her to her senses, and she drew a long, slow breath to steady her raging emotions.
“You can’t stay alone out here with no food.” She waited for the outrage, but mercifully, it didn’t come. The children stared at her curiously, as though awaiting the alternative. “So I wondered if you would mind coming home with me—just until your pa comes back.”
“Pa’ll whale the daylights out of us iffen we ain’t here when he gets back,” Laney piped up.
“We’ll convince your pa that we insisted.”
Hope shone in both pairs of eyes. Then Ben’s face slowly clouded over with disappointment. “We cain’t go, Teacher.”
“Why not?”
“Yer folks ain’t gonna want us sleepin’ on their clean beds and eatin’ at their table.”
Laney cut her gaze to her brother. “Maybe we could sleep in the barn like we did that time Missus Avery tried to help out.”
Crossing her arms across her chest, Tarah looked firmly from one child to the other. “You’re not sleeping in the barn, and you’re not staying here.”
“There is the matter of cleanliness, Tarah.” Anthony motioned toward the wagon with his head. “Might be awkward for them bathing at your house with all your brothers and sisters there.”
Tarah smiled up at him, warmed by his sensitivity to the children’s feelings. Of course the children needed to bathe first. There was no need to give Luke any more ammunition—just in case his good behavior today was a one-time reprieve.
“Hey, who says we’re gonna take baths anyways? ‘Sides, I done told you, Tarah, Pa kicked a hole in the washtub.”
Reaching into the back of the wagon, Anthony produced the new washtub. “Here you go.” His eyes twinkled at the expressions of dread on the two faces. “And there are new clothes for each of you where that came from.”
Laney’s mouth dropped open. “We got new clothes?”
“Yes,” Tarah said with a smile. “Now you can come to school without worrying about the other kids making fun of you.”
Suddenly Laney’s face grew stormy. “Me and Ben don’t need yer charity,” she spat. “What we got on is just fine. Ya can take them clothes back to the folks they came from and tell ‘em we said we don’t want ‘em.”
Oh Lord, thank You for instructing me to buy new clothing for these children.
“I can’t take them back, Laney. They came from Tucker’s.”
“You got us new clothes?” Ben asked, a hesitant smile peeking around the edges of his mouth. “Really new?”
Tarah nodded. “I guessed at your sizes, so I hope they fit.”
“Why’d ya go and do that, Tarah?” Laney asked.
“Because I don’t want children to make fun of you. Because I want to see you come to school and learn.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Because I want you to have a chance to grow up and have a better life.”
“Pity!” Laney spat.
“Love, Laney honey,” Anthony said softly. “Not pity.”
Tarah’s breath caught in her throat at the sound of his voice. He, too, seemed choked up, and Tarah thought she might die of love for him right then and there. If the children weren’t right under their noses, she would have thrown herself into his arms and begged him to love her back.
She turned back to Laney. All the thunder was gone from the child’s face.
“Well…”
“It’s okay, Laney,” Ben said, placing a gentle hand upon his little sister’s arm. “Let’s just take it. This ain’t like other folks. I can tell the teacher ain’t tryin’ to make us feel bad. She just wants to help.”
“We don’t need her help,” Laney mumbled, eyeing the crate Anthony held in his arms.
Ben gazed sadly into her eyes. “Yes, we do. Them britches yer wearin’ are gonna come apart ‘fore long, and then you’ll be nekkid. And this shirt I’m wearin’ only gots two buttons.”
Folding her scrawny arms across her chest, Laney set her jaw stubbornly. “I don’t want ‘em if I gotta take a bath.”
Tarah’s lips twitched. The girl was softening. She looked to Ben, hoping he would keep talking sense into Laney.
A worried frown creased his brow. “Do we gotta take a bath to get the new clothes?”
Swallowing hard, Tarah shook her head. “The new things belong to you, Ben. I won’t dictate what you have to do in order to have them.”
“Good.” Laney gave a curt nod. “Reckon that settles things, then.”
Tarah’s heart sank to her toes.
“Wait, Laney.” Ben’s hesitant voice made Tarah’s dashed hopes rise. “We gotta take a bath.”
“What fer? Didn’t you hear what Tarah just said? You was right. She ain’t like them other folks.”
The children continued their discourse as though Anthony and Tarah weren’t present. Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth, Tarah caught Anthony’s gaze. He winked and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Ain’t nobody makin’ me take a bath iffen I don’t want one,” Laney declared hotly, her fiery temper once more blazing.
“It ain’t right to smell up them new clothes. ‘Sides, we cain’t go to Tarah’s house like this.” Ben glanced at Tarah, then back to Laney. “I know she’s nicer than most folks, but that don’t mean her ma and pa want us sleepin’ in their clean beds.”
“Aw, I’d rather sleep in the barn.”
Ben grinned and nudged her with his elbow. “Come on. Betcha can’t get all that dirt off anyhow.”
“Bet I can!”
Brides of Kansas Page 26
