by Caroline Lee
He chuckled and stretched out to cross his booted legs at the ankle, his arm behind her. “That one came from Hart’s ranch. He and his grandfather breed and sell horses, and they’re known for their strength and stamina. The horses, I mean, not Hart and his grandfather. Although I don’t know anything about their strength…”
Abigail giggled a bit, and it made him smile to hear it.
“Anyhow, this one is tame, but still feisty. She’s been known to bite, but”—he hurried to add when Abigail sat forward once more—“Maggie is patting her well away from her face, and with the saddle on, she’s expecting human interaction.” He wrapped his arm around Abigail’s shoulders. “She’ll be safe.”
Abigail watched a moment more, then sighed. “I trust you, I do. I just worry.”
“I know, and that’s how it should be. But now that we’re married, you can share your worry with me.”
She turned to face him so fast, her brown hair fanned across her forehead. She stared at him with wide eyes, allowing him to see the remarkable shading from dark to light, until he began to feel uncomfortable.
“What?”
“I just…” she began, then hesitated and released a gasp of breath, before continuing, “I didn’t expect to share worries for my children with anyone once I’d left the orphanage.”
He shrugged, still feeling uncomfortable, but for a different reason. “Well, I want to help. I mean…” He cleared his throat. “I can—” Shoot. How to change the subject? “I just know horses, alright?” he mumbled. “I’ve been riding them since I was Maggie’s age.”
She relaxed slowly, but didn’t turn away from him. “Yes, you said so in your letters. But you can’t anymore, because of…”
Instead of saying the words, she pressed her hand to his chest, right above the site of the worst of his scarring. It’d been two nights now, and she hadn’t flinched or shied away from his scar, and he appreciated that. But the fact she was willing to acknowledge it in the light of day meant a lot to him. It didn't define him, but the scar did represent something he’d overcome, and he was proud of that, and proud his wife recognized all it had taken.
“Yeah.” He took a deep breath and pressed his hand against hers, trapping it against his chest. “Yeah. That’s why I bought the livery, so I could still work with the horses, even if I couldn’t spend all day in the saddle.”
“It’s a nice place and obviously successful.” She dropped his gaze long enough to look around. “There’s so much space in here, more than you need almost.”
He shrugged again, and let her hand drop, but kept hold of it. “Maybe for now. I was hoping Joshua and I could build it up together, making it something really impressive. Black Aces needs what we can provide, and as long as Mr. King doesn’t give us anymore trouble, we should only get bigger really.”
“Joshua?” she said in an odd voice.
It took him a minute to realize she wasn’t asking about the boy—who was now showing his sister the various pieces of tack hung up on the far wall—but repeating what Matthias had said.
“Oh.” He cleared his throat and sat forward on his bale again, a little unsure. “Yeah, I had this idea that Joshua and I could— Well, I mean, it was before… I just thought it would be something we could share,” he finished weakly.
Now that he’d met Joshua, he suspected his dream of Blake and Son Livery wasn’t ever going to happen. Not because the boy didn’t like him, no. Matthias suspected there was a legitimate reason for that, and they’d work through it in time. But Joshua just wasn’t the sort of kid—and wouldn’t be the sort of man—who’d be happy in the saddle all day. Maybe Matthias was wrong, and Joshua would change as he got older, but for now, it looked as if he’d be the type to go to university and become a doctor or a lawyer or something fancy.
And Matthias would be proud of him when that happened. For now though, he needed to change the subject.
“Let’s head over to the school. We can bring the kids, but they seem happy here.”
Abigail, who’d been biting her lip while she looked at him with wide eyes, glanced at her children. She took a deep breath. “If you think they’ll be safe here alone, I trust you.”
He squeezed her hand. Somehow, hearing I trust you from her lips seemed like an important step in their marriage, although he didn’t fully understand why. Husbands and wives should trust each other, but Matthias was beginning to suspect she hadn’t had that with her first marriage.
“Let’s go then,” he said quietly. “I’ll enjoy spending time with you, and we can be back soon. Then I’ll go back to work and you and Josh—I mean, Joshua—can head back over to plan where you want your bookcases, or whatever teachers do.”
That got a very small smile out of her, and she took another deep breath as she stood. It felt…good. Like she still wasn’t sure about leaving the kids, but was taking a chance, for him. He vowed not to let her down, and smiled as he stood up too.
They took the time to tell the kids where they were going, and how soon they’d be back. He listed the things Maggie wasn’t allowed to touch, and reminded Joshua that Hezekiah was out back in case they needed anything. Then, head held high, Matthias led his wife out across town.
It felt good to stroll through Black Aces holding her hand. It was somehow more intimate than the last time they’d been out together right after their wedding. Then, they’d been stiff, almost strangers, touching only barely. Today, his fingers wrapped through hers, and he was glad she wasn’t wearing gloves. She was dressed in a pretty dark green dress, which made her look very schoolteacher-y, and he wanted to shout to everyone they passed, “This is the new teacher, Mrs. Blake!” He managed to contain his pride, knowing it would embarrass her, but that didn’t stop him from smiling broadly and strutting a little bit.
He’d overcome his injury, he’d started a new life for himself, and now he had a beautiful new wife and two lovely children. He was right to be proud!
The little schoolhouse sat by itself a little ways back from the road. There was an overgrown garden out front, and a pair of young apple trees completed the picture.
“This could be really lovely,” Abigail said as they walked along the path to the building’s little front porch. “It just needs some upkeep.”
He nodded eagerly. “You just tell me what you need me to dig up, or turn over, or whatever, and I’ll do it. Josh—Joshua could help me, I’m sure.” Why did he keep trying to shorten his stepson’s name?
“I’m sure he would.” She hummed speculatively. “The school itself needs a little work as well.”
He helped her up the creaky steps and opened the door for her. The porch had been rickety, but inside was worse. There were cobwebs in the corners, dust on every surface, and half the furniture was broken. Even more than that, it was clear the roof leaked and two of the window panes had broken.
Flushing, Matthias hurried ahead of her to test the floor, hoping he wasn’t about to go crashing through. Why hadn’t he thought to come here and check it out in the spring, back when he’d been writing to her? This place clearly needed some attention, and he should’ve warned her.
Stopping in the center of the room, he turned, his hands out from his side. Better get it over with. “I’m sorry.”
She was staring at the ceiling. “Hmm? Oh.” Her smile told him she wasn’t offended. “It’ll be alright, Matthias. Wiggie warned me that the towns out west were dens of savagery and ignorance.”
Was she…was she teasing him? He broke into a smile. “That’s why I married you, after all. To bring some civilization to this town.”
An expression of uncertainty flickered across her face, and he longed to take back his teasing words.
What had he said?
But before he could ask, she turned back to the room with a small sigh.
“It’s really nothing a little work won’t set right. Except for that hole.”
“I’ll go up on the roof before the next rain and do what I can,” he hurried
to assure her.
She nodded. “Thank you. I’m really rather disappointed it’s only one room though.”
What? Of all the things wrong with the building, that was what she was disappointed about? “Why?”
She moved around the classroom, pointing to various areas as she explained. “We found that students pay attention better if they’re grouped with their age-mates, or at least with their peers in whatever subject they’re studying. Some younger students read at higher levels, for instance. But with only one teacher—and Joshua, of course—and only one classroom, I suppose it would make the most sense to group the youngest students over here near this window—I hope we can get it fixed!—with the primer books. I’ll have the older students up near the board so they can copy notes.” She waved towards the back of the room. “And we’ll combine the other students in various groups back there. It won’t be ideal, but hopefully, most of them can focus well enough.”
Matthias was hesitant to ask, but plunged forward. “What would’ve been ideal, since you’re the only teacher?”
She shrugged, already bustling around the empty bookshelves along the far wall in between the windows. “Oh, two rooms at least. That would allow for four divisions, or classes if you will, clumped in various areas. The rooms would have to be connected, obviously, but I could teach one subject, while the other students were working on their daily assignments, then switch. The youngest ones need the most supervision, but I could put Joshua or someone else in charge of them.”
Her thoughtful tone trailed into silence as she poked in the various corners and muttered to herself. She didn’t sound angry, so he smiled to himself as he leaned his hip against a table and crossed his arms in front of his chest. Here his wife was in her element. She was clearly eager to start her own school, and he’d already heard about how she would welcome all students in the area, even adults if they wanted. In return, she’d be paid a bit by the parents of those students, and a bit by the town itself. Surely they’d be able to afford to spruce this place up a bit!
Almost ten minutes went by with her bustling around, straightening and categorizing and making plans, while he watched her and smiled. Finally, he straightened, knowing he had to be getting back to the livery.
“Shall we go back and get the kids? Now that you know where this place is, and I know it’s not going to fall down around your ears, you can bring them back here while I get back to work.”
Her head snapped up, and she blinked. “Oh! Oh yes, I guess I lost track of time. I need to come back with a notebook and start making lists…” She trailed off again as she looked around with a thoughtful frown.
He was chuckling when he held out his hand to her, and when she clasped it, that wonderful warmth spread throughout his whole body.
Yep, she was exactly where she belonged.
But that feeling of flying, the glorious feeling of having her beside him, came crashing down as they stepped out of the little school building. Because there, standing between the path and the road, right where they’d have to push past, was Augustus King.
He was a young man for the power he wielded, not even fifty yet, and had a full head of light hair. Today it was covered in a tall hat, his suit impeccably neat. No one really knew where he’d come from, although the general rumor was Chicago. It was obvious he was educated and refined, and enjoyed the finer things in life. The silver cane, completely ornamental, he swung today proved that. It probably would have cost a miner a month’s salary, or a day’s haul from the mines. The silver mines which, coincidentally, were included in the parcel of land King now owned.
Matthias swallowed down his dread and tightened his hold on Abigail’s hand. When the couple reached the road, and Mr. King, he gently pulled her to a stop.
“King,” he said with a nod, hoping it would come across as respectful. He couldn’t afford to irritate this man.
The older man, on the other hand, burst into a beaming smile. “Blake! I heard a rumor you were marrying, but no one told me it would be to such an angelic creature!” He took his hat off and offered his hand to Abigail. “Augustus King, honored to meet you.”
With only the slightest of hesitation, Abigail gave him her hand. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she murmured politely.
“All good things, of course!” King boomed, entirely too jolly.
Matthias had to take control again. “This is my wife, Abigail Blake. She’s come to Black Aces to be the new school teacher.”
“Yes, yes, I heard. How exciting. How enterprising!”
While King spoke, two of his—well, Matthias had started to think of them as King’s goons—drifted over to stand on either side of him. Matthias never bothered to learn their names, because they came and went, and often looked the same; the same hulking shoulders, same slack jaws, same hard eyes. They were men hired because they were big and scary, and King rarely left his ranch without at least a few of them in tow.
Today, it was clear they were here to menace.
King cleared his throat. “I’m wondering which of you will be paying the rent?” he asked innocently.
Ah.
There it was, the reason King had been acting so innocent and jovial. “What rent?” Matthias asked through clenched teeth, although he knew well and good what rent.
“Oh, you know.” King waved his cane airily and grinned at Abigail. “The schoolhouse sits on my land, you see. I am not a cruel man, but I cannot allow squatters, so I charge a modest—very modest!—rent from my tenants.”
Tenants. Matthias kept himself from scowling, and didn’t bother to point out that all of those tenants had lived and worked on the land King claimed well before King had showed up. His claim was nonsense, and the townspeople would ignore it, if it weren’t for King’s goons and their willingness to follow orders.
Sheriff McNelis had claimed none of the “accidents” which had befallen townsfolk who went against King could actually be tied to King, and maybe he was right. The accidents—lamed animals, destroyed shipments, burned buildings—might not have been done by King or by his orders, but they certainly were convenient.
Matthias was proud of the way Abigail was staring at King with a slightly bemused expression. It was as if she wasn’t quite sure what to make of the older man.
So he asked, “How much, King?”
The man’s smile was oily as he said, “A mere fifty dollars should cover it.”
Fifty dollars? Matthias could save that—he had saved that—but since he’d spent so much on his house and preparing it for Abigail and the children, he didn’t have that in the bank. It would take a while to save up that much again, now that he had three extra mouths to feed.
Abigail cleared her throat. “And is that the cost to move in?”
“Oh, goodness, no!” King was back to being falsely jovial. “That would be the rent through the end of the year. And I’ll need it within the week, to show you’re serious about teaching the impressionable young minds of our town. A mere fifty dollars; very reasonable, a drop in the bucket, you understand! But it’s necessary that I show I cannot be taken advantage of, you understand, dear lady?”
Abigail pursed her lips thoughtfully. No doubt she was wondering who could possibly “take advantage of” Augustus King, especially when he had those hulking brutes behind him. She inhaled sharply. “And if I chose not to pay rent, Mr. King? It’s my understanding this building belongs to the town.”
“Of course, dear lady.” King swept a bow, and when he straightened, he placed his hat back on his head. “But I own the town, so the rent is all nice and legal. I do hope you’re not considering refusing.” He glanced over his shoulder at one of his goons, then made a show of examining the school building behind them. “After all, the school looks so…flammable.”
Before Matthias could react to Abigail’s sharp inhalation, King nodded to them both. With a “Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Blake,” he swept away, his goons following.
It wasn’t until Abigail squeezed Matthi
as’s hand that he realized how angry she was. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do. Nothing he could do, that is, assuming he wanted to remain here in Black Aces.
Together, they turned to the little school house, dread seeping into his bones as he realized he’d failed Abigail already. The town’s recent history of unexplained fires and King’s not-quite-veiled threat were enough to make him quake.
Where was he going to get fifty dollars so quickly?
Chapter Eight
…The town itself is small, but well-appointed. Aside from a few apparent political squabbles, I believe that the children and myself should get along just fine. Everything is available, or can be sent for, and I am confident the winters will not be as scary as Catalina suggested. Do give her and the others my love.
Abigail had to put down her pen as a tide of homesickness swept over her with an intensity which made her want to cry.
The last week had been hard, harder still because she'd had those few wonderful days with Matthias to see how good things could have been between them. Since their meeting for lunch in the barn, where she'd heard his disappointment in her son, and the realization that, despite their best efforts, they wouldn't be able to open the school after all, things between her and her husband had become...strained. She’d felt herself reverting to the coping techniques she practiced with Cyrus: retreating into herself and saying as little as possible to him, in case she somehow upset him.
The problem was, she knew she was already upsetting him.
And that knowledge upset her even more and had made their life during the last week stressful and unpleasant. It was her fault and the realization didn’t help matters!
On the stove, the stew gave a little bubble, and that simple reminder of Katriona’s recipe made Abigail even more homesick. Dinner time at the orphanage… Back at the school, Leanna would be marshaling the younger girls into setting the table, Sally would be stomping around asking questions, and Rebecca would be humming happily to herself as she did whatever menial task was required.
