The boy didn’t respond. He never did. Instead, he just frowned even harder and lifted a bright red feather that obviously belonged to the bird’s tail. The sight melted Quinn’s heart and it was all he could do to remain firm, when he wanted nothing more than to hug the boy close. “Thank you for picking that up for your sister, but you must not do that again. Do you understand?”
He waited for Trent to nod before wiping the dirt from the boy’s face and combing the mussed blond hair into place. “That’s good because you scared me. I thought I’d lost you. Hold on to my hand and don’t let go. We need to cross the street. Are you ready?”
With Trent dutifully clutching his hand and Olivia on his hip, Quinn made it across the street into the blacksmith’s shop. Rhett Granger glanced up from whatever he was pounding on at the iron. “Be right with you, Quinn.”
Quinn put Olivia on the counter and set Trent beside her, caging them in with his arms and body. Olivia was too busy playing with her ill-gotten gains to care, but Trent immediately started wriggling. “Hold still, son. This will only take a minute.”
Rhett tucked his work gloves in the pocket of the leather apron he was wearing. He approached the counter with smiles for the children, who completely ignored him. “How can I help y’all?”
“Rhett, you’re one of the most trustworthy men I know and a real good friend.”
His friend’s amber eyes lit with surprise. “Thanks, Quinn. I could say the same about you, but you didn’t just come in here to shower me with praise, did you? Not that I mind if you did...”
“No, and I don’t have the time or the patience to beat around the bush, so I’m going to come out with it.” Quinn reluctantly allowed Trent to slide to the floor since the boy was trying to climb down his body, anyway.
“That’s always a good policy.”
Quinn looked around to make sure they were alone then leaned forward. He kept his voice low. “I have the Bachelor List.”
“You have it?”
“Yeah, and I’m willing to give it you if you will just read it to me.”
Rhett stiffened. “I’ve already been told who my match is. Since that woman ran away with someone else last night, I’m not particularly interested in the list.”
“Amy? Your match was Amy? I didn’t know. You didn’t tell me. I mean, I knew you were sweet on her, but...” Quinn shook his head, searching his friend’s face to see how hard the news of Amy’s elopement had hit him. “I’m real sorry. How are you holding up?”
Rhett shrugged. “I don’t know. To tell the truth, I didn’t know her that well since our conversations mostly consisted of me tripping over my tongue like an idiot while she looked at me in confusion. Other than that, all we ever exchanged were a few looks and smiles. I guess my heart might not have been quite as involved as I thought it was.”
“But you’re disappointed.”
“Yeah.” Rhett sighed. “I’d hoped she was the one—especially since we were paired on that list.”
“Well, this might not be much of a comfort, but I’m sure there’s someone else out there. Perhaps someone you’ll be able to talk to without being nervous around.”
Rhett lifted a skeptical eyebrow. “I’m not sure how likely that is since my brain seems to abandon me anytime a relationship turns romantic. I’ll tell you one thing, though. If there is another woman out there for me, I won’t find her with the Bachelor List. You’d be wise to give it back to Ellie and find a woman on your own.”
Quinn grimaced. “I hate to point this out, but Ellie has gotten every other match she’s ever made right, so I’ll take the chance. Please read it to me.”
“Rub that in harder, why don’t you?” Rhett narrowed his eyes and leaned against the counter. “If you’re so interested, why don’t you just read it yourself?”
“I would if I could.” He stared Rhett in the eye and waited for confusion to turn to enlightenment then pity. The pity never came—only compassion—which was almost as bad, except it didn’t leave quite as awful a taste in Quinn’s mouth.
“I’ll read it for you. Have you got it on you?”
“Yeah.” Quinn laid the list on the counter between them and pointed to the only word he recognized. “My name is right there. I know that much, but whose is next to it?”
Rhett glanced down at the spot Quinn indicated before folding up the list and handing it back as if he couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. “Ellie put you with Helen McKenna.”
The words reached his brain then fell flat as the pancakes he’d tried to make that morning. “Come again?”
“The schoolmarm. Helen McKenna.”
“That isn’t funny.” Quinn tried to give the list to Rhett again. “Read it right.”
Rhett held his hands up and refused to take it. “I’m telling you, Quinn, it says Helen McKenna. I wouldn’t joke about this.”
Quinn closed his eyes and lowered his head in defeat as the hope that had flared in him burned out like a faulty matchstick. What had Ellie been thinking? Helen McKenna was far too good for him. She’d been nice to him—friendly, even—but she’d never consider him as a marriage prospect. He had nothing to offer a woman like her.
A tiny forehead braced against his. He opened his eyes to see Olivia blinking up at him from inches away, her big eyes nearly crossing in the effort. He kissed her tiny nose then straightened to his full height. He may not be Helen’s first choice in a man. However, judging by the way Reece and Clara talked about her nonstop, she’d probably be the children’s first choice in a mother. That was enough for him. “She might not love me, but I dare her not to fall in love with my kids. She’ll marry me, if only because of that.”
Rhett looked dubious. “Are you sure that’s best for them? For you to marry a woman you don’t love?”
“A mother is what’s best for them. She’ll be a good one. Ellie must have thought the same thing. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have matched us up.” He put the paper back into his pocket. “I’ll need this as proof. I promise I’ll give it back to you as soon as possible.”
“Don’t bother. I have no use for it. Besides, I’ve had enough woman trouble to last me a good while.” Rhett gave him a nod of silent encouragement. “I’ll be praying for you, man.”
“Thanks. I’ll need it.” He scooped Olivia back onto his hip, reached down for Trent’s hand...and came up empty. He pulled in a deep breath. “Trent!”
A head poked out from beneath a bench in the waiting room. Quinn strode over and held out his hand. “We just talked about this, son. You are not allowed to crawl under anything that puts you out of sight without letting me know first. That includes benches.”
Quinn opened the door with his shoulder then stood outside trying to figure out what to do next. He should probably get the haircut and shave that Helen seemed so particular about. He’d need to find someone to watch the children for an hour or so to get that done. Maybe the doctor’s wife? He hated to impose on her again so soon, but she had said she’d be happy to help if he needed someone to watch the children again.
He frowned as he rubbed a hand over his thick beard. He could hardly expect a schoolmarm to accept the proposal of an illiterate man who reminded her of a bear. While he couldn’t do anything for his lack of book learning, he could get rid of some of his wildness.
He shook his head. Helen McKenna. He might as well be reaching for the moon. He might not deserve her, but his children did and that’s exactly who they were going to get.
* * *
Mr. Etheridge reminded Helen of a thundercloud with his snapping gray eyes, prematurely silver hair and commanding voice that filled the schoolhouse with a confidence that dared anyone to disagree with him. “Miss McKenna, you have demonstrated a concerning inability to maintain proper discipline during school hours. The school board overlooked the troubling pranks that took place
at the beginning of the school term, but now our students are brawling in the schoolyard.”
A frown etched across the face of Mr. Johansen, whose youngest son was in the fifth grade. “I heard there has been fighting.”
Mr. Etheridge’s pacing steps in front of her desk seemed intended to slowly, deliberately sever any connection between her and the two other members of the school board. “My son, Jake, finds himself in constant need to defend himself from the aggressions of his fellow student Reece Tucker, who is treated with blatant partiality. While my Jake was sent home from school on Friday with a black eye and bloody nose, Reece was allowed to stay at school for the remainder of the day.”
Nathan Rutledge’s gaze locked on Helen’s. The final member of the three-person school board was Ellie’s brother-in-law and the father of a little boy in the same class as Reece Tucker. “Is it true that you only sent Jake Etheridge home, Miss McKenna?”
Helen forced herself to adopt a more pleasant look as she straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Yes, but—”
“You see?” Mr. Etheridge turned to face the other members. “I think it is quite obvious that Miss McKenna lets favoritism get in the way of good discipline. Despite her high recommendations, her inexperience is detrimental to the welfare of our students.”
The indignant flush rising in her cheeks from Mr. Etheridge’s interruptions and the urge to defend herself faded into confusion. “High recommendations?”
Mr. Johansen nodded, though he didn’t take his gaze from Mr. Etheridge. “He means the letter from the governor.”
Her hands tightened into fists. “The governor recommended me for this position?”
“Yes,” Nathan agreed. “It was the deciding factor that led us to choose you over the local candidate—Mr. Etheridge’s daughter.”
Everything suddenly became clear. No wonder she’d been placed at a school so quickly after taking the teaching exam despite having no former experience. She’d thought it was a sign from God that she’d made the right decision in giving up on the impossible to focus on the attainable. Instead, it was simply a sign that her loving, overprotective parents had asked a favor from the governor, who had been a friend of the family for years.
“My daughter was unable to find another position and would be willing to replace Miss McKenna should the need arise.”
She stared at Mr. Etheridge, finally able to understand the reason for his attitude toward her. No doubt he saw her as the interloping city girl who’d stolen the position that rightfully belonged to his daughter. Maybe that’s exactly who she was. Maybe she’d stolen some other girl’s dream. She had no right to do that just because she wasn’t woman enough achieve her own. She shook the thoughts away and forced herself to focus on the situation at hand. Nathan Rutledge was watching her with concern. “Is there anything you would like to say in your defense, Miss McKenna?”
She swallowed and tried to remember the charges Mr. Etheridge had laid against her. “I think any teacher would have been subjected to the same pranks I was at the beginning of the semester. They were harmless and I put an end to them as soon as I could. I can’t deny that Reece and Jake have been fighting. Jake seems to have a bit of an unrequited crush on Reece’s sister Clara and often teases her to the point where Reece feels compelled to defend her.”
“That isn’t true.” Mr. Etheridge interjected.
“I’m afraid it is, Mr. Etheridge.” Turning back to the other members of the school board, she continued, “I didn’t send Reece home on Friday because I thought he lived too far out of town to walk home alone in his condition. If that’s showing favoritism and poor discipline, then I suppose I’m guilty.”
Mr. Johansen gave a weary sigh. “Will you please step outside so that the board may talk privately?”
She nodded and stepped down from the platform. The rustle of her skirts was the only sound that filled the room until she stepped outside and closed the double doors behind her. Only then did she hear the muffled sound of men’s voice rise inside. She stared at the schoolhouse door. That had not gone at all the way she’d planned. She’d practically given up. What was wrong with her?
“Miss McKenna?”
Startled, she spun toward the deep voice. A steadying hand stilled her forward momentum in time to keep her from tumbling down the schoolhouse steps. Words of gratefulness stalled on her lips as she glanced up to the stranger who’d lunged up the stairs to catch her. Her gaze slid from the chiseled angles of his jaw to the thick golden-brown curls of his close-cropped hair before settling on his vibrant blue eyes. Everything else went blurry as a strange weakness filled her knees. He steadied her once more. She shook her head, blinked and refocused. “Mr. Tucker?”
He didn’t release his hold on her arm but stepped closer, his brow lowered in concern. “I’m real sorry, Miss McKenna. I sure didn’t mean to scare you like that. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”
“I’m fine.” She eased back slightly as she allowed her gaze to trace his features again. “You look...nice.”
A sheepish grin flashed across his lips, carving a shallow set of dimples into his cheeks. “Thank you. My own kin didn’t recognize me when they saw me like this, so I reckon you were right and I was overdue for a shave and a haircut. I picked up some new duds, too, but that isn’t important right now. What’s going on in there?”
“In where?”
He pointed to the sign hanging from the doorknob that read Private Meeting. “In the schoolhouse.”
Land sakes! How could she have forgotten about that? A sinking sensation filled her stomach so she sank along with it to sit on the top step. She rested her chin in her hand with a heavy sigh. “It’s possible that I might be getting fired.”
“Fired?” Quinn frowned at the door then sat one step below her. “Why would they want to fire you?”
“Apparently there are several reasons.”
“But you’re a great teacher.”
She gave a short laugh. “You still say that after your nephew went home with a black eye last week?”
His eyes narrowed. “Is that what this is about? I’ll go tell them it wasn’t your fault.”
He moved to stand but she placed a stilling hand on his shoulder then lowered her gaze to avoid his questioning look. “No. Don’t. Perhaps it’s for the best.”
“The best?” He stared at her then shook his head. “Why? Don’t you want to teach?”
She shrugged as the vague feeling of discontent she’d been ignoring welled up inside of her. “I certainly enjoy it. However, to be honest, it isn’t really what I want to do.”
He frowned. “Then what do you want to do?”
I want to have a family with a husband and children of my own. She sighed and leaned back against the stair railing thinking about how foolish she’d been. Of course, teaching school wasn’t anything like having children of her own. She’d been reminded of that at the end of each day when the students all rushed out the door, leaving her behind.
“Helen?” Quinn’s use of her Christian name for the first time drew her full attention. “Do you mind if I call you that?”
Surprised, she offered a quizzical smile. “I suppose you might as well. Many of the other students’ parents do.”
“I need to talk to you. I know this probably isn’t the right time, but I can’t hold it in much longer.”
“This sounds serious.” She crossed her arms on top of her knees and nodded. “Go ahead and tell me. We may have a few moments before they call me back in.”
He sent a speculative look toward the door. “My eldest nephew and niece are always going on about you and I’ve noticed that you seem to care a whole lot about them, too. That’s true, isn’t it?”
“It certainly is.”
“Well, I’m doing my best for them but anyone can tell that isn’t good enough.
” He waved away her protests. “Now, that’s just the plain truth and you know it. The fact is that they need a mother.”
She stared at him, wondering where this conversation was going as he unfolded a piece of paper she hadn’t realized he was holding. He handed it to her. She didn’t bother to look at it. She couldn’t have if she’d tried for his gaze held hers captive with its intensity. “I prayed for a helpmeet and God sent me the Bachelor List. It says you’re my match. I was wondering if you’d be willing to marry me—for the children’s sake.”
Her gaze finally dropped to the paper unseeingly as she tried to make sense of what he’d just said. “Will you repeat that please?”
His hand covered hers. “You’re my match. My nieces and nephews need you. I need you. Will you please marry me?”
The schoolhouse door opened startling them both as Mr. Eldridge stepped outside. “We have reached a decision, Miss McKenna. Please, come in.”
Quinn helped her stand murmuring, “I’ll wait here.”
She gave him a brief nod then stepped inside. The grim faces of the school board members spelled out her not-so-surprising fate. She glanced down at the paper she held. Her attention caught on the sight of her name printed as clear as day next to the name of the man who was waiting for an answer to his proposal.
“Miss McKenna,” Mr. Etheridge began in a cadence that seemed unnaturally slow juxtaposed by her racing thoughts. “On behalf of the school board and the citizens of Peppin—”
Quinn was offering her exactly what she’d always wanted. Well, not exactly—but the closest she was likely to get to the marriage and children she longed for.
“—I would like to thank you for the kindness, energy and time you have devoted to the children of this community.”
Quinn hadn’t mentioned love in his proposal. Of course, she could hardly expect him to since they barely knew each other. Who was to say that it wouldn’t turn into love eventually? Her parents had an arranged marriage and they’d grown to love each other deeply.
The Texan's Inherited Family Page 3
