Grabbing the key to the schoolhouse, she marched next door and began to furiously make plans and preparations.
“Miss Chastain, are you okay?” Becky Kramer stared up at her teacher, concern in her small, freckled face. “How come you don’t have on a pretty dress like you wore last week?” Dismayed, she eyed Alexis’s jeans and T-shirt.
Oh, great, Alexis thought ruefully as she looked into those big, blue eyes. She was even managing to disappoint the youngest members of the community, though maybe not as much as she had disappointed Jace. She stiffened her resolve, refusing to think about him. He’d invaded her thoughts and dreams enough over the weekend. It was now Monday, the students were all ready to begin lessons, and she was ready to teach.
She bent down to give the small girl a hug. “We’re going to have a lesson on statistics today,” she said. “And in order to do that, we need to play baseball. And I can’t play in a dress.” Actually, she couldn’t play at all, but the kids would be learning that soon enough. She’d spent all day Sunday with a book of baseball tactics and statistics, so she was sure she could do this.
Billy Saunders frowned. “You mean we’re going to have a math lesson during the game?” He slumped down in his chair muttering, “That’ll be fun.”
“Give it a chance, Billy,” she answered. In spite of her annoyance with Jace, she had taken his advice and told Billy if it was all right with Martha Singleton, he could begin gathering information about building and stocking a snake enclosure. Although she was still nervous about having the creatures about, the project was sure to get Billy’s cooperation. The very mention of it had improved his behavior by focusing his energy.
Anticipation was high in the classroom that day because it was the first organized game she had allowed. Though they were limited to an abbreviated team, the kids loved to play. They patiently listened to her lesson on statistics and how they were used to determine a player’s standing. When she got out the equipment an hour before dismissal time, they were ecstatic. There was nearly a stampede as they headed outside to play.
It wasn’t long before everyone, even the youngest children realized that, in spite of her talk about the game, Miss Chastain didn’t know how to play.
“No, no, you’ve got to hold the glove like this if you’re going to be a catcher,” one of them groused, trying to show her how to angle the glove to catch the ball. She tried the technique she was shown, but still missed the next few pitches and had to waddle after them, wearing all the catcher’s equipment.
Who thought this game up, anyway? she wailed inwardly as she tried to scoop up the ball before the runner made it to base. She was so slow, even with all the kids yelling at her, that he made it all the way to home before she figured out where to throw the ball.
She learned quickly that the competitiveness of nine- and ten-year-old boys could be a scary thing. They were all annoyed with her since she was causing them to lose. Billy was the most disgusted because he was pitching.
“Hey, I’m doing my best,” she called back cheerfully, though she was sweating and gasping for air. She crouched behind home plate once again thinking that the only good thing to come from this game might be added toning to her thighs.
The next pitch went wild and she scrambled after it.
“Aw come on, Miss Chastain,” one of the other boys complained. “You have to hustle.”
“You try it,” she muttered. “Wearing all this equipment, catching and being umpire is tough….”
“Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing,” a deep voice responded.
She was brought up short by the sight of Jace standing at the edge of the backstop. She had been so involved in the game, she hadn’t even noticed that he had arrived.
She blinked at him through the face guard, feeling foolish. It was one thing to look silly in front of a bunch of kids. She certainly didn’t want to look that way in front of him, of all people.
In spite of the sweat rolling into her eyes through a powdering of dust, she gave him a cold look and said, “When I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you.”
He grinned at her unexpectedly snippy tone. “Why don’t you let me show you what to do?”
“No thanks, I’m doing fine without you.”
“Hey, Jace,” Billy said as he and the other kids abandoned their various posts and came running up. “Do you want to play? You can show her what to do.”
Jace looked at her and Alexis could feel her face flushing, and not from exertion. “If it’s okay with Miss Chastain,” he said, his dark eyes mocking.
“No thank you,” she repeated automatically. “This is strictly a school activity, not a community free-for-all.” She barely knew what she was saying, but she was furious at him for showing up now when she wasn’t at her most competent.
“Ah, come on, Miss Chastain,” the older boys wailed and the other kids chimed in.
“You really need his help,” Becky Kramer said solemnly. “You don’t know how to do this.”
“Out of the mouths of babes,” Jace whispered.
Alexis gave him a sour look. “All right,” she snapped. “You can play.”
Shouting with happiness, the kids all ran back to their positions.
Alexis began unstrapping the buckles that held the various pieces of equipment in place. She fumbled with them so much, that Jace crouched down before her to help.
“Why are you here?” she asked furiously, her green eyes snapping. “You rode off the other day as if you were being chased by the hounds of hell….” Alarmed, she glanced around. No one was within ear-shot. “Why are you here?”
In spite of her reluctance to have him there, she was aware of his big, strong hands brushing her legs as he expertly unfastened the buckles. She forced herself not to feel pleasure at his touch.
Jace looked up and smiled a smile tinged with self-deprecation. “I’m the school board chairman, remember? I’m supposed to keep an eye on what’s going on.”
“I don’t need you spying on me. I’m doing fine.”
“Except at baseball.”
She didn’t answer, only looked away toward the trees that edged the field.
“Besides,” he went on. “I owe you an apology.”
Chapter Nine
Alexis stared at him. “An apology?” she asked warily. She had spent two nights fretting about what he had said and she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to listen to an apology. Besides, to have him stride up as if everything was perfectly all right and act as if he intended to rescue her from her inept baseball catching was galling. She frowned and he raised his eyebrows at her.
“We both know I overreacted the other night,” he said.
“Well, I certainly know it,” she snapped. Hot, dusty and resentful, she wasn’t prepared to forgive him too easily. “Why did you react like that?”
He touched the back of his hand to his mouth then tilted his head with a self-deprecating look that was strictly masculine. Those midnight-dark eyes of his held a glint of humor. “I felt like a fool,” he said honestly. “And I’m not good at that.”
His candidness had her staring at him. He shrugged and she found her annoyance fading. To keep herself from forgiving him too easily, she crossed her arms and tilted her chin at him. “I’ve found that the more you do something, the better you become at it.”
He winced. “You’re speaking as a teacher?”
She shook her head. “As one who’s made a fool of herself in public places more than once.”
He winced. “And had people there to photograph it, right?”
“More times than you can imagine.” Was it possible that he was beginning to understand?
Maybe so. He gave her an empathetic look. “How about it? Am I forgiven?”
Before she could answer, Billy shouted, “Hey, Jace, are you gonna talk all day or can we play some baseball?”
Jace waved and shouted, “In a minute. I’m waiting for Miss Chastain to tell me something.”
; “Well, heck, what’s she telling you?” Billy threw his hands in the air and shared a look with his friends who gave disgusted smirks as only adolescent boys can do. “The times tables up to twelve? Backwards? In…in Swahili?”
Jace laughed and glanced back at Alexis. “See? We can’t play ball until you forgive me and these other players are getting kind of restless.”
“Blackmailer,” she said, and then smiled. She took off the face guard and handed it to him. “I accept your apology, but you have to be the catcher.”
He grinned and winked at her, then began strapping on the catcher’s gear as the kids cheered and whooped. They settled into the game with Jace catching, coaching and umpiring all at the same time, keeping up a running commentary to Alexis on what she needed to look for in order to umpire future games. Alexis called out statistics to the players, praised their performance and generally had the best time of her life.
When the game was over and the children were ready to leave, they chattered happily that school had actually been fun that day. Jace and Alexis shared a laugh at the surprise in their voices.
When everyone had been picked up, Alexis began straightening up the classroom and Jace lingered to help her. It made her smile to see the big, tough cowboy standing by Ginny Garcia’s desk with a ponytail scrunchy in his hand. He caught the look on her face, dropped the scrunchy on the desk, and turned to her.
“So, does this mean we’re having a truce?”
She folded her hands at her waist and tilted her head. “It looks that way.”
“Have you ever negotiated a truce before?” he asked with a teasing smile. “Does your country ever go to war and then send peace envoys out to sign treaties?”
“We fought the Nazis,” Alexis said proudly. “We lost, but we fought. We don’t have many wars in our background, though. During the Napoleonic Wars some troops from Inbourg went out with the little Corsican to fight the British. Twenty-seven men left and thirty-one came back. They made a few friends along the way.”
“Didn’t like fighting for Napoleon, hmm?”
“Oh, they didn’t mind that. It was the food they couldn’t stand.” Her green eyes laughed up at him. “We Inbourgians have certain standards that we won’t compromise.”
He chuckled. “So you haven’t had much experience with war and truces, and all that?”
“Not much,” she admitted, watching cautiously as he walked slowly toward her. Excitement began to hum inside her when she saw the sleepy gleam in his eyes.
“You also haven’t had much experience as a teacher, this being your first real job and all.”
“That’s right.” She tipped her head. “Jace, what exactly is your point?” She had a feeling she knew what it was and the intent look in his eyes confirmed it.
“I’m only thinking that you seem to need a little educating yourself.”
“In what way?”
“Did you ever kiss a cowboy?”
“Only you,” she gasped on a spurt of laughter.
“I bet you’ve never kissed one in your classroom.”
“Certainly not!”
“You’re sure?”
“No,” she said firmly. “And I don’t intend to start now.” She put her hands on her hips. “Are you saying there’s something wrong with the way I kiss?”
“Nah.” His mouth was tilting into a devilish grin. “Not a thing wrong with it. You seem to know what you’re doing…for a beginner.”
“A beginner?” Alexis echoed in mock outrage. “I’ll have you know that my very first kiss was with Ronald Crookshanks who kissed me in the formal gardens of our palace and it was a hot one, too.”
“Oh yeah?” He stopped in front of her, crossed his arms over his chest and rocked on his heels. He tilted that big, square chin of his down and gave her a severe look. “How hot?”
“Hot enough to glue our lips together.” Alexis’s green eyes sparkled as she laughed up at him. “He’s the nephew of Bevins, the palace manager. We were five years old and we’d been eating cinnamon candies.” She sighed. “It was a kiss never to be forgotten.”
Jace reached out, grasped her by the arms and pulled her to him. “I’ll show you a kiss never to be forgotten.”
He touched his lips to hers, and laughing softly, she wound her arms around his neck, stretched onto her tiptoes and kissed him back. It started out fun, sweet and gentle, then heated up rapidly. His mouth was so warm and welcoming, she wanted to sink into him, to revel in him. She heard herself moan and wondered vaguely if she should feel embarrassed, but she heard Jace catch his breath and she knew his blood was heating, as well.
Finally, he pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. “You go to my head,” he said as if he couldn’t quite believe it. “You have since the first minute I saw you standing in my house, covered in soot.”
Alexis groaned. “Please don’t remind me. I haven’t set fire to anything in weeks now and I’m going to replace that quilt, I swear.”
“I’m not worried,” he said.
“But I owe you…”
“Nothing,” he said and kissed her again. “I was pretty mad about it at first, but other things have claimed my attention.” Gently, he touched her black eye. “How are the essays coming along?”
“They’re due tomorrow. Older kids have to write two paragraphs. Younger ones are to draw a picture. I think some of them will be pretty graphic.”
He nodded as if he was only half listening, then paused as if choosing his words carefully. “The other day, when you told me who you really are, I acted like a jerk because it matters to me that you level with me.” His gaze met hers. “I was surprised how much it mattered.”
Touched, overcome with her feelings for him, Alexis lifted her hand to rest it on his cheek. Beneath her palm, she felt the muscles jump. He turned his face and placed a kiss in her hand, then as if shying away from how much of himself he was revealing, he gave her a quirky lift of his brows and asked, “Are you hungry?”
She smiled. “Do you want a snack?”
“Nah. I owe you dinner.”
“It’s three-thirty in the afternoon.”
“We’ll go into town. By the time we get there, it’ll be dinnertime.”
Happiness filled her eyes. “Is this a date?”
Jace shook his head as if he couldn’t quite believe it himself. “Yeah, I guess it is. Though how I’m going to explain this to Gil and Rocky is something I don’t know. They’re both in love with you, you know.”
I wish you were, Alexis thought, then blinked in surprise at herself. She’d never put that thought into words before and she wished she had time to explore it, but Jace went on.
“Alexis, you knew that,” he prompted, reacting to the look of surprise on her face.
“It’s a crush,” she said. “Because I’m the only single woman around.”
“Except for Hattie Fritz, but she’s nearly eighty and she likes bees more than humans.” He paused, waiting. “So how about it? Wanna have dinner with a crabby old cowboy who doesn’t come down out of the mountains very often?”
There were all kinds of reasons she shouldn’t do this, she told herself. She was a teacher and he was in charge of the school board. She was only going to be in Sleepy River temporarily and he would never leave it. In spite of the independence she wanted to establish for herself, her family responsibilities would always bind her, whereas Jace had no family, but was bound by huge responsibilities right here at his ranch.
All kinds of reasons to say no, and only one to say yes—her heart was telling her to because she was falling in love with him. She smiled. “Yes. Even though it’s a school night and I’ve got lessons to prepare. I’d love to.”
Although they were sure no one had seen them leave Sleepy River together, their date didn’t remain a secret for as long as twelve hours. Becky Kramer came to school the next morning, stared at Alexis curiously, then giggled, showing the place where she’d recently lost a tooth. “Are you gonna marry Jace?”<
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Alexis, who had just opened the front door to let the short line of children inside blinked down at the little girl. Other kids were giggling now, the boys poking and elbowing each other as they waited for her answer.
“Are you, huh, Miss Chastain?” one of the boys asked.
“If you did, I bet he’d let you ride his horse,” the school’s one and only second-grader said brightly. She loved horses and drew spindly pictures of them along the margins of all her papers.
Good grief, she thought, these kids could be as curious as the dreaded tabloid reporters. She opened her mouth to respond, but was unexpectedly rescued by Billy, who sauntered forward and said, “They’ve only had one date. A guy’s not supposed to ask until they’ve been going out awhile.” His worldly wise air seemed to convince the others who giggled a little more and trooped inside. Billy gave her a conspiratorial nod and followed.
Alexis still hadn’t spoken a word, but she didn’t need to since Billy had seemingly settled the matter. After their baseball game, she had told him he could definitely build a snake house outside the school and maintain it. He’d been elated and now she was his favorite teacher ever. She had to remember to thank Jace for that advice when he came over later.
Happily, she went about her work, teaching and directing the children, but always in the back of her mind were memories of their evening together. It had been wonderful to be with him, to talk and laugh without the constraints that had pulled at them since they had first met. Best of all, in the small restaurant off the edge of the highway, she hadn’t had to worry about a photographer popping out of a potted plant and snapping pictures of her and her date as they had dipped tortilla chips into salsa and munched as they talked.
She had learned a great deal about him and none of it had changed her feeling that his responsibilities were very much like those of her father, though on a much smaller scale. Everyone in the community seemed to like him. This was confirmed when the children were picked up and she received knowing grins and nods from Stella Kramer and Carol Saunders, which she took as a stamp of approval.
The Runaway Princess Page 11
