Tarah's Lessons

by Tracey V. Bateman

  Anthony held a cornered-animal look in his eyes. “Tarah—”

  “Oh, Anthony,” Louisa said, a tone of reprimand in her voice that Tarah didn’t quite believe. “Where are your manners?” She cut her gaze to Tarah, a beautiful smile curving her thin, rosy lips. “Of course we’ll close the door when we leave.”

  “Thank you.”

  Tarah squared her shoulders and made her way down the aisle to the door.

  “Tell me all about your day of teaching school,” she heard Louisa ask as she shut the door firmly behind her.

  Stomping to Abby, Tarah fought to keep her tears at bay. She unwound the reins from the hitching post in front of the schoolhouse and climbed into the saddle.

  Why did Anthony prefer Louisa? He always had. She had been a fool to allow herself dreams of becoming his wife. Jerking her chin, Tarah turned Abby toward home and gave her a nudge.

  “Tarah, wait!”

  The sound of Anthony’s voice brought her about. She pulled Abby to a stop, her traitorous heart racing like a runaway train. Watching as he jogged to catch her, Tarah willed her pulse to return to normal and arranged her face in what she hoped was only a look of mild interest.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  “I’m sorry about. . .”

  Tarah followed his gaze to the schoolhouse where Louisa stood, hands on her hips, lips twisted into a scowl.

  “Think nothing of it, Anthony.” Tarah attempted a short, teasing laugh. “Far be it from me to interfere with your courting.”

  “It’s not like that—”

  “Was that all you needed?”

  Anthony swiped his hand through his thick, sandy blond hair, then cupped the back of his neck. “Actually, I thought maybe you would like to ride out to the Jenkins place with me—unless you needed to get home right away. I’d like to meet the children and maybe talk to Jenkins a bit.”

  “I can ride out there with you.”

  Flashing her a heart-stopping grin, Anthony nodded. “Good. Let me grab the team from the livery and we can tether your horse to the back.”

  Tarah watched him walk away, admiring the dignity with which he carried himself. A niggling of regret passed through her. Why did Anthony have to be interested in the likes of Louisa Thomas?

  “I hope you had a restful day off.” Louisa’s irritating voice broke through Tarah’s musings. Reluctantly, she pulled her gaze from Anthony’s retreating form to face the young woman.

  “Thank you, Louisa. I did. I look forward to coming back tomorrow.”

  “I’m sure that’s a relief to poor Anthony. It isn’t as though he doesn’t have enough to do without taking on your duties as well.”

  Wishing very much she could think of a crushing retort, Tarah swallowed her anger and met Louisa’s deceptively innocent gaze with a smile she was far from feeling.

  “I’m sure he will be glad to get back to his own duties tomorrow. But I was certainly grateful he offered to help me out today.”

  “Yes, children can be a challenge at times.” Louisa’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.

  “Yes, they surely can. Of course, any job is a challenge, wouldn’t you think? Sometimes I wish I had just stayed home to help my ma.” Tarah released an exaggerated sigh. “But when the town council asked me to teach, I couldn’t very well refuse, could I?”

  Tarah felt a guilty sense of glee as Louisa’s face colored at the reminder she had been passed over for the teaching position in favor of Tarah.

  “I suppose it must be nice to have your pa on the town council,” Louisa countered, lifting a delicate brow in challenge.

  Temper flaring, Tarah dropped the reins and put her hands on her hips. “Now, wait just a minute. That had nothing to do with—”

  “All set to go?”

  Intent on putting Louisa in her place, Tarah hadn’t even noticed Anthony pull up in the wagon. She dismounted and brushed past Louisa. “I’m ready,” she muttered.

  Anthony hopped down and grabbed Abby’s reins from Tarah’s shaking hands.

  Without waiting for his help, Tarah climbed into the seat while he tied Abby to the back of the wagon.

  “Where are you two off to?” Louisa asked in ill-feigned nonchalance.

  “We’re going to check on a new family in the area. Tarah is concerned for the children, and we’re going to see what we can do to help.”

  “Oh, Anthony,” Louisa said breathlessly. “What a wonderful idea. I’d love to help. May I come along?”

  If Tarah could have spit to remove the bad taste in her mouth at Louisa’s tactics, she would have done so, with relish. Say no, Anthony, she silently pleaded.

  “I don’t see why not.”

  “Wonderful. I just love children. I want a house full of them someday.” Louisa held on to Anthony’s hand as she climbed in through the driver’s side. “Don’t you, Anthony?”

  Tarah nearly gasped at the woman’s brazenness. Did Louisa have no sense of propriety?

  Anthony flushed and settled in beside Louisa. “I suppose I’d like children someday. When the right woman comes along.”

  Knowing that wasn’t exactly the response Louisa was looking for, Tarah turned away to hide her grin.

  With a sigh, she looked to the distant horizon and sent another prayer toward heaven. How many lessons must I be forced to learn at a time? Dealing with her attitude about Luke was one thing, but Louisa Thomas was another circumstance entirely. Years of animosity couldn’t just disappear overnight. And the way Louisa was clinging to Anthony made Tarah want to smack the smug expression from her face. Her nails bit into her palms as she tightened her fists in an attempt to gain control over her raging emotions.

  The wagon lurched as a wheel dipped into a rut in the road. Louisa took the opportunity to snuggle in closer to Anthony.

  Drawing a long, steadying breath, Tarah wished for all she was worth that she had never agreed to go along. From the raised brows and friendly waves of passersby, she was sure they made quite a spectacle: Anthony, Louisa Thomas, and her.

  Six

  “Oh, my! This is the most disgraceful thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And the smell! Who on earth would live in such a place?”

  The look of revulsion on Louisa’s face, as well as the tone of her voice, sent a tremor of irritation through Anthony. This family needed help, not judgment. Admittedly, Jenkins was slovenly and a drunk, to boot. But the children weren’t at fault for their pa’s sins. And after all, Laney and Ben were the reasons he and Tarah felt the need to offer assistance in the first place.

  He slid his gaze to Tarah’s. Her face held a similar look of revulsion, but when she turned toward him, Anthony observed tears pooling in her eyes. He knew her thoughts were on the children being forced to live in such squalor. Wishing very much that he could pull her close and comfort her, Anthony did all he knew to do and gave her what he hoped to be a reassuring smile.

  When he had maneuvered the wagon as close to the soddy as he could amid the clutter strewn about the yard, he tugged on the reins, pulling the horses to a stop. He hopped from the wagon and reached out his hand to assist Louisa.

  “I just can’t believe people live this way!” she declared, pressing a lacy handkerchief to her nose.

  “It is a hard thing to take in,” he admitted. “But you might want to keep your voice down a little so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.”

  Sidestepping a broken wagon wheel, Anthony walked around to help Tarah down. She sat unmoving, staring at the run-down soddy. Anthony followed her gaze. Wagon parts littered the yard, along with a broken washtub and dozens of empty liquor bottles. Anthony couldn’t stop the anger from building inside him. How could a man claim to be a pa and allow his children to live in such filth? The way the man had let Garner’s place run down was nothing short of shameful.

  A wooden door lay on the ground outside the opening to the soddy, and a thin blanket hung in tatters across the doorframe. At the window, a shutter swung loosely by one hinge. At the edge
of the house stood a thin, swaybacked mare, pitifully trying to pull up the dead grass from the ground.

  “Come on,” Anthony said softly. “Let’s go see what we can do for those children.” Rather than offering a hand as he had to Louisa, Anthony instinctively opened his arms.

  Turning sorrowful eyes upon him, Tarah stood and allowed him to lift her from the wagon. Anthony swallowed hard, wishing they were alone so he could ask her permission to court her. In the back of his mind, he knew this wasn’t the proper time or place, but at the moment, his rapidly-beating heart remained at odds with his head.

  His senses cleared as Tarah placed her hands on his arms, still encircling her small waist, and gave them a gentle push. Instantly, he released her.

  With a furrowed brow, Louisa hurried to stand next to Anthony. “This is all just so. . .horrid.” She held tightly to his arm, her long fingernails digging in as though she feared for her very life.

  Staring at the devastation, guilt pricked Anthony. This was no place for either young woman. Already, his skin crawled at the thought of what they might find inside the soddy.

  “Hello?” he called as they reached the doorway. “Anyone home?”

  The rusty barrel of a shotgun poked through a hole in the blanket. Anthony stepped back suddenly, pulling Louisa with him. He narrowly missed knocking against Tarah and reached out to steady her.

  “Get on outta here, Mister,” a child’s voice commanded. “We got a right to this place. Ain’t no one but Mr. Garner gonna throw us out.”

  “Laney? It’s Tarah. Can we come in?”

  The blanket was pulled back and the dirtiest little urchin Anthony had ever seen emerged from the soddy. Her face split into a wide grin at the sight of Tarah. “Whatcha doin’ here, Teacher? I told ya I’d be at yer school tomorra.”

  Tarah stepped forward. “I wanted you to meet a friend of mine.”

  Anthony disentangled himself from Louisa and stepped forward.

  Laney eyed him warily, then gave his proffered hand a firm shake. “You her beau?” she asked, jerking her head toward Tarah.

  “He certainly is not, young man.” Louisa pushed forward and reclaimed her place at Anthony’s side.

  “Sor–ry, Lady.” Laney’s eyes flashed as she looked Louisa up and down. “And I ain’t no boy. I’m a girl, same as you. Only I’d rather be tarred and feathered than wear a getup like you got on.” She squinted and peered closer. “And my pa says only loose women paint their faces. And if there’s one thing my pa knows about, it’s loose women. Though I wouldn’t hold to what he has to say about nothin’ else.”

  A gasp escaped Louisa’s lips. Anthony stood in stunned silence, cutting his gaze to Tarah. Her face glowed red, and a hand covered her mouth as she tried hard to hide her amusement.

  Louisa held herself up primly. “I do not paint my face, young lady,” she replied hotly. “And I will thank you to keep a civil tongue in your mouth when addressing an adult.”

  “I’ll talk any way I want to, Lady. And you are so wearin’ paint.”

  “I am not!”

  “Want me to prove it?” Laney shot back, stretching her hand toward Louisa’s face.

  Louisa recoiled. Anthony caught Tarah’s gaze and silently pleaded with her to intervene. Nearly choked with suppressed mirth, Tarah obviously couldn’t speak for fear of doubling over and howling with laughter.

  Louisa seemed to be managing pretty well, anyway, so Anthony left her to her own defense. “Don’t you dare put your hands on me! I have never seen such an ill-mannered, filthy child in my life.”

  “I don’t recollect askin’ your opinion, Lady. And who invited you, anyways?”

  She had a point there. Anthony strongly regretted allowing Louisa to accompany him. But when that young woman put her mind to something, she had a way of getting what she wanted. Although he couldn’t excuse the child’s rudeness, neither could he help but feel that Louisa was getting a little of what she deserved from the sharp-tongued girl.

  Louisa dropped her death grip on Anthony’s arm and placed her hands on her hips. Indignantly, she looked from Tarah to Anthony. “Are you two going to just stand there and allow this child to insult me?”

  To Anthony’s relief, Tarah finally found her voice. “I believe you have equally insulted one another and you both,” she said pointedly, lifting a delicate brow as she observed Louisa, “deserve an apology.”

  Anthony grimaced, anticipating Louisa’s reaction.

  “I certainly will not apologize to that. . .that. . .creature!”

  Yep, just as he thought.

  “I ain’t ’pologizin’ to no hoity-toity lady with her nose ten feet in the air, neither. And ain’t no one makin’ me do nothin’ I don’t wanna do.”

  Louisa stamped her foot on the ground. “I will not stand here and be insulted another moment. Let’s go.”

  With that, she swung around and stomped toward the wagon. Stopping halfway to her destination, she looked back. “Well, Anthony? Are you coming?”

  “We’ll be along in a little while.” Completely disgusted with Louisa’s behavior, Anthony was in no mood to give in to her whim. “I think you’re right, though. It might be best if you wait in the wagon.”

  Louisa’s jaw dropped and her face grew pinker than usual. Without a word, she spun around and stomped back to the wagon.

  “Whew!” Laney said. “That’s some girl you got there, Mister.”

  “Just for the record,” Anthony said, “she’s not my girl.”

  Laney shrugged. “Two bits says she gets her claws in you and walks you down the aisle, one way or another, if you get my meanin’. Pa says Ma roped him into marryin’ up with her ’cause she was gonna have Ben, and he regretted it ever since. So you just watch yerself, Mister.”

  Heat crept up the back of Anthony’s neck and seared the tips of his ears.

  Tarah cleared her throat, her own face tinged with pink. “Laney, Honey, Reverend Greene is the town preacher.”

  Laney scowled. “We don’t hold to no religion, Preacher. I done told Tarah I ain’t got much use for the Bible and such.”

  Still trying to recover from the child’s crude statement, Anthony nodded. “Your pa mentioned something about that when I met him at the mercantile yesterday.”

  With a shake of her head, Laney released a heavy sigh. “I don’t know why that Tucker’s dumb enough to keep givin’ my pa credit. He ain’t never gonna get his money.”

  Taken aback by the disrespectful words, Anthony frowned. “Sure he will, after your pa sells the pig.”

  Laney chortled. “Preacher, I hate to tell ya this, but if we had a pig, I’da shot it for food a long time ago. Pa sold off every animal we owned when he took to drinkin’ a few years back. He’d sell that old nag over there, too, if anyone would buy her.”

  Remembering the words Mr. Tucker had spoken about being hornswoggled, Anthony felt like a fool. Mr. Jenkins had lied and cheated his way into his good graces.

  A twinge of guilt pricked Anthony at the harsh feelings rising up inside because, in truth, he had offered his help to Jenkins. The man hadn’t asked him for anything. Not that he hadn’t taken advantage of Anthony’s good nature—then lied to him about paying him back.

  “And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.”

  The desire to give the scoundrel a sound thrashing was stronger than ever, and Anthony struggled to contain his anger and focus on the children, who didn’t deserve to be punished for their pa’s underhanded ways.

  “Is your pa around?”

  “Passed out cold,” Laney said, her lips twisting into a sneer. “Probably won’t wake up ’til near dark. Why’d you want to talk to him anyways?”

  “I have something to discuss with him.”

  Laney nodded, curiosity written on her dirty face. “Best time to talk to my pa is between the time he wakes up and when he starts drinkin’ again. I figure ya have near two hours a day b’fore he’s too drunk. You can come back la
ter iffen ya want.”

  “Thank you, Laney,” Tarah said. “Do you and Ben have anything to eat for supper?”

  “Yeah, we got beans left over from last night, and Ben’ll have that chicken I took off yer hands earlier.”

  Anthony pressed a hand to Tarah’s shoulder. “We’d better get going.”

  She nodded her response. “I’ll see you at school tomorrow, right?”

  “Said I’d be there, didn’t I?” Laney replied. “And one thing ya can count on, Tarah. I always keep my word.” She emphasized “my” as though trying to assure Tarah—and maybe herself—that she was nothing like her pa, who apparently never kept his.

  Tarah smiled. “All right, then. I’ll see you at eight-thirty sharp.”

  “I’ll be there.” Laney grinned, showing white teeth, a startling contrast to her smudged face.

  “And Laney,” Tarah said hesitantly, “would you mind calling me ‘Miss St. John’ at school? All the other students call me that, and I wouldn’t want them to think I’m allowing you special privileges.”

  Laney seemed to consider the request for a moment, then her bony shoulders lifted. “Don’t see why not. Wouldn’t want ya to have no trouble on accounta me.”

  Anthony smiled at the way Tarah had handled the situation. As they strode back to the wagon, he told her so.

  An enticing spot of pink appeared on each cheek at the compliment. “I didn’t suppose she would do it if I tried to tell her she had to.”

  “She’s mighty determined not to be told what to do, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, but she’s obviously had to fend for herself and her brother for a long time,” Tarah said, rising to the child’s defense. “It’s no wonder she’s so independent.”

  “True. Still,” Anthony mused, “I’m concerned about her bitterness toward her pa. To be so bitter so young is a terrible thing.”