by Linda Ford
“A community event. What a good idea. I don’t want people to think this is a Kinsley project or mine.”
Eve was at Victoria’s elbow. “It was you who insisted we needed a school.”
“I’m sure someone else would have suggested it if I hadn’t. After all, there are lots of children in town.”
Reese studied the drawing and walked back to study the layout. He turned to consider the whole yard.
She wondered what he was thinking.
He rolled the papers together. “Let’s go talk to Mr. White.”
The three of them trooped down the street toward the store. Before they got there, Jimmy and half a dozen children trailed after them along with several dogs.
“We heard ya were going to start the school,” Jimmy said. “How long you suppose it will take to build it?”
Reese looked at the parade of children on their heels. “I feel like the Pied Piper,” he murmured.
Victoria stared at him. “That’s an odd tale for you to be familiar with.”
“Me being a cowboy and all,” he drawled.
“Let me guess. It’s something Hoot told you.”
He laughed. “The man had a good store of stories from literature.”
He faced the gathering of children. “How many of you are anxious to go to school?”
Two little girls held up their hands.
“How many of you like good stories?” Most of the hands went up.
“Well, Jimmy here tells me Miss Victoria is a good storyteller. What was it you said she told you, Jimmy?”
The boy bristled with importance. “She told me how Montana Territory came to be part of America when some president bought a bunch of land from the French.”
The children looked impressed.
Jimmy turned to Victoria. “You gonna be the teacher?”
“Yes, I am, and I hope to see every one of you in school. I promise you won’t regret it.”
“If she’s gonna teach,” Jimmy addressed the others, “school might not be so bad.”
Laughing at Jimmy’s faint praise, Victoria turned to Reese. “Are we going to talk to Norm?” She glanced around. Where had Eve gone? There she was. Standing to the side watching someone Victoria couldn’t see. She wondered who it could be. She’d ask about it later if she remembered.
The children went on down the street and Victoria and Reese went into the store.
Eve followed a moment later.
“What were you looking at?” Victoria asked her.
“Martha. She carried a plate of something to the livery barn.”
“That’s nice.”
They grinned at each other and then Victoria joined Reese at the counter where he unrolled the plans for Norm to look at.
An hour later, they emerged. Victoria could barely contain her excitement. “I’ve dreamed of this for a long time. Even before we came to Glory, I thought of teaching. When we got here, I saw the need. Now to think the school will soon be built.” She would have done a little dance right there in the middle of the street. She wanted to grab Reese’s hand and lift their arms to the sky and shout, but neither was proper behavior for a future schoolteacher. She walked on demurely.
Eve had left before the order was finished so she and Reese were alone. Unless she remembered that a person was never alone in a small town. Even the buildings seemed to have eyes and ears.
“I don’t want to go home. I’m too excited.” She glanced about, hoping no ears or walls had heard her boldness.
“Then may I suggest a walk along the river?”
“Yes, you may.” They turned that direction. Victoria knew it was excitement about the school that made the grass appear greener, the sky a shimmering blue, and the waters silvery.
“A week to get the material all here. A work bee, and then it will be up.” She couldn’t hold back a squeal.
He grinned at her. “I’ll work with Norm to get everything ready for the school raising.” Norm had suggested the Tuesday following the arrival of the lumber for the event.
As they walked along, she laughed for no apparent reason. “You must think I’m addled.”
He stopped and faced her. “I think you are very excited.”
“Yes, I am.”
They stopped by some trees. “Shall we sit and enjoy nature?”
“I’d like that.” They sank to the soft grass overlooking the river. The air about them was filled with a wild aroma of poplar trees, hidden flowers, and the moist scent of the water rippling by. She sighed.
“I have always loved books. I like the feel of them. The smell of them. I like the worlds they invite me into. Even though I can’t remember my past, I know I loved books even then. I know I was surrounded by them. I have a book Ma and Pa gave me when they discovered how much I enjoy books and how much I admire art work. It’s called Great Painters of the World. It’s a feast for the eyes.”
“I’d like to see it.” He sounded sincere, and she would gladly share her pleasure with him.
“Then you shall. Would you like to come back to the house and see it now?”
“I have to go to work. Mickey has plans this evening.”
“Hmm. I wonder if his plans include Martha.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they do. I think he will be good to Jimmy.”
“And to Martha, I’d hope.”
He helped her to her feet, and they walked back as far as the manse. “I’ll say goodbye here.”
“Wait. Why don’t you come by tomorrow and I’ll show you the book?”
“I’d like that. After supper?”
“Perfect.” She didn’t realize until he walked away that it sounded like she wouldn’t see him until then.
What did she expect? There was nothing more to do regarding the building project until the lumber and supplies came in. He had his work. She could use the time to prepare lessons. A kindly teacher back in Ohio had seen Victoria’s interest in teaching and had encouraged it. Had even given her some useful books.
She had plenty to keep her busy until tomorrow evening.
The first thing she’d do was get Great Painters of the World from her trunk and try to guess what artists and paintings Reese would like best.
If the hours stretched before her like endless train tracks, it was only because she was anxious to see the school built.
Then what?
Reese would go to his ranch and she would start teaching. No doubt she’d see him on Sundays if he came to church.
It was for the best. He wanted something she couldn’t give—the promise of forever.
She couldn’t even promise it to herself.
Her lack of a past kept her from embracing the future. She could only take one day at a time, writing in her journals to make sure she didn’t lose what she had. The chances of her recovering her memory grew less with each passing day, but she still wondered and feared if someone would recognize her. Surely not, after all this time. There had been a time she wished for it, searching every stranger’s face for signs of recognition. Now she could think of nothing worse than having her life snatched from her.
A lump of unshed tears clogged her throat. She would not cry. Nor would she go running to Ma all fearful like she had when she was younger.
This was her life.
But one question blocked out all her firm admonitions.
How long was this her life? Would some stranger ride into town and know who she was? Would knowing her past turn her life upside down and sideways?
Chapter 7
The next day, Mickey announced he had decided it was time to paint the barn. He handed Reese a bucket of red paint.
“I want the place to look nice.”
“Any special reason?” Reese made sure to keep his voice casual. But he wondered if this decision to spruce things up had anything to do with Martha and perhaps a desire to impress the woman.
“Just figger it’s time. There’s a ladder in the back corner.”
“I’ve seen it.�
� He dragged it out and positioned it against a wall.
Mickey came out of his office. “Start on the side that faces the main street.”
“Okay.” Reese climbed down. “You wanting someone to notice what you’re doing?”
Reese almost dropped the ladder on his foot at the way Mickey’s face turned a dark red.
“Might as well make sure people can see it from the street,” Mickey mumbled and went back inside.
Reese set the ladder, climbed up, and began to brush on paint. From his vantage point, he had a good view of much of the business section of town and many of the houses. If Sylvie discovered how well he could see, she’d spend all her free time up on a ladder. Good thing she was busy most of the day with her cooking.
Jimmy ran down the street with Spot at his side. He skidded to a halt and stared at a house.
Reese tried to see what had the boy’s interest. He saw nothing and Jimmy raced away. Then a man Reese had seen at church and several times in town emerged, jamming his hat to his head with such fury that Reese gathered there had been a disagreement between the man and his wife. And Jimmy had overheard it.
The boy needed to allow people their privacy.
Reese painted as much as he could reach then climbed down to move the ladder. Again, he looked down on the town, though mostly he looked toward the church hoping to see some activity.
His wish was granted when Victoria and Eve appeared around the corner of the church and sat on the front steps. They carried on a lively conversation if the waving of arms meant anything. He couldn’t hear them but saw they were laughing.
Jimmy trotted by and changed direction to join them. The three of them talked and laughed.
Reese sighed and turned his attention back to his job, slapping the paint on with more vigor than was called for.
Next time he looked toward the church, the three of them were gone.
No reason why it should make him feel lonely to see those empty steps, but it did.
What was he thinking? That Victoria could have a permanent place in his life? Besides her amnesia and his suspicion about her true identity, he could think of other reasons why it wasn’t possible. Her heart was set on teaching. He would soon move out to the ranch he now owned. But most importantly, his heart was still locked tight. Betty had duped him. He didn’t intend to open his heart to someone who could be snatched away.
What if Ma’s letter informed him Miss Hayworth was safe at home? He’d asked after a letter yesterday but none had come in. He’d asked again this morning on his way back from breakfast at Sylvie’s Diner. Still no letter.
He slapped on paint so hard it spattered on his face and he forced himself to calm down.
He painted all morning, relieved when he no longer had to climb the ladder but also disappointed because he couldn’t watch people coming and going.
The sun was high overhead when Mickey took a horse from a rider and tended it for the bowlegged, white-haired man who said he had business in town. Reese watched the man walk away in a rolling gait common to older cowboys.
“You know that man?” Reese asked Mickey.
“Earl Douglas. He rides for the Bar K outfit. Comes to town from time to time. Why?”
“Just curious. Trying to get a handle on who lives around here.” And because he was getting to be like Victoria, and on her behalf, he was suspicious about every stranger.
“Fair enough. It’s noon. Run along and eat and then take over here. I’ve got things to do.”
“Let me clean up the paint things first.” He had already returned the ladder to the barn. He put the lid on the paint, put the brush in a can of turpentine, and set it out of the way. He cleaned his hands and wiped them on a rag then trotted over to Sylvie’s Diner.
Sylvie stood by the table of the same white-haired cowboy that had left his horse at the livery barn. She looked up at Reese’s entrance and blushed.
Reese blinked. Another romance in town? It was enough to make him want to ride to his ranch before he fell into the same trap.
He sat at a table in the corner, smiling to himself. Betty had made him think romance was a trap. Victoria made him wish things were such he could freely court her, but how could he while he possibly had this huge secret about her? And him declaring he needed honesty.
Sylvie sat a cup of coffee and a plate of food before him. “I see you’re painting the barn.”
Reese guessed about everyone in town had seen the red paint by now. “Mickey says it’s time to spruce things up.”
Sylvie studied him. “He courting Martha?”
Reese sat back. “I can’t say. Even if I knew it wouldn’t be right for me to talk about my employer.”
She huffed. “Just making conversation.” She steamed away, but her bearing changed as she reached Earl Douglas’s table.
Reese ducked his head to hide his grin. She would not take kindly to him being amused at her interest in the old cowboy.
Reese’s smile flattened. There was nothing amusing about the interest of a woman for a man, or a man for a woman. He’d learned that with Betty, who taught him it could be pretend and temporary. But sometimes it was real and lasted. He had only to look at the preacher and his wife to be certain of that.
But only if there was mutual trust.
He finished his meal and hurried back to the livery barn.
Mickey wore a new hat and departed as soon as Reese came into sight.
Reese checked on the horses in his care. He pumped more water into the trough and swept the floor of the office. He brought out a cart and fork and was about to start cleaning up the horse droppings in one of the stalls when Jimmy appeared with his dog at his side.
“Mickey said I could come help you.”
“Grab a fork and start picking up the manure.”
Jimmy hurried to do so and attacked the job with more enthusiasm than Reese could find. Which did not stop Jimmy from talking, Reese soon discovered.
“Mickey is building a new washstand for Ma. Says if he makes it the right height, her back won’t hurt so bad.” He shoveled a moment. “You think he’s gonna ask her to marry him?”
Reese shouldn’t have been surprised that Jimmy wondered about the man’s intentions. “What would you think if he did?”
Jimmy leaned on the handle of the fork to consider the question. Finally, he nodded. “I guess it would be okay. I’d be happy if Ma didn’t have to work so hard.”
It was a noble answer, but Reese wondered how Jimmy felt for himself. “You wouldn’t mind having Mickey for a stepfather?”
“He’s my friend, so I wouldn’t mind.”
“Good to hear.”
They cleaned the entire stall.
“You want help painting?” Jimmy asked, his eager expression informing Reese the boy thought painting would be fun.
“Sure.” He found a second brush and, side by side, they finished the one wall.
Jimmy went to the back of the barn. “I could paint from the ladder.”
Reese shuddered to think of the boy up there. He shuddered again at the idea of Jimmy learning how much he could see from the vantage point. “It’s getting on. I need to clean up.” Mickey hadn’t said when he’d return. Hopefully it would be soon so Reese could keep his appointment with Victoria. “You better get on home and see if your ma needs anything.”
Jimmy raced away, Spot at his heels.
Reese cleaned up himself and the paint things. And then he waited. Unable to relax, he strode along the perimeter of the fence. Reached the street and turned back. He went to the side of the barn and studied the new paint. He went to the doorway and watched down the street.
His breath whooshed out when Mickey came into view, grinning widely.
He didn’t wait for Mickey to reach the barn before he strode away.
Mickey called after him, “I see you’re in a hurry to visit a certain young lady.” The man’s laugh held no malice.
Reese took a hard right. He’d almost forgotten to eat
supper. He entered Sylvie’s Diner, half expecting to see the old cowboy still there, seeing as he hadn’t come back for his horse. But he wasn’t. Reese took a seat. Sylvie hurried over with his meal.
“Thought Mr. Douglas might be here,” he said, expressing only casual interest. But even so, Sylvie blushed furiously.
“Now why would you think a fool thing like that?”
“Only because his horse is still at the livery barn and this is the only place he’ll find supper.” He looked at his plate. “Supper looks good. Thanks.”
She hovered at his side as if wanting to say something. Strange. He knew she wasn’t a woman to mince words or consider them before she spoke.
Finally, she dropped her arms to her side. “Supper is always good.” And she huffed away.
Reese ate his meal fast enough to make Sylvie raise her eyebrows.
“Eating like that could give a man indigestion, and then he’ll blame my food when it’s his own fool fault.”
“I’d never complain about your food.” He was about to push away from the table.
“I got some nice spice cake if you’re so inclined.”
Reese would have hurried away without the cake, but he had no desire to earn Sylvie’s disfavor or any more speculation from her as to his intentions concerning Victoria. “I’d love a piece of cake.”
She brought a slab as big as his fists, covered in a mound of whipped cream.
Seems he’d earned her favor.
Or maybe having Earl Douglas come by today had mellowed her.
He glanced at the clock and decided it was the right time to go to the manse—not too early so as to seem overly eager. Not too late so as to make Victoria think he didn’t care one way or the other if he saw her.
He paid for his meal and strolled down the street. He went by way of River Street. The river was a hundred yards to his right bordered with trees in their fresh spring green. Businesses on his left gave way to homes. An older couple sat on the porch of one. Reese could feel them watching him until he was out of sight. Red and yellow tulips blossomed in another yard.
And then he reached the manse. Only a screen door shut the inhabitants inside. He heard Eve say something. Her ma replied. He strained to hear Victoria and then the girls began to sing. He paused on the step to enjoy their serenade.
