Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) by Susan Leigh Carlton

the approximate ages. I’ve known all but one or two of them since they were born, so I can make a pretty good guess.”
     
    “That’s good,” Martha said. “Now all we have to do is get started.”
     
    “Will is really anxious to get started. This is going to be his first year and I want to get him off to a good start.”
     
    “He’ll be all right, Luke. He’s a smart little boy. Hetty brought him over when Sarah and I were there the other day. You can be proud of him. He’s well mannered and polite,” she said.
     
    “Well, I have to give Clara the credit for that. She was always telling him the proper thing to do.”
     
    Martha noticed the fleeting sorrow flash across his face when he said his late wife’s name. “Am I wrong in not missing Daniel more,” she wondered guiltily. “No, I’m not,” she decided. “Daniel would have wanted me to get on with my life. I wonder if Luke will ever do that?”
     
    * * *
     
    Most of the children made their way to school the first day on horseback. The younger ones were brought in a wagon by one or both of the parents. Martha spent the first two hours getting acquainted with the children, where they lived, tried to guess what they remembered from their previous schooling. Two and one half hours into the day, there was a sharp knock on the door. When she answered, she saw a scraggly whiskered man about forty years old. He was wearing worn jeans, boots and a plaid shirt. With him was a boy about eleven, wearing denim overalls.
     
    The man spoke. “Ma’am, my name is Jake Vintner and this is my boy, Clayton. Can he… I mean, would it be all right for him to come to school? He won’t give you no trouble or anything.”
     
    Martha recognized the name from Luke’s recount of the meeting. “Of course, Mr Vintner. He’s more than welcome. Clayton, find yourself a seat with the other children your age and I’ll be in there is just a minute. Now, Mr Vintner, I’m happy you decided to bring Clayton to school today. We start promptly at eight each morning and we’ll finish at three. I expect each student to complete his assigned work prior to class. I was raised on a farm, so I know there are times when he won’t be able to make a class. I will give him the assignments he missed to complete. Do you have any questions?”
     
    “Yes Ma’am. I’ll see to it he gets all of the work done. I appreciate you letting my boy in and all,” he said.
     
    “Yes, now I had better get back to my class before they get unruly. Thank you for coming.” She turned and went back into the classroom.

Chapter  Ten   The Class
    Martha had obtained the paperwork for certification as a teacher, and completed it. “Jed, I’d like to go with you the next time you go to Laramie. I want to turn in these papers, and meet with the Laramie County Superintendent. Once I’m certified, they will furnish our books.”
     
    “I need some things from the store, let’s go in tomorrow and get it done,” he said.
     
    “Wonderful,” Martha said. “It should be easy enough. I have my New York Certification. They may just accept that.” The next day, on the visit to Laramie, she went to the office of the Laramie County School District. Upon meeting with the superintendent, he immediately signed her papers.
     
    “You may now draw your books from the school repository,” he said. “All you will need to do is give them the names and ages of your students.” She had brought the list Luke had given her, with the name of Clayton Vintner added, bringing the total to twelve.
     
    After Jed loaded them into the wagon, Martha said, “This is going to surprise Luke. He expected to be required to purchase the books from the list I gave him after I visited with the Laramie teachers.”
     
    At the general store, Asa Thompson said, “I have mail for both of you.” Included were two letters for Martha.
     
    “One is from Ma wanting to know when I’ll be coming home?
     
    Sarah said,