To Want the School Teacher by Lisa Day

headache
and a tummy full of twisted knots.
    ***
    Thomas continued to insist
he share the bed with Victoria and her pleading a sick headache as
an excuse that went ignored. He did, however, bring her a glass of
water with citrus acid added to it.
    “Drink
this, my mother swears by it.”
    She obediently emptied the
glass as he undressed and slipped beneath the covers. He sat high
on the bed and pulled Victoria up and across his lap. She started
to resist him.
    “No. Just
allow me to soothe your headache.” He placed a hand on each side of
her head and began to massage her temples.
    Thomas' ministration were
feather light, and they did seem to lessen the throbbing. Victoria
desire to relax enough to fall asleep was hindered by bewildering
and discomfort over lying to Thomas. A man who actually showed her
every consideration possible under the circumstances. That is if
one can forgive kidnapping.
    The sandman's dust of
slumber carried her away when Victoria figured out a way to sort of
return a kindness to Thomas.
    ***
    Restraint
and restrain yourself became Thomas'
mantra. Still in awe that Victoria agreed to help set up the
schoolroom for whoever might replaced her. Together they walked
across the nearest bridge and crossed over to the road and the one
room schoolhouse.
    All he really wanted to do
was grab the woman and kiss her until she agreed to head into town
to the magistrate's office and get married. Carry her back home and
throw her in the middle of the master bedroom’s bed. Of course,
first held strip her naked in the most titillate manner he knew
how.
    Thomas called to mind his
new mantra as a certain part of his anatomy grew restless
envisioning the pleasure he'd been denying himself the past few
days.
    Thomas couldn't believe how
her whole altitude changed once Victoria cottoned up to the idea
that Thomas cared deeply for her in sprite of their unconventional
beginnings.
    Every time he managed to
hold her hand or brush seductively against her female pieces she no
longer rebuked him. She'd smile warmly. The trust in her eyes is
what allowed Thomas' to continue to honor the promise he made to
her, the last time they where in this room, no matter the ache in
his loins.
    Thomas' thoughts were
brought back to the here and now when Victoria said, “This room
definite needs a good cleaning and airing out. If you would open
the windows, please. I'll look for a broom and see what other
supplies are here.”
    It didn't take long for the
intended new schoolmarm's presence in the schoolroom itself to be
noticed. Two boys looking to be in their teens showed up.
    “Mr.
Kincaid, may we help.” The more out spoken boy with the blondest
hair Victoria ever seen asked. It seemed to be snow white more than
blonde.
    “Ah. How
nice of you two to stop by and offer to help. Victoria, my I
present Master Blackman and his friend Master Wellington.
Gentleman, my fiancee, Miss. Victoria Trent.”
    Since the boys were old
enough to handle an axe it was decided the two would work some on
the wood pile behind the school.
    Around two
o’clock Victoria sat at the last desk in the second row rubbing the
Manning Antique Charm Furniture Polish ©* into the wood. She flipped over
the rag she used and continued to rub the oil into the wood. Odd
how a simple smell can create past memories. Victoria thought of
her childhood, of home, of her mother, and of those forever lost to
her. Unconsciously, she smiled both her mother and aunt used the
same polish. How silly to have memories tied to a wood cleaner she
admonished herself.
    She had been surprised and
pleased to find the half empty bottle in the storage closet. Her
hand stilled as she admired her efforts. The desktop looked also
most happy to be brought back to life. The colors seemed darker,
deeper, and no longer thirsty.
    She heard a giggle. Then a
pair of giggles. A girl child she guessed to be about seven or
eight years of age peeked her head out from behind the opened
doorway and