To Want the School Teacher by Lisa Day Page A

disappeared again. Victoria heard another round of
laughter.
    “Hello
there. Please, come say hello to me. I'm not mean or
anything.”
    The first child walked out
from behind her shield. Big brown eyes watched Victoria as Mary
stepped cautiously toward the woman.
    “Hello, My
name is Miss. Trent. What's yours?”
    “Mary and
my sister's named is....” The child turned to see her sister didn't
follow her. Mary waved an it's all right hand signal to the other
girl still using the door as a shield. A smaller version of Mary
run up to her and remained behind the child still acting
shy.
    Mary proudly said, “This is
Angie my sister.”
    “It's nice
to meet the both of you. What grades are you both in.”
    Mary stood a tad taller
answered for them both.
    “Angie is
start her first day when class begins. I don't go to
school.”
    A raised eyebrow formed and
Victoria asked. “Why ever not?”
    The question was out of her
mouth before she thought perhaps she shouldn't have ask. What if
the answer embarrassed the child? Victoria left the chair she sat
in and knelt beside Mary to hopefully comfort her by not over
powering her.
    “You don't
need to answer that if you rather not.”
    Mary seemed unconcerned.
“Can Angie go swing on the swings out back?”
    “Of course
she can.”
    Mary nudge the smaller
child once and she ran from the room.
    “I don't
want my sister to be afraid to go to school. I don't come any more
not since Mrs. Powers stung my hand with her ruler. She liked to
hit everyone every chance she got. Nobodies ever gonna hit me
again. So I ain't coming. I don't need to any way. My mama said so.
I can write my name. Even better than my Ma and Pa can.”
    Victoria cringed inside but
continued smiling at Mary.
    “Well, I
can understand why you feel that way. However, since you seem to be
very smart I wonder if...”
    Mary anxious about Victoria
might say expressed cut in.
    “Yes.”
    “I wonder
if you'd be able to help set the class room up. You spent time
here. More than me. Could you assist me tomorrow if you have
nothing better to do.”
    It wasn't possible,
however, it appeared the child eyes grew larger and beamed.
    ***
    On the walk home they
discussed what they accomplished today at the school. Thomas
suggested since they were dirty and tired he'd take Victoria to
town for dinner. By the time Victoria finished refreshing herself
he had the carriage ready and waiting.
    He took her to the same, as
well as the only place to eat, where they first met. They greeted a
few people he knew and a few even Victoria remembered meeting.
    The food hit the spot. The
after dinner coffee was divine. The conversation wonderful and
free. Thomas glowed more each time Victoria smiled at him. It would
be a meal Thomas would happily remember forever.
    That was until the minute
he said, “Why, Victoria, your flirting with me. I have made
promises to you about my behavior. You keep this up all promises
will be null and void. I am only a man. A man who loves and desired
you beyond belief.”
    The chastisement she gave
herself was harsh. Good grief, she was suppose to be playing a role
not seducing him. She felt lower than dirt. No, lower than the scum
of the earth. There seemed the dilemma for she enjoyed every moment
she spend with him at dinner.

Chapter Seven
    A note
came during breakfast requesting Victoria come to Mother Emily's
home.
    “It will
work out. I've been neglecting my work at the Cattleman's
Association, so I'll leave you at mother's for a while and return
at noon. Then we can head over to the school.”
    Victoria moments after
arriving at Mother Emily's home found herself upstairs in one of
the bedrooms standing on a dressmaker pedestal. The dressmaker
pulling the satin cream white wedding gown over her head.
    “Lovely,
just lovely. Victoria, you will be a stunning bride. My mother was
married in this dress and I wore it to wed Thomas and Keith's
father.”
    Victoria really thought
this was going a bit far.