she realized how unfair her thoughts were. He’d been nothing but kind to her. Even in front of these people, Josiah had tried to help her. They’d become friends during her stay with him. If truth be known, it was a friendship she wouldn’t have minded cultivating, if the circumstances were different.
She imposed an iron control on herself, stifling any warmth she felt toward the sheriff. Josiah simply felt guilty for her predicament. It wasn’t his fault, but she knew he felt as if part of it were. Either way, Anna Mae refused to allow herself to soften toward him. She couldn’t afford to let another man break her heart. Besides, by the way things looked, after today she wouldn’t be staying in Granite.
She raised her eyes to find the board members watching her, gauging her reaction to Josiah’s words. Her gaze shifted from one person to the other, the majority of them staring back in accusation. Thoughtfully, she searched each man and woman’s face. Several of the men looked at her with what appeared to be sympathy, while Mrs. Anderson’s features showed nothing but scorn. Levi Westland held her gaze as if to say he was on her side.
Mrs. Anderson spoke once more. “As honorable as Miss Leland’s tale sounds, she still broke several of the rules of her contract. Gentlemen, I realize you think she did the right thing by going out for the boy, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that she signed a contract. What good is the contract if we do not hold our schoolteachers to it?”
When no one answered, Anna Mae was assailed by a terrible sense of bitterness. She knit her fingers together and rested them in her lap. Her throat ached with defeat. Lord, why? In desperation her heart cried out to her creator. Have You forgotten me? Is there a purpose in allowing this to happen a second time? Did I not learn the lesson You wanted me to through the humiliation of being stranded at the altar? Must I be humiliated again through no fault of my own? Bitter tears burned the backs of her eyes. She lowered her head so that they couldn’t see them.
The woman’s voice droned on. “I move that we dismiss Miss Leland as our schoolteacher. She broke the contract when she left town with Bart Bradshaw and stayed out after dark. As for what happened at the Miller farm, that is between Sheriff Miller, Miss Leland and the good Lord.”
Anna Mae raised her head and boldly looked Mrs. Anderson straight in the eyes. She might stand accused, but she most definitely was not guilty, and she refused to cower in front of them as if she were. God knew that she had done no wrong and therefore had nothing to be ashamed of.
Mr. Anderson spoke up. “I second the motion.”
Mrs. Anderson continued with the ruling. “All in favor raise your right hands.”
Three of the men raised their hands. Levi Westland sat staring at them with hard eyes.
“All opposed.” Mrs. Anderson continued as if daring Levi to raise his hand.
He did so and said, “This is wrong, Thelma Anderson, and you know it.”
She ignored him as if he hadn’t spoken. “Miss Leland, you are hereby removed as the schoolteacher of Granite, Texas, for your unladylike conduct.”
“Now hold on just a moment.” Josiah’s voice boomed about the room. “Miss Leland never once misbehaved as a lady. And if I hear such words bantered about town, I may just lock you up for slander.”
Anna Mae stood. “Sheriff Miller. Thank you for your kind words, but the school board has spoken.” She smoothed out her skirt and walked to the door. Just before exiting, she added, “I’m sure Mrs. Anderson is too much of a Christian to go speaking falsehoods about me. Now, if you all will excuse me, I will be retiring to my room.” Her chin quivered but she managed to hold her head high as she exited the room.
* * *
Josiah looked at each of the school board members. He ought to arrest every one of them. They’d just delivered a verdict without any evidence. A court of law would have thrown them out of the courthouse. He could think of any number of things to charge them with. Slander, destruction of character and illegal firing from a job. And the unfairness of it—now that cut the cake. All in the name of moral correctness.
“Well, now, what will we do for a schoolteacher?” he asked, noting that none of them would meet his eyes.
Mrs. Anderson raised her head and sighed dramatically. “I suppose I shall have to fill in until another teacher can be found. I suggest we advertise for a male teacher this time.”
He looked at the older woman, her actions finally making sense. “Ah...” He deliberately drew the word out. “I see.” Everyone knew the bank president’s wife was bored, but Josiah wouldn’t have thought she’d fire Anna Mae to give herself a job to do.
She glared at him, but a telling flush crept into her cheeks and deepened to crimson.
Josiah shook his head, distaste curling the edges of his mouth into a grimace, which he allowed the board members to see. To their credit a few of them had the grace to look ashamed, and dropped their heads. He slapped his hat back on his head and left.
He made his way to Emily Jane, who sat with the twins just outside the door. “Thank you for watching the girls,” he said in greeting.
“It didn’t go well for Anna Mae, did it?”
“I’m afraid not.” Josiah took Rose from Emily Jane and looked about for Ruby.
The little girl sat at the foot of the stairs, looking up. Ruby held a soft spot for the young schoolteacher. She pulled herself up on the bottom step and began to climb.
“Oh, no, you don’t, little lady.” Josiah scooped her into his free arm and held her tight. His gaze moved up the stairs, where he knew Anna Mae had fled.
Poor woman. She’d lost her job and her reputation today. When word got out that the school board was looking for a new teacher, everyone would want to know why, and even though he’d threatened to toss Mrs. Anderson in jail if she bad-mouthed Anna Mae, he knew the older woman would tell everyone what had happened. And if she didn’t, Mrs. Bradshaw would. He sighed heavily.
“I think I’ll go up and see if I can make her feel any better.” His sister-in-law pushed herself up from the bench.
Josiah nodded. “Thank you again for taking care of the girls.”
“You’re welcome. They were good.” She walked past him and headed up the stairs, then stopped and said, “I hope you and the girls can come into town for Sunday lunch. I’ll fry up a chicken if you do.”
He grinned at her. “If the weather stays clear, we’ll be there.”
She nodded and then continued up the stairs.
Josiah carried the girls out to his wagon and put them onto the seat. He handed them the rope to hold on to and then tucked several blankets around them. The wagon tipped slightly as he pulled himself up and sat down beside Rose. As long as he was in town with the wagon he might as well go to the general store for supplies.
Mentally he ticked off what he needed—coffee, salt and beans. Thanks to Anna Mae, he now knew how to cook ham and beans that didn’t taste plain and hard. He guided the horse to the store.
Once inside, he sat the girls down and took each one by the hand. They were old enough now to toddle along with him. Carolyn Moore came out of the back
