great. Some of the women back East had been earning no more than thirty dollars a quarter and lucky to have board with a local farming family.
“How many students now?” she asked, heart starting to pound hard again with hope.
“Just a few,” he admitted, “but more and more folks are settling out our way. The school will only grow.”
Just like her dreams. This was exactly the sort of situation she’d promised herself when she’d left Framingham. She’d find some place she could make something good out of the tatters of her life, where she could make a difference.
“They’re a lovely family,” Maddie put in. “Sure-n you won’t be sorry to help them. I’d be happy to take the position, only I’ve no experience, and I wouldn’t want all the children to learn to speak like me.”
James Wallin spread his hands. “And what would be wrong with the way you’re a-speaking, me darling girl?”
She laughed at the way he’d mimicked her brogue. “You’ve just proven my point.”
How easily they chatted. She wanted a life like that. Somewhere there must be people who would laugh with her, talk to her as if she was one of them, families she could help, young minds she could challenge to think.
You give beauty for ashes and joy for mourning, Lord. Help me to see this as an opportunity.
But try as she might, doubts circled her like ravens. What if the Wallins didn’t like her? What if she didn’t like them? What if they saw right through her to the scared little mouse inside?
What if he wasn’t telling the truth?
She drew in a breath. A good offer had two sides. Mr. Wallin had stated his requirements. She had every right to state her own.
“I would prefer to visit the school first,” she informed him. “I expect to be interviewed properly and hired by those who will have children in the school.”
He nodded. “Anything you want.”
Anything? That she could not believe. “And if I decide that the position and I do not suit, you will return me to Seattle immediately.”
He spread his hands even as his smile widened. “If you decide you don’t want the best schoolhouse and most dedicated students in the territory, ma’am, I’ll personally escort you wherever you want to go, at my own expense. That’s a promise.”
He said it so firmly, as if he expected her to take him at his word. And she realized if she truly wanted this position, her only choice was to do just that.
At least for the moment.
She held out her hand. “Very well, Mr. Wallin. I will go with you.”
* * *
She’d agreed to come, if only to look at the place. James wasn’t sure why he was so relieved when Miss Fosgrave gave him her hand in pledge. Yet one look at that solemn face, and he wanted to dance around his team and crow for joy.
Which would likely have frightened both his team and Miss Fosgrave.
So, he merely clasped her hand and gave it a shake. “Thank you, ma’am. I’ll wait while you pack.”
She pulled away quickly, as she’d done the other times he’d touched her hand, which was a shame. She had soft, warm skin and a gentle grip that felt good in his.
In fact, she was the prettiest schoolmarm it had been his privilege to know. Her figure in that soft, white dress was admirable. Her hair was a warm sunny brown, combed back from a face that could only be called sweet. The eyes gazing at him from less than six inches below his own were liberally lashed, clear and open and a whimsical color that wasn’t quite brown and wasn’t really green but made him want to lean closer.
And presence? Oh, but she had that. She moved like a dancer he’d seen at one of Mr. Yesler’s cultural events—fluid and controlled at the same time. She spoke with an authority even the renowned Reverend Bagley would have envied. She was poised, she was polished, and she was exactly the sort of teacher they needed. And he’d managed to convince her to come to Wallin Landing.
Even as his chest swelled with pride, she took a step back as if already regretting her decision. “Pack? Nonsense. I cannot possibly be ready on such short notice.”
“We’ve only the things we brought with us on the ship,” Maddie pointed out. James had nearly forgotten she was there, so focused had he been on Miss Fosgrave. “It can’t take all that long to pack. I’ll lend a hand if you like.”
“No,” she said, then quickly softened the word with “thank you. I prefer to pack my own things.”
She certainly knew her own mind. Very likely that had been a requisite for joining the Mercer expedition. It couldn’t have been easy traveling all the way around the country and starting over. He was willing to grant her anything, so long as she came.
James glanced at the sky, where the sun was trying to burn through the remaining clouds. “I’ve a few commissions to complete while I’m in town, but I’ll need to start back in the next hour or so to reach home before dark. Will that give you enough time?”
“I suppose it must suffice,” she said. “I shall endeavor to be ready when you return, Mr. Wallin.” She inclined her head and turned to precede them through the door with ladylike tread.
Maddie, who had been watching Miss Fosgrave, shook her head. “Sure-n she has finer manners than the queen of England. But sometimes, if you catch her unawares, she’ll be having the saddest look in her eyes. Someone’s hurt her, that’s certain sure.” She shook a finger at James. “Don’t you be going and adding to her troubles.”
James held up his hands. “Me? I wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“A fly, maybe,” Maddie acknowledged. “But I’m thinking you’ve broken a few hearts in your time.”
“Not intentionally,” he assured her, lowering his hands. “I’ve never promised undying devotion to any woman.”
“Yet,” Maddie said with her usual twinkle.
“Ever,” James corrected her. “Life can change in a heartbeat, Maddie. Best not to take it too seriously.”
“So you say,” Maddie replied, heading for the door. “But I say you’ll be changing your tune for the right woman, James Wallin.”
James shook his head as she left. He’d liked Maddie from the first moment he’d met her at Catherine’s marriage to his oldest brother Drew. The feisty redhead generally gave as good as she got. Like him, she’d laughed off Catherine and Drew’s threat to match them all up with sweethearts.
Oh, he knew most men reached a point in their lives where marriage seemed the best course. But those men hadn’t watched their father die. He’d seen the light fade from Pa’s eyes, and then he’d seen the pain flare in Ma’s when Drew had delivered the news. And he’d known it was all his fault.
That was why he’d jumped at the chance to do his family a service when Catherine had entrusted him with this commission.
