her back against the hard wall. In place of a good book, she held a large tome titled: A School Atlas of Physical Geography, while balancing a piece of paper on another book on her lap to take notes. Her handwriting was wobbly and her patience waning.
Supper had been an exhausting affair filled with eager young men all clamoring for her attention. They begged her to stay in the parlor afterward, but she had returned to her room to study. Though she was in the back of the house, she could still hear the piano music and boisterous laughter from the front.
“What is the point in studying?” she asked herself as she closed the atlas with a thud.
“Miss Emmy?” Rachel opened their door and peeked inside. “There’s coffee and cookies if you’d like some refreshment.”
“What I’d like is to prepare my lessons for tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll leave you in peace,” Rachel said, closing the door.
“Oh, no!” Emmy scrambled off the bed and opened the door, embarrassment warming her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t mean for you to think you’re the problem.” It had been a long first day of school and things had not gone smoothly. From Mr. Samuelson’s daughters, who treated her like an imposter, to the Trask twins who had been teased by the other children, she’d had her hands full just dealing with discipline. It had taken most of the day to test the children and see where their strengths and weaknesses were, and she’d been disheartened to realize they were farther behind than most their age. Was it because they hadn’t had consistent teachers? “Maybe I do need some refreshments.”
Rachel gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll find it in the front parlor. I’d bring you some, but Mrs. Hubbard is feeling poorly and she asked me to fetch her another blanket.”
“The baby?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
Emmy thanked Rachel and left the kitchen, taking a deep breath to prepare herself. Maybe, if she was quick, she could get her refreshments and return to her room in peace.
At least a dozen men sat in the parlor. Some were playing cards, others were singing around the piano and still others were sitting on the furniture engaged in conversation.
The one named Mr. Archibald was the first to notice her. He stood near the piano, his boisterous voice louder than the others, but he stopped singing and let out a whoop. “She’s here, gents!”
Everyone paused what they were doing, and for a heartbeat, there was complete silence—then all of them started talking at once. Mr. Archibald rushed across the room and took her by the elbow. “This way, Miss Wilkes.”
He practically pulled her to the piano. “Do you sing? No matter. Everyone sounds good around Mrs. Hubbard’s piano.”
“I only came for the coffee,” Emmy protested, trying to pull away. “I have work to do this evening.”
“Ah, work,” Mr. Archibald said it like it was a dirty word. “We work during the day and play at night, right boys?”
A chorus of agreement rang in the air.
“How about a little dancing?” someone yelled from across the room. “I get the first dance.”
“No.” Emmy shook her head. She had no desire to spend the evening in frivolity. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.”
“You’re here now.” A man with red whiskers pulled her into his arms, as if he was spinning her in a waltz.
Emmy yanked out of his hold and straightened her skirt. “Gentlemen,” she said in her sternest teacher’s voice. “I have no intention to dan—”
The piano music started again, drowning out her objection, while all the furniture was pushed to the edges of the room.
“Really,” Emmy said. “I don’t want—”
“Come on, Aaron,” Mr. Archibald said to the man who had suggested the dance. “You’re up first.”
Emmy shook her head while the man named Aaron climbed over a chair, his eager gaze focused on her, his mouth in a lopsided grin.
She dashed behind a table and shook her head, out of breath. “No!”
“Ah, come on.” Aaron circled the table like a cat on the prowl. “Just a little fun is all we want.” He lunged for her, but she was fast and dodged his advance.
“The lady said no.” A firm male voice filled the parlor.
The piano music came to a jarring halt, and all the men turned to stare.
Ben stood under the archway, still in his outdoor clothing, his brown eyes full of authority.
“We were just funning her, Reverend,” Mr. Archibald said. “No harm done.”
Emmy still stood behind the table, her hands braced, her feet ready to take flight, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths.
Ben looked her over. “Are you all right, Miss Wilkes?”
She stood straight and ran her hand over her hair, tucking a wayward curl back into place. “Yes.”
Ben surveyed the room, looking at each man with intention, and nodded at Aaron. “See that all of Mrs. Hubbard’s furniture is put to rights.” He then looked at Emmy. “Could I have a word with you?”
She almost sighed in relief. “Of course.”
“Ah,” Mr. Archibald whined. “We got to her first.”
“Miss Wilkes is not a prize to be won,” Ben said to the other man. “She is a lady who is to be respected. Now leave her in peace and quiet.”
Emmy took a tentative step away from the security of the table and kept her eyes on the men as she stepped out of the parlor, across the foyer and into the dining room. A lantern had been left on, but dimmed, making the room intimate. Thankfully it was quiet.
Emmy sank into one of the chairs, her legs wobbly.
A smile quirked Ben’s lips as he sat near her. “That was quite something to watch.”
“How long were you standing there?”
“Long enough.” He couldn’t hide his grin.
Emmy sighed and shook her head. “I just want a quiet, comfortable place to study. I suppose I’ll have to stay late at the school to get things done.”
“It’s not safe for you to be there so late alone.” Ben’s smile disappeared. “Little Falls is a lawless town, thanks to our sheriff, and there’s no telling how long it will take for the men to discover you’re at the school alone.”
“What will I do? I have to study.”
Ben was quiet a moment. “You could always come to my home in the evenings. With Mrs. Carver there, she’d act as chaperone, and the boys are not loud.”
“Mrs.
