LITMIR.BIZ

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the meantime, I will continue searching for a male teacher and have him ready to take her place the first of the year.”

      Emmy let out the breath she’d been holding. It wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but it was a start. “If I can prove to you that you have nothing to fear, and that I have no intentions on ever marrying, will you allow me to stay?”

      Mr. Samuelson squinted at her. “How would you prove that?”

      “On Christmas Day, if I have made myself invaluable to the school and community, and I’ve shown myself above reproach, will you allow me to stay?”

      Mr. Samuelson looked at Ben, who stared back at him without expression.

      The superintendent threw his hands in the air. “Fine. But I’m warning you, Miss Wilkes—” he pointed at her, his finger shaking “—I will watch you closely, and if I see even a hint of romance, I will immediately terminate your contract and find a new teacher. Do I make myself clear?”

      Hope bubbled in Emmy’s chest for the first time since her arrival. She had no doubt she’d prove herself to the superintendent. No doubt at all. “You’ve made yourself clear.”

      “Now.” Mr. Samuelson turned to Ben. “Where is she staying?”

      “I haven’t decided.”

      Mr. Samuelson eyes grew wide as he swung around to face Emmy. “Where did you stay last night, Miss Wilkes?”

      “She stayed here,” Ben said quickly. “We tried to go to the Coopers, but I turned back, knowing it would have put her life in jeopardy if we had continued.”

      “Here? Unchaperoned?” Mr. Samuelson’s face filled with disapproval.

      “There was nothing untoward about last night,” Ben said with authority in his voice. “Neither one of us expected the mistake and we did our best to rectify it. Miss Wilkes slept upstairs, while I slept down. I hope my character and reputation will speak for itself.”

      Mr. Samuelson balled his scarf in one hand. “I don’t like it, but what’s done is done.” He addressed Emmy. “It is your upmost priority to ensure that your reputation stays untarnished, do you understand?”

      “Of course.” Her reputation meant more to her than almost anything.

      “I want you to bring her to the Hubbards immediately,” Mr. Samuelson said to Ben. “It’ll be cheaper to board her with the Hubbards than pay full price at the hotel, and her meals will be included.”

      “But don’t you think she’ll have more privacy at the hotel?” Ben asked. “The Hubbards’ boardinghouse is always full.”

      “Pearl will make room for her.” Mr. Samuelson’s voice suggested the debate was over. “And she’ll be across the road from me, so I can keep an eye on her.”

      Emmy suspected that was the real reason he wanted her at the Hubbards’ boardinghouse.

      “I’ll help you with your things,” Mr. Samuelson said to Emmy. “We’ll leave right now.”

      “We haven’t finished our breakfast,” Ben said.

      “Now.”

      Emmy smiled at Ben, offering him a quiet thank-you with her eyes. He had done more than he needed, and she was grateful.

      Without prompting, Emmy entered the enclosed stairway near the front door and went up to the room she’d slept in the night before. It was a spacious bedroom with a large bed, a bureau and a generous window. The bed had been warm and comfortable, and she’d had the best night sleep since leaving Massachusetts, given the circumstances. She gathered up her things as quickly as she could and placed them in her bag, and then she went back downstairs where the men were waiting.

      “Feel free to borrow the cap and scarf and mittens,” Ben said. “You’ll need them.”

      “Thank you.” She dressed for the outdoors, and when she was ready, she instructed them to bring the two trunks she needed most. She’d leave the one full of books at Ben’s to be picked up later. She lifted her bag and then followed them out into the snow.

      The cold air took her breath again, but this time she could see where she was walking. It was hard to get a good look at Little Falls with all the snow, but there would be time enough for that later.

      She followed close behind Ben, thinking of the evening before when he’d held her hand. He was a kind man and she could sense that they would be friends. It didn’t surprise her that he was a pastor. No doubt his parishioners loved him. She looked forward to attending church the following morning to hear him preach. She imagined he was good at that, too.

      Ben led her and Mr. Samuelson across the road and down a block. A large, brown house appeared in the falling snow. It was quite impressive, and not what she would have expected on the frontier. Where Ben’s home was modest and simple, this structure was overbearing, if not ornate. It was styled after the Greek Revival architecture and reminded her of some of the homes back east.

      “Timothy and Pearl Hubbard are one of the founding families in Little Falls,” Ben explained as they drew near the house. “You’ll like Pearl. She runs a respectable home. They have three children. They’ll be some of your students.”

      Excitement raced up Emmy’s spine at the prospect of meeting some students, despite the frigid air. She had taught for several years back east, but she suspected it would be much different in the West.

      A picket fence ran around the property and Ben unlatched the gate, allowing Emmy and Mr. Samuelson to pass by. Mr. Samuelson then went to the front door and opened it without knocking.

      Emmy stepped over the threshold and into the foyer. She was instantly met with the smell of warm spice cake and fresh coffee. A wide staircase ran straight up the right-hand wall, curving to the left at the top. Two archways flanked the foyer. The one on her left went into a front parlor and the one on her right looked into a dining room. Noise at the back of the foyer suggested a kitchen was in that direction.

      “Hello,” called a woman from the kitchen.

      “Hello, Mrs. Hubbard.” Mr. Samuelson set the trunk down with a thud. “We have a boarder for you.”

      A plain-faced woman entered the foyer, her middle thick with child. She wiped her hands on her apron as she came down the hall. She was a bit older than Emmy would expect to bear children, but she looked healthy and robust, if a little frazzled. Her dark hair was split down the center and dropped to cover her ears, before being secured at the back in a bun. She smiled a welcome to Emmy and offered Ben a fond glance, but she squared her shoulders when she met Mr. Samuelson’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but I’m full at the moment.”

      As if summoned, five boisterous men plodded down the wide stairs. They stopped short when they glimpsed Emmy, the ones in back plowing into the ones in front. All but one grinned like an idiot in her direction.

      “Is there nowhere to put her?” Mr. Samuelson asked, as if she was a piece of furniture to be stored.

      “Mrs. Hubbard,” Ben said graciously. “May I introduce you to Miss Wilkes, the new schoolmistress?”

      Pearl’s eyes lit and she took Emmy’s hand in a gentle squeeze. “The new teacher? Why didn’t you say so to begin with? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wilkes. I’m so happy you’ve come to teach our children.”

      “For the time being,” Mr. Samuelson amended. “Now, can you board her or not?”

      The men passed by and entered the parlor, though they didn’t make any noise, suggesting they were listening to the conversation in the foyer.

      “I suppose I can make room.” Mrs. Hubbard sighed. “We always have space for the teacher. You’ll need to room with Rachel, my serving girl. She sleeps in the room off the kitchen.”

      It wasn’t ideal. Emmy liked to spend her evenings studying and reading in solitude—but

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