Belonging (25 page)

“Please, tell me.”

She looked at him again. “I was remembering my family when I was a little girl in Chicago.”

“Chicago?” Charity said with surprise. “I thought you came from Wyoming.”

“I came to Frenchman’s Bluff from Wyoming. But when I was your age, I lived in Chicago with my mother and brother and sister. My father was … often away. After my mother died, we were placed out as orphans with other families. That’s what took me to Wyoming.”

The girl reached over and patted the back of Felicia’s hand. “No wonder you’re sad, Miss K. I’d be sad too.”

Felicia was in danger of losing her battle against tears, and it didn’t help to see the caring looks from both father and daughter. Except for Jane Carpenter, she hadn’t told anyone in Frenchman’s Bluff that part of her history. She hadn’t wanted people’s sympathy. It was the past and couldn’t be changed. Better that she focus on the future and the life she wanted to have.

As if understanding her thoughts, Colin asked Charity something about her horse, and the girl’s response filled the awkward silence, giving Felicia an opportunity to gain control of her emotions.
Thank you.
Though she didn’t speak the words aloud, she hoped he would somehow know she was grateful to him.

It had grown late by the time Felicia rose from the table, the dessert plate before her now clear of any evidence of the apple pie.

“Pumpkin,” Colin said to his daughter, “you get ready for bed. I’m going to walk Miss K to her door.”

“That isn’t necessary, Mr. Murphy,” Felicia protested. “It’s only across the yard.”

She was right, of course. He hadn’t walked her to her door any of the other evenings over the past three weeks. But tonight felt different. He couldn’t say why. It just did.

“It’s dark out,” he answered. “I’d just as soon walk with you.”

She looked at him for a long time before she said, “All right.”

The night was cool but not cold, the sky hidden behind clouds. As they went down the few steps outside the back door, Colin took hold of Felicia’s arm. What any gentleman would do. No more. No less.

“Charity’s learned a lot since you started working with her.”
So have I.
“Not sure I’ve told you how much I appreciate the extra work you’re doing with her.”

“She’s a good student. She just needed someone to help her find her way.”

They reached the door to her kitchen and stopped. He released his hold on her arm as he turned to face her. “I’m glad you came to Frenchman’s Bluff to teach, Miss Kristoffersen. Not sure I’ve told you that either.”

“And I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about me, Mr. Murphy.”

So she knew he’d opposed her. He shouldn’t be surprised. He’d voiced his opinion openly enough. It was bound to reach her ears sooner or later. “I’m sorry. It was unfair of me to oppose
your hiring simply because you are a woman. It was only because I thought a schoolmaster with a family might bring more stability to the school. He wouldn’t up and marry and move away like what’s happened here in the past. And, of course, you hadn’t any actual experience.” His voice lowered, almost to a whisper. “But it turns out that didn’t matter either.”

Although it was dark, he could make out the contours of her face as she looked up at him. He didn’t need light to see the high cheekbones or the strong jaw or the wildflower blue of her eyes. The desire to kiss Felicia washed over him, like a crashing wave upon the shore. He longed to hold her as he had when he’d carried her back from the river. He’d like to unlace her shoes and cradle her foot once again in his hand. He wanted—

Felicia drew in a quick breath, and only then did he realize that he’d leaned close to her, that his mouth was mere inches from hers, that his hands now rested on her shoulders.

Kiss her. Go on. Kiss her.

Somewhere in the dark, a creature moved. The branches of the nearby tree swayed. A twig snapped.

Felicia took a step back, out of his reach.

The moment to kiss her had passed.

“Good night, Mr. Murphy,” she whispered.

“Good night.”
Felicia.

He watched as she turned and hurried into the cottage, closing the door behind her. He waited a few more minutes before walking slowly back to his own door.

TWENTY-FIVE

“Who can spell
frightened
?” Felicia asked the small group of students seated on the recitation bench.

Charity, the oldest in the group, glanced to her left and right, then raised her hand. Not with great confidence, but her willingness to try was a victory in Felicia’s mind.

“Charity.”

She stood. “F-r-i … g … h-t … e-n … e-d.
Frightened
.”

“That’s correct.”

Joy spread across Charity’s face like the sunlight spread across the foothills in the morning.

“The next word is
whisper
.”

Two hands went up this time.

“Phoebe.”

“W-h-i-s-p-e-r.
Whisper
.”

“Very good. How about
mischief?
Tommy.”

“M-i-s-c-h … i-e-f.”

“Correct. Very good, all of you. You may return to your desks now.”

A feeling of pride welled in her chest. Every day she saw new progress in her students. Now that Charity was slowly but surely overcoming her reading difficulties, Felicia’s two greatest challenges
were R. J. Franklin and Daniel Watkins, although for very different reasons.

Her gaze drifted to the last row of desks, the last seat at the back, nearest the exit. Apropos, since R. J. was so anxious to leave school and start working with his father.

And what a waste that would be. The Franklins were prosperous dairy farmers. Surely they could afford to send their son to college. R. J. didn’t need to settle for a mediocre education. He could study to become a professor or a doctor or a lawyer or a scientist. Or whatever it was that interested him the most. There must be something, other than milk cows, that interested him.

All I have to do is help him discover his passion.

She looked in another direction, to Daniel. Things had improved since their rough beginning, and he hadn’t gotten into any more fistfights. Not since she’d talked to Jane. But Felicia still worried about him, still spent a great deal of time praying for wisdom, asking God to show her how best to deal with him.

With a mental shake, she turned and stepped onto the raised platform. A quick glance at her watch told her the lunch hour had arrived. She dismissed the students, one row at a time, and within a few minutes, she was alone in the classroom. The children’s voices drifted to her through the open door as she retrieved her own lunch and sat down at her desk to eat.

She bit into a crisp slice of apple. The sweet-tart flavor burst in her mouth, and she smiled even as she chewed. Jimmy Bryant had promised her she would love these apples. And right he was.

“My mom makes great applesauce,” he’d told her yesterday in the mercantile. “Mmm. She puts up all kinds of fruits and vegetables, startin’ in the middle of summer and goin’ right on into October. Been at it for weeks now. Tomatoes and pickles and cherries and peaches and all sorts of things.”

Now, there was a young man whose life might have been changed by a college education. It was too late for Felicia to influence him, but it wasn’t too late for his brothers. She still had a chance with fourteen-year-old Samuel and nine-year-old Tommy.

She almost laughed aloud at the thought of the youngest Bryant brother. If one of her students was ever born to be a salesman—or better yet, a politician—it was Tommy Bryant. He had been trying to convince her to take one of Goldie’s puppies for several weeks, and she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to resist much longer, even though she hadn’t the time or the resources for owning a pet. He was full of blarney, that one.

Closing her eyes, she sent up a silent thanks to God for this new life He’d given her. She was succeeding as a teacher, most of her students seemed to enjoy school, and she was making friends in the community. Kathleen and Jane and … and Colin …

Colin.

Her heart fluttered. He’d almost kissed her two evenings before. She’d almost
let
him kiss her. And she’d
wanted
him to kiss her.

It had been wrong for him to think about it. It would have been just as wrong if she’d let it happen. He was engaged to another woman. Not just some other woman. To her friend.

Father, help me. I’m not strong enough on my own.

“Mr. Murphy.” Helen’s arms were crossed beneath her ample bosom, and the set of her mouth was severe. “May I speak with you privately? It won’t take but a moment.”

It was all Colin could do not to groan. Instead, he nodded. “Of course, Mrs. Summerville. Come into my office.” He motioned toward the door behind the counter.

The woman walked ahead of him, her body stiff, her head held high. The feather on her large, fashionable hat fluttered from side to side like the pendulum of a metronome.

Whatever she wanted to say, Colin decided, it wasn’t going to be pleasant for him to hear.

He followed her into the office and closed the door behind him. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

If Helen Summerville was any more rigid, she would snap in two.

“Mr. Murphy, I have come to you on a matter of some delicacy.”

He nodded solemnly, resolved to say nothing until she was finished.

“About Miss Kristoffersen.”

His eyebrows rose, but he held his peace.

“And you.”

That jolted him from his resolve. “And
me
?”

“It has come to my attention that Miss Kristoffersen has been seen coming and going from your house in the evenings. Frequently. And after dark.”

Anger coiled in the pit of his stomach.

“You can imagine the concern this has caused among the other members of the community, especially those of us on the school board.”

“No, Mrs. Summerville. I
can’t
imagine why it would cause anyone concern. Miss Kristoffersen has been tutoring Charity in the evenings, helping her with her reading.”

“Mr. Murphy,
you
are a single man and
she
is an unmarried woman.”

“That’s true, ma’am, but she is a teacher working at the kitchen table with her pupil, and I have other things to do while they are
so employed. And if anyone doubts it, they can ask my daughter. There is nothing inappropriate about our dealings with one another.”

“That’s not what I heard. You were seen by an acquaintance of mine holding and … and kissing that woman outside her home just two nights ago.”

Who’d seen him? In the dark? Then he remembered the sound of the snapping twig. Had someone been watching them? Had this busybody put someone up to it? No. Surely not. Even Helen Summerville wouldn’t sink that low. It must have been by chance.

“Well, Mr. Murphy. What have you to say for yourself?”

“You were told wrong. Whoever your
acquaintance
is was mistaken. I walked Miss Kristoffersen home. That’s all. I didn’t kiss her.”
But I wanted to badly enough.

The woman rose from her chair. “I’m disappointed in you, Mr. Murphy. Appearances matter. I was certain you would wish to preserve the reputation of both yourself and Miss Kristoffersen. I see I shall have to resolve this matter in another way.”

“What do you mean by that?” He stood too.

“I shall have her dismissed, of course.”

The simmering anger boiled over. “Dismissed? For doing her job? For teaching my daughter on her own time?”

“Dismissed.” Her chin jutted forward as her eyes narrowed.

“Mrs. Summerville, you are not only narrow-minded; you are unkind.”

“And you obviously have no concept of the decorum of polite society. I was mistaken about you, Mr. Murphy. Gravely mistaken.” She turned toward the door, sweeping the skirt of her gown behind her with one hand. “Good day.”

Colin wanted to punch something.

He waited several seconds after the woman left his office before
he moved to the doorway. Thankfully, there wasn’t another customer in the store. No one, with the exception of Jimmy, had heard the altercation, and Jimmy was trying hard to look as if he hadn’t.