His Errant Educator (Willamette Wives Book 3) (12 page)

"That's what I like to see," Roger said with a smile. "Isn't it better to help one another than to fight?"

"It's better than facing Pa's strap," Barbara quipped, unabashedly rubbing her hands across the back of her skirts. "I'd forgotten how much it stings."

Roger noticed that Teresa didn't say anything but that her cheeks flushed as she gave him a quick glance. He chuckled and put the broom and mop away. "I'll leave you girls to it but will be expecting an extra-large slice of that cake after supper."

"I'll walk you out," Teresa volunteered, "oh, if that's all right with you, Barb?"

"It's fine, Tessie, just don't let Pa catch you two smooching."

"We're going to be married, silly. If Pa didn't mind Roger spa… oh, um, I'll be back," Teresa said, her cheeks now scarlet as she hurried from the room.

"Thank you for helping, Mr. Morrison," Barbara said. "And thanks for loving my sister."

"No thanks required for that, Barbara, and since we are going to be related, please call me Roger." She nodded and began to crack eggs into a bowl as he turned to join his fiancée.

Now, a few hours later, as he and the others climbed the steps to the restaurant, he grinned, remembering standing here, kissing the love of his life. He couldn't wait to be standing on their own front porch, out on the ranch where he could smooch and do other delicious things with his bride to his heart's content.

***

Teresa stood with her sister and father as they greeted their guests. Seeing each one giving Catherine a warm welcome, she realized that all of these people were a family and Roger was a part of that. She suddenly wondered how they would accept her joining them. She watched Anna accept a kiss from her husband as he untied the ribbon holding her cloak closed, taking it and hanging it on a hook by the door before the group moved into the dining room, each woman stating how pretty the tables looked having been set with the Goldmans' finest china and crystal.

Accepting their compliments, Teresa wondered what they would think if they knew that she'd set the table while giving her backside an occasional rub. She gave a bit of a start as Roger slipped an arm about her waist, looking up to see him smiling down at her. Her heart filled at the look in his eyes, her tummy doing a little flip, and she relaxed against him.

"Ready?" he whispered.

About to ask ready for what, she heard her pa asking for everyone's attention.

"It is my greatest pleasure to be able to announce that Roger has asked for Teresa's hand and she has accepted. I can't think of a better man to join my family, and I know that my daughter will be welcomed into yours."

Teresa was a bit overwhelmed as she and Roger were engulfed by every person in the room. The men drew her into gentle hugs, kissing her cheek before they clapped Roger on the back, congratulating him. The women hugged her and then giggled as they all began to talk at the same time.

"Go ahead," Agatha said, nodding to Charity.

"I just wanted to say that we are all so thrilled you'll be joining us at Rose Ranch. I know you saw the pond last week…" She paused and Teresa flushed, remembering how that visit had turned out.

Agatha picked up the conversation. "We have pastures that go on and on for miles. Did you see me and Wyatt sledding?"

"I just saw you climbing. It looked like you went a long way. I, um, didn't see you coming down."

"Oh, that's right. Um, well… that's all right."

Anna giggled, reaching out to give her friend's hand a squeeze. "Once the snows melt, the grass will grow and then the wildflowers will come. It really is quite beautiful. We also have thick woods, and the mountains are our backdrop."

"Of course, yours and Roger's cabin will have to be built but I promise, no matter where you decide to build it, you won't want to live anywhere else. I'm not sure what date you've picked for the wedding, but I can say that with all the men helping, it won't take any time at all for it to be completed," Agatha said, adding that they'd all pitch in to help her turn the cabin into a home.

Before Teresa could respond, Roger was drawing her away and pulling out a chair at the table. As she took her seat, she gave an involuntary small hiss and then felt her cheeks heat. Roger gave her a smile and bent down to give her cheek a quick kiss. She hoped he believed her blush to be due to shyness over being kissed in front of others, and not because she was praying that none of the women were wondering why she'd winced when sitting.

"Are you all right?" Roger asked, drawing her attention away from her thoughts.

"What?" Realizing that he was holding out the platter of roasted chicken, she forced herself to pay attention. "Yes, I'm fine," she said, thanking him for the piece he set on her plate as the meal began. Additional bowls and plates were passed around and the talk turned to the dance to be held the following night. It was a subject Teresa was far more comfortable with and when she heard Barbara chatting to Charity, who was seated directly across from her, about what she would be wearing, Teresa remembered that she'd never thanked Agatha for the use of her dress.

Looking a few seats down, she remedied her error. "Agatha, I wanted to thank you for allowing Roger to borrow a dress that day. I wanted to wait until I could ask you myself but he was concerned about my catching cold. I really do appreciate your generosity. I'm so sorry I tore it."

"You did an excellent job repairing it. We all pitch in to help each other no matter what might be needed. That's another benefit of living on the ranch. We really are like a big family." Agatha glanced at her husband and smiled. "It doesn't surprise me at all that Roger didn't wait for my return. Our men tend to be very protective of us, especially when we do something that could endanger our health."

"Yes, that's another thing you'll discover soon enough," Anna said and Teresa heard Charity give a soft giggle.

"Um, well, anyway, thank you again," Teresa said, unsure what the woman meant with her statement about discovery. Turning her attention to her plate and trying to not wiggle too much, she was grateful when she heard her father speak.

"Catherine, you've outdone yourself again," Benjamin said. "The meal was delicious. Now, did I hear something about cake?"

"I can't take credit for dessert," Catherine said, her cheeks flushed with the compliment. "Your girls made the cake."

"It's nice to know they found a much better use for the flour than tossing it on the floor," Ben quipped, giving his daughters a smile.

"I'll get it," Teresa offered, jumping up.

"I'll help," Barbara exclaimed. The two began to clear the table, both insisting that they didn't need help when it was offered.

After placing her stack of plates next to the sink, Teresa took the opportunity to rub her backside rather vigorously, giving a soft moan.

"You too?" Barbara asked, giving her own rear a massage. "Roger actually spanked you!"

Teresa could feel her face flush but knew her rubbing of her bottom told the true story. "Yes, and believe me, I'd have preferred if it had been Pa."

"That can't be true," Barbara offered, then giggled. "I'd think being punished by a beau would be less harsh. Was it truly awful?"

"Think again," Teresa said. "Lord, I had to bite my tongue to keep from groaning during dinner. How could I have forgotten how awful it is to sit down after a spanking?"

"Probably because Pa hasn't spanked us in years," Barbara said. "I really thought I'd just have to listen to a long lecture, but Pa took the strap down the moment you and Roger left the shed. I have never apologized so profusely but, well, I guess we went too far, as he wasn't interested in anything I had to say. Just told me to bend over the table and lift my skirts and drop my drawers. At least you got your spanking over your clothes." When Teresa didn't speak, her sister's eyes grew large. "Roger didn't… I mean, he wouldn't… Tessie!"

"Believe me, I was as shocked as you are," Teresa finally admitted.

"He bared you?"

"No, he allowed me to keep my bloomers on but…"

"But what?"

Teresa sighed deeply as she remembered the punishment. "I might as well have been bared because I swear Roger's hand was as hard as Pa's strap even over my drawers. It was so hard not to rub my bottom when I stood in the corner."

Barbara gasped. "Really? He stood you in the corner? That's—"

"Horrid," Teresa said. "It was embarrassing, too."

"Well, did he at least kiss you afterwards?"

"Several times," Teresa admitted. "But I'd adore them even more without having a painful bottom, or a nose that is sore from touching the wall." Twirling away from the counter, she took a step and froze, realizing that they were no longer alone.

"We didn't mean to interrupt," Agatha said. "We just thought we might be able to help. Your pa thought everyone might be more comfortable having coffee and cake in your parlor."

Teresa could think of nothing to say. How long had the three women been standing there? How much had they heard? Oh, God, how long would they wait before informing Roger that his fiancée was speaking about something so private?

"We don't need help," she finally managed, going to the work table, where the cake sat on a pretty stand.

Barbara took the remaining dirty dishes from Charity and Anna, placing them with the others. "Um, you can take the dessert plates out if you want," she offered. "I'll bring the coffee pot."

"I'll carry the tray of cups," Anna said, but Agatha hung back as Barbara, Anna and Charity left together. Walking to the table, she said, "Teresa, please don't be embarrassed. There is no reason to be."

"Please… don't say anything to Roger."

"I promise we won't say a word."

"You… you won't?" Teresa asked, blinking rapidly to keep the threat of tears of embarrassment from falling.

"Of course not," Agatha said. "I swear none of us would ever…"

"You can't make a promise for the others," Teresa said. "I need to serve the cake."

"I'm just saying that we all understand exactly how you feel," Agatha said, reaching for the cake server and its matching knife.

"I highly doubt that," Teresa said, lifting the cake stand. "Excuse me, my guests are waiting."

She swept out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest. Could Agatha be telling the truth? It would be so wonderful to have friends but, well, she'd had friends in town who couldn't be trusted to keep a secret. It would take more than a promise to have her believe that these women were different.

Roger was waiting at the bottom of the stairs when Teresa appeared. "I was beginning to wonder if there was something wrong," he said, reaching for the cake stand.

"No, nothing's wrong. I'm sorry…" Teresa said.

"No reason to apologize," Roger said, looking down at the cake. "This looks delicious."

"Doesn't it?" Agatha said, joining them. "Teresa, we'll get together in my cabin and you can show me how to make it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll tell the others that the cake is coming." She ducked around them and practically ran up the stairs.

"What's the matter?" Roger asked, his hand moving to cup Teresa's chin and tilt her face up so that he could look into her eyes.

"Nothing," Teresa said, "we have guests who are waiting for their dessert."

"They can wait a minute longer," Roger said. "Something is wrong and I want to know what it is."

Forcing herself to smile, she said, "I guess I'm just a little nervous. I mean, you know everyone but they still don't know me very well."

"Don't you fret. These are all good people. Don't be nervous. They are well on their way to loving you already." She shook her head, about to disagree when he said, "In fact, Agatha was so determined that I not give up on us that I'm pretty sure she got… um, never mind. Just know that you won't find better friends." He released her chin but bent to kiss the tip of her nose. "Better?"

"A little," she admitted, but remembered the conversation at supper. "Why does everyone think we'll be living on their ranch?"

"Because where else would we live?"

"Here, of course," Teresa said. "Our place is big enough for all of us. I'm sure Pa wouldn't mind us moving into his rooms, and he can have mine, or one of the guest rooms."

"Teresa, there is no way I would ask your father to give up his room… in his home. No, we will make our own home together on the ranch. In fact, it will be fun picking out a spot for our cabin. There are lots of possibilities but I have one particular place in mind. It's right by a bend in the creek not too far away from Wyatt and Agatha's cabin…"

"Are you planning on sharing that cake?"

Roger looked up see Richard standing at the top of the stairs. "I thought about hogging it but suppose we could share," Roger said. "After you, my dear." Having no choice, Teresa began to ascend as Roger continued talking. "We were just talking about building the cabin."

"We can do that while eating cake," Richard said, stepping aside as Teresa reached the landing. "If you have some paper and a pen, I can draw a quick map to give you a better idea of where the other cabins are, Teresa."

"Oh, yes, I'll get some." Thankful to get away, she turned down the hall in the opposite direction as the men. Once inside her room, she leaned against the door. While grateful that it appeared the women hadn't told Roger what they'd overheard, she had another concern. It seemed Roger really expected them to live out in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by smelly cows and God only knew what other animals. Weren't there bears in the woods? And Indians? What about them? Trembling a bit at the thought of coming face to face with some savage, or wild beast eager to eat her for supper, she had absolutely no appetite for cake. Surely after she reminded him that she needed to live in town in order to easily walk to the school house each day, he'd understand. Even if he didn't want to ask her pa to change rooms, she would. After all, her pa was just one person, and had no need of the larger room with the adjoining siting area. Taking a moment to peer into the mirror, she tidied her hair and straightened her skirts before gathering some paper and a pen.

She entered the parlor, and after giving the paper to Richard, squealed a bit as Roger pulled her down to sit on his knee. Flushing and about to jump up, she realized that Charity was sitting on her husband's knee in another chair without the least bit of embarrassment showing on her face. Admitting to herself that she rather enjoyed the intimacy of her position even if her bottom stung a bit, Teresa turned her attention to the conversation.

***

"How soon is this wedding?" Richard asked.

"We haven't settled on a date but it can't be quick enough if you ask me," Roger said, his eyes twinkling as he looked down at his fiancée. "In fact, tomorrow would be great!"

"Roger! I'm sure Teresa would appreciate some time to plan her wedding," Charity chided. "Right, Teresa?"

"Um, I hadn't really thought about it but, yes, I would like a bit of time."

"My little girl will have the wedding of her dreams," Ben said, patting Teresa on the shoulder. "We've been here since the town was founded and I would like to extend an invitation to all of our friends."

"Pa, we don't need to invite the whole town!" Teresa said.

"Tessie, everyone will want to come. You'll make a beautiful bride," Barbara said. "But Charity is right. We'll need time to plan."

"I can understand that," Richard said. "You can take all the time you need. In fact, we really can't begin to build until spring." At Roger's groan, Matthew shook his head.

"She can always bunk with us," he offered.

"I want my wife to be happy, not appalled," Roger said, giving a chuckle. "I promised my bride a home of her own and she'll have exactly that."

"I'm just joshin'. If you really can't wait, I can always move to one of the barns until we get your cabin built."

Anna laughed as she and Agatha came to the small table and handed their husbands plates with large slices of cake. "I'm sure Bessie won't mind having a roommate—unless you snore too loudly."

"Who's Bessie?" Teresa asked, having thought the only people on the ranch were the ones gathered in her house.

"She's our milk cow," Anna explained. "She's a sweet little thing but I suppose if Matthew wants even more company, he can move into Agatha's barn, and room with her cow and all those chickens."

"Don't forget Mr. Rooster," Wyatt said with a chuckle. "Of course, he might object as he truly believes he is the only co—"

"Wyatt!" Agatha exclaimed, nudging her husband in the ribs.

"Um, never mind."

Teresa felt rather left out as the group laughed at Wyatt's sheepish expression. This was the second time one of the men hadn't completed a statement. What weren't they willing to share?

Catherine came over as well, placing cups of coffee on the table in front of Richard and James. "Roger, Teresa, would you both like some coffee?" she asked.

"I'll get it," Teresa said, jumping off Roger's lap. "I need to get Roger a piece of cake, as well."

"No, no. Let me bring them to you," Catherine countered. "You two are the guests of honor after all."

Roger agreed, pulling her back down onto his knee even as Anna asked, "What are you drawing?" as she slipped onto her husband's lap and lifting the fork, took a bite of cake.

"Hey! Watch it, little girl, that's my piece."

Anna just smiled and took another bite before giggling at his exaggerated look of dismay. "Don't worry, there's more. You know how I love cake."

"Take another big bite," Richard said, "you know how I love to remind you of your manners." Teresa saw that Anna's eyes widened a bit though she was shaking her head and smiling.

"Oh, is that our cabin?" Anna said, her cheeks turning pinker as the men chuckled, all well aware that she was changing the subject even as she put the fork down.

"Yes, we were discussing where to build the newlyweds' cabin," Richard said and took a huge bite of his cake.

"Oh, that's exciting. Where are you thinking?" Agatha asked.

"That's what I'm trying to show Teresa," Richard said. They watched as he quickly drew a rough map as he spoke. "Teresa, we own over two thousand acres—"

"Hey, can't we add another 320 since I'll be a married man?" Roger interrupted.

"I don't know," Richard said. "We'll have to look into that, but unless you are planning on living miles and miles away…"

Teresa was about to protest when Roger laughed. "No, of course not. Sorry to interrupt."

Richard nodded and tapped the paper with the pencil. "As I was saying, there are cabins here," he paused and drew the simple shape of two additional houses on the paper, adding a barn close to each. "We haven't finished all the corrals but have a birthing shed over here." Another building was put to paper. "And, of course, the bunkhouse is here." After drawing the buildings, he added a few squiggly looking lines and some triangle peaks. "This is the river which runs throughout the property. As you can see, Wyatt and Agatha's place is at the foot of the mountains close to the river. Oh, you've seen it before."

"Right, the day we went skating," Roger concurred.

"Great, then you have an idea of what sort of cabin we are planning. Anyway, there is a great deal of land not slated for pasture use even though we plan on growing the herd rather rapidly. As you can see, we all chose to build on this side. The land act requires that we improve and upgrade the land we've claimed, and that includes building homes. Since we've combined our lands, we've spread the cabins out so that they are on different plots. I know this scale isn't right, but while we all live within a couple of miles of each other, well, we all agreed we wanted some land between us so the requirements to improve the land isn't a problem."

"Yes, you get the best of both worlds that way," Wyatt said. "You know that while your friends are close enough to visit or help, you feel as if you are in your own little world."

"Especially when the snows get really high," Agatha added with a smile.

"There is that great stand of oak trees here," Richard said, tapping the pencil against the paper. "If you build there, your place would be closest to the road and the first one people would come across when entering the ranch."

"No, I think your place should be the first people come to," Roger said. "I mean, you were the one who began the ranch, and I'd hate to impose upon your generosity."

"Nonsense," Richard said. "We all are building this ranch. We became equal partners the moment we planted that first stake."

"That spot is nice but I was thinking further back towards the foothills. Remember where we found that cow and her calf?" Taking the pencil, Roger marked a spot and then drew another squiggly line a mere inch away. "This is the meadow about a mile from where our first bull was born. I think it would make a perfect spot for our cabin. Seeing the sun rise over the mountains would be a pretty sight. We'll have a nice porch and I can build us some rocking chairs." Tapping the line, he continued. "The river bends, so hauling water would be easy."

"That'll work," Matthew said, "especially since it seems you've become quite attached to that bathtub."

"So, honey, what do you think?" Roger asked.

"I think we should live in town."

"Town? Why would you want to do that?" Matthew asked. "I really was just kidding about the bunkhouse…"

"Oh, I didn't think you were serious. It's just that, well, how far away is the ranch from town? A mile?"

"Farther than that," James said. "I'd guess more than five or six?"

"That proves it then," Teresa said, finally picking up her coffee cup and taking a sip.

"Proves what?"

"That we can't live on the ranch, of course."

"Tessa, I've already said we are not going to live here," Roger said, giving her a frown. "You will be my wife and live in our cabin… on the ranch."

"No, that's simply not possible," she said, turning to where her father was standing. "Pa, you won't mind giving up your—"

"Tessa!" Roger said sharply. "I've already told you…"

"Roger, it won't hurt to ask…"

"We aren't going to ask," Roger said.

"But that's not fair. You aren't even listening to me. None of you are!"

"Teresa, calm down—" Roger began.

Richard broke in, "Look, it's been a long day and it's getting late. There's no need to decide where you want the cabin as, like I said, though we can start felling trees, it will still be a few more weeks before we can start building."

"There's nothing more to talk about," Teresa said. "I will not live out in the wilderness. Not when—"

"Tessa, Richard's right. This is a discussion we'll continue in private," Roger said, shaking his head. His arched brow reminded her of how he'd looked that afternoon, and suddenly she was quite willing to forestall any further discussion.

"We'll get the children," Agatha said as the others stood. "Which room did you put them down to sleep in?"

"Mine," Barbara said, "I'll show you…"

"No, I will," Teresa said, already moving away from the table. She needed some time to think about her next step. She'd been so sure that Roger would understand her need to be in town but it didn't appear he would even consider moving off his precious ranch.

Once she'd led the way to her sister's room, she watched as the three women all gently lifted a sleeping child from the bed. Even Agatha, who had no children yet, took the eldest little girl as easily as if she were her own. Small arms were eased into coats and blankets wrapped around warm, sleepy little bodies.