The poor woman had tears in her pretty green eyes. “Jenny will be just fine, Mrs.….?” He was embarrassed not to have her name.
“Oh…!” she blushed. “I forgot that part. I’m Mrs. Abigail Burnham.”
“Jenny will be fine, Mrs. Burnham.”
“She’s so little,” the woman barely whispered, and when she saw the question in his dark eyes, she answered, “She just turned five a few weeks ago, Mr. Cunningham, and she wants to come to school.”
“Good. I was anxious to go to school at your age, too, Jenny. Go on inside and have a seat at a desk toward the front of the room. I’ll be right along,” he smiled at her in encouragement. “Did you send her lunch or do you want her to come home at noon, Mrs. Burnham?”
“Ohhhh! I forgot to pick it up from the table!”
“No problem. Just bring it by at noon,” he said with another smile. She was going to burst into tears any second now, and Peter hated to see a woman cry.
“I will,” she agreed, then turned away and took off running for home. Peter looked after her, and then reminded himself that she was a ‘Mrs.’ He went inside and started the business of another school year, leaning down to whisper to Jenny that her Ma would bring her lunch at noon since she forgot it. Jenny gave him a trusting smile. He felt a lump in his throat and realized that he was going to have to be careful not to let himself show favor to the little girl, even though she already had his heartstrings wrapped around her tiny little finger.
********************
Abby was clearly shaken by the time she entered the small house she shared with her daughter. Her imagination was playing tricks on her, of course. She was upset over leaving her ‘baby’ at school for the first time, and she was looking for trouble where she shouldn’t be looking. Mr. Cunningham was a schoolmaster, and schoolmasters didn’t wear guns.
She immediately set herself to kneading the bread she’d set to rise earlier, and tried to keep her mind from wandering all over the place. What happened was over six years ago, and every time she let herself remember that horrible day she had nightmares. Abby didn’t want to wake her baby by screaming in her sleep, but it was no use. Her mind was going to go where it wanted and she was powerless to stop the memory. She’d sneaked away with Jamie Burnham, and while they were doing things her Ma would have switched her for doing if she’d known, men came to her home and accused her Pa of stealing from them. Pa put up a fight, but he was only one man against five, and they hung him and then turned on her Ma and older sisters. Jamie shoved her down behind the woodpile and ran to try and stop what was happening, but they hit him over the head and headed out. Only a few minutes later, the Marshal and three of his deputies rode in, chasing after the gang. They helped Jamie, but Abby was in shock. The only thing she remembered from that day was the kind smile one of the deputies gave her when he found her hiding spot and gently coaxed her to come out. They helped her and Jamie bury her family, and Jamie took her home and told his Pa that he was marrying Abby.
She shook her head and realized she’d probably ruined her bread, pounding it into a tough mass. She shook her head and threw it away, and started all over. Mr. Winks at the Mercantile was happy to have her fresh baked bread to sell and she intended to keep him happy by supplying him with as much as he needed. Just because the teacher had a nice smile didn’t mean he’d been at her folks that day!
********************
It was a rare moment of quiet in the schoolroom and Peter sat at his desk and watched his students as they all worked industriously on various assignments. He hated to send them out in the rain to go home. It was a nasty fall day, and he hoped that some parents would arrive to give the ones who lived farthest away a ride home. Sure enough, the buggy’s and wagons started arriving right on time, and he excused the kids early as parents came for them. George and Gracie’s Pa was taking home the neighbor kids, too, and Peter thanked him, glad the girls wouldn’t have to walk so far in the rain. The classroom was soon empty of all but one child, and Peter was surprised. It was unusual for Jenny’s Mama not to be here before school was let out; she never let Jenny walk to or from school alone. She didn’t mind if other children walked with them, but she, herself, was going to be responsible for Jenny. Peter had been shocked to realize that she was a widow at such a young age. Her husband was injured when he fell while building a barn, and died a few days later, or at least that is what Mrs. Burnham told Mr. Winks at the Mercantile and he passed on to Peter. He waited another five minutes, and when there was still no sign of the woman, Peter made the decision to take Jenny home and see what was wrong. “Jenny, you don’t need your reader tonight. You don’t have any homework,” he reminded the child.
“Mama needs to do her lesson,” Jenny looked up at him. “I’m helping her learn to read and I tell her everything you say to us,” she shocked him by saying.
Peter had come across other adults who couldn’t read, but it still bothered him each and every time. He quickly wrapped Jenny in the spare slicker that he kept at school for those days it came up with a rain and he was already there, and then he put on the one he’d worn that morning when it was just beginning to drizzle. Without bothering to worry what Abigail would think, he lifted Jenny in his arms and headed for her house, hurrying as quickly as he could. Something was wrong, and he could feel it to his very soul.
********************
Abby was growing more and more hysterical! The weather was so bad, and Jenny just had a small sweater with her. She should have been here ages ago, and perhaps she was in the house, crying because she didn’t know where her Mama was! Abby pounded on the door and called out for help again, but the wind and rain was making so much noise, no one heard her. They were all inside their homes, enjoying the warmth of the stove, and trying to stay dry! What would Jenny do when she couldn’t find her? Abby worried, and burst into tears of helplessness. She was frantic over her baby! She tried again to budge the stubborn door, but it wouldn’t move! She was trapped in the outhouse, and no one to hear her or miss her but Jenny, and she was only five years old! What if someone came and took her away!!
********************
“Mama isn’t here!” Abby’s lower lip trembled as she looked at Peter helplessly.
“I’ll find her, honey. Don’t worry. Can you be a big girl and stay here inside while I go outside and look around?” She nodded, but her big green eyes were full of tears. “Jenny, I’ll find your Mama, and I won’t stop looking until I do. Now be a brave little girl and I’ll go and look around outside.”
Peter knew something was wrong, but there was no sign of a struggle inside the neat house. He wondered if Abby twisted her ankle in the backyard, or something like that. He let himself out the kitchen door, and quickly scanned the yard. She wasn’t there. Then he heard pounding and Abby’s voice calling for help. He ran to the outhouse and saw that a large branch had fallen from a tree and trapped her inside. “Abby! It’s Peter. I’ll have you out soon.”
“Is Jenny all right?” she asked through the door, her voice frantic.
“She’s fine. I brought her home when you didn’t come to school. Now stay calm. There’s a large tree branch against the door. I’ll try to move it and get you out of here.” It took him a few minutes to move the heavy limb, but he was finally able to get the door open enough she could squeeze outside. “Let’s get you in the house, Abby. Jenny is worried about you.” Abby wasn’t dressed very warm either, and he immediately wrapped his slicker around her to protect her from the rain as they ran for the house.
“Mama!” Jenny cried out in delight when she saw Abby. Abby knelt down and hugged the little girl. “Where were you?” she asked.
“A big branch fell out of the tree and blocked the door to the outhouse when I was inside; I couldn’t get it open,” Abby told her. “I was so scared you would be afraid when you couldn’t find me.”
“Mr. Cunningham told me not to worry and promised he would find you, and he did!” she ran and hugged him next
. “Thank you for finding Mama, Teacher!”
Peter gently rested his hand on her head. “You’re welcome, Jenny.” She was still wearing his oversized slicker and he suspected she had been prepared to keep right on looking for her Mama if he didn’t find her quickly.
“Look at you!” Abby smiled and then giggled. “You’re way too little for that rain slicker!” she started to help Jenny take it off.
“It’s Teacher’s. We knew something was wrong when you didn’t come to school for me, Mama, so he put this around me to keep me dry and carried me all the way here. I didn’t get wet, either, even my feet!” she said proudly, showing off the missing tooth in her mouth.
“I don’t know how to thank you, Teacher, but I’d be pleased if you’d stay to supper at least,” Abby decided it was safe to do that much. He’d done her a real kindness in making sure that her baby was safe, and fixing supper for him would be a kindness in return. Folks shouldn’t mind that or think it was bad of her.
“I would love to stay for supper, Abby. Thank you kindly,” Peter replied. “I don’t turn down home-cooking.”
“Do you have lessons for tomorrow, Jenny?” Abby asked.
“No, Mama. All done. Teacher said to leave my books at school since it’s raining and they’d get all wet. Can I go play now?” she asked.
“That’s a good idea,” Abby nodded, but she was more than a little nervous at being alone with the handsome teacher. He spent too much time in her dreams lately, and she didn’t want to think of anyone but her dear Jamie in that way. But, she was human, and it had been a long time since a man stirred her. She’d truly enjoyed the physical side of marriage.
“Abby, Jenny told me today that she is teaching you to read? Is that true, or is it a game you play with her to help her with her lessons?” he asked matter-of-factly, and as soon as he got a glimpse of the humiliation on her face, he had his answer. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you; I only wanted to offer my help.”
“I don’t have money to pay for lessons,” she answered, her face as red and hot as could be.
“I didn’t ask you for money,” Peter answered quietly. “I offered to teach you read. Jenny is only five. She needs to learn at a slower pace than you do.”
“We’re doing just fine!” she slammed a skillet on the stove, willing her sudden temper away.
“I would be happy to spend some time each day working with you, Abby,” he repeated himself, unable to believe she was turning down his help. When she whirled on him with temper in her green eyes, he finally realized that her embarrassment was in reality anger. She was utterly furious, and he didn’t have the first clue why she should be.
“I’ll just bet you would! Well let me tell you, Mister, I’m not that kind of woman.” She shook a wooden spoon at him for emphasis, and he suddenly realized that she was refraining from hitting him with it by only sheer willpower.
Abby suddenly realized she wasn’t the only one with a temper when he got to his feet to tower over her. His dark eyes were blazing with an inner fire she’d never before witnessed. In fact, he very much looked like that Deputy Marshal she recalled from years earlier, just as dangerous, even without the gun belt. She swallowed hard and took a couple steps backwards.
“Young lady, when was the last time someone turned you over a knee and spanked you soundly?” he demanded. “Have I ever, even once, treated you with less than respect?”
“No,” Abby’s eyes filled with tears of shame. “And you ain’t… I mean aren’t going to now!” she held her own. “I won’t give no one no reason to talk and say I ain’t a proper Mama to my little girl!” she continued, and then realized that all she’d done was make the Teacher even angrier.
She gasped in dismay when he pulled the wooden spoon from her hand, and then he shocked her by reaching around her with his left arm to lift her off her feet and hold her dangling over one arm and then brought the spoon down on her bottom once, twice, and three times. Abby found her voice then. “Owwww! You put me down! Please! Please! I don’t want Jenny to see!”
“I cannot believe you would think I would treat you like that, Abigail Burnham!” Peter gave her another few spanks with the spoon, and just that quickly he dropped her on her feet as Jenny came running into the kitchen.
“What’s that noise?” she asked, and then her green eyes grew round as she spotted the spoon in her Teacher’s hand and saw the look on her Mama’s face. “Mama, you got a spankin’?”
Abby started crying, much to Peter’s dismay, and gave him a wounded look. “Young lady, don’t you dare blame me. All I did was offer to teach you to read. You’re responsible for acting like I was planning to… hurt your reputation,” he said, careful of his words.
“Teacher, you’re going to teach Mama to read! That’s wonderful!” Jenny exclaimed, and then she gave him a big hug. “Mama, Teacher is being nice. He didn’t know how mad and ‘barassed you get when you can’t read something. You shouldn’t’ve scolded him. And, Teacher, Mama is growed up and too big for a spankin’,” she explained with a serious expression on her face.”
“Miss Jenny, no little girl ever gets too old for a spanking if she needs one,” Peter said softly. “Now, you go on and play with your dolly while your Mama and I talk a bit. I think she wants to say ‘sorry’ now.” Jenny looked at him, and then at Abby, and decided it would be best to obey.”
“I’m not going to say ‘sorry’ to you! I can’t believe you struck me!”
“I gave you six swats with a spoon, and we’ll finish this spanking after Jenny is tucked in tonight. You crossed a line, Abigail. I won’t permit that.” Her eyes flayed him alive and he ignored her temper. “What can I do to help you with supper?” he offered.
Abby couldn’t believe that Peter still expected her to feed him, but it was obvious he wasn’t going anywhere, and she had to remind herself that she would likely still be locked in the outhouse without his help. She asked Peter to peel some potatoes, since he wanted to help, and she cut off thick slices of ham to fry. It didn’t take long to have supper on the table, and Abby couldn’t help but smile as Peter had Jenny giggling with stories of his brothers when he was little.
Once they were finished eating, Peter helped Jenny dry the dishes, and then he sat down and read a story to her from a book she’d been given by Jamie less than a week before he was injured in the fall. Once that was done, he asked for paper and pencils, wondering if there would be any in the house. Abby brought out a box that had belonged to Jamie. It contained sheets of paper, pencils, ink, and two pens.
“Will these do?” Abby asked anxiously, wondering what Peter was about.
“Yes, Abby. Now sit down. I want to see where we need to start with your lessons.” She immediately blushed and he saw a spark of temper in her eyes. “Abigail,” he warned, “I don’t know why you’re so angry, but we will be discussing this later.” He turned to Jenny, “We’re going to show your Mama how well you can write your letters, and then we’ll talk about the sounds they make. Abby, I want you to write the letters you know.”
Peter could see that she was struggling with herself, but with Jenny sitting right there she couldn’t very well make a scene. He’d planned it that way on purpose. By the end of a couple of hours, Peter knew what he needed to know. Abby knew exactly what Jenny knew and nothing more. She didn’t know how to read more than a few basic words that he’d already taught his first year students. He also knew that Abby was bright and intelligent and really wanted to learn.
“Are you going to teach Mama, Teacher?” Jenny wanted to know.
“Yes, I am. You’ve done a very good job so far, Jenny, but Mama is older than you, and she is capable of doing longer assignments. Pretty soon she will be able to help you study your spelling words.”
“I’d like that a lot. Gracie’s Mama helps her all the time,” she imparted, not realizing how much her words would hurt her own Mama.
Abby felt tears of shame sting her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.
“Jenny, it’s time for bed now. You go and get ready, and I’ll come and tuck you in soon.”
“But, Mama, we have comp’ny!” the little girl whined.
“Jennifer, it is your bedtime and you have school in the morning. Now scoot!” Once her daughter was in her bedroom and couldn’t hear, Abby looked at Peter and said, “I think it is time for you to leave, Teacher. I don’t want anyone to think wrong of me.”
“Why would they do that? It’s early yet, and I’m not going to stay much longer. You go on now and tuck Jenny in for the night. We have some unfinished business to take care of, and I’m not leaving until we get some things straight between us.”
Abby looked like a little girl herself when she chewed on her lower lip and looked up at him with those big green eyes. She wanted to say something, but decided to go and check on Jenny instead, leaving him to sit there and decide what he should do next. He was worried that if he gave her the promised spanking she would end up afraid of him and refuse to let him teach her to read and write. On the other hand, he wasn’t about to permit the little redhead to accuse him of wrongdoing when it was the furthest thing from his mind. Finally, he decided he was just going to have to talk to her and if she offered an apology, he would be a gentleman and accept it… this one time.
Abby didn’t know what to do about the man in her kitchen. What would she do if he decided to turn her over his knee as he said he would? Jamie had walloped her a few times, and she’d had it coming. But, they were married, and a spanking always led to pleasure later when they made up. But, she didn’t think that the Teacher intended to stay for the making up part… not that she wanted him too! she quickly assured herself.
“You go to sleep now, Jenny. Mama loves you so much,” she tucked her in after her nightly prayers that always included her Papa.
“I love you, too, Mama,” Jenny yawned, and Abby smiled when the child was nearly asleep before she shut off the lamp.
Abby then squared her shoulders and went back to the kitchen, prepared to be firm and send the Teacher on his way. “I thank you for your help tonight, Mr. Cunningham,” she said formally. “I was so afraid for Jenny,” she admitted, “and it was very nice of you to take such good care of her for me. I want to thank you for offering to teach me to read, too, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. I don’t want folks to think bad of me.”
Monthly Maintenance: Selected Stories from Blushing Books Authors Page 14