by Diane Darcy
“I mean, a girl as pretty as you? I give it six weeks.” The look he gave her, scorching hot, had her gasping. And darn it! There she went again, blushing to the roots of her fair hair.
“To my boarding house, Mr. Newby.”
“Boone, remember?”
She took another steadying breath. “To my boarding house, if you please, sir.”
She would’ve felt better about the chill in her voice, and her reserved manner, if the man hadn’t laughed.
Chapter 4
The next morning, as arranged, Boone picked her up to take her out to the school and once again, she felt breathless in his company.
“Thank you for coming to get me. Let me know if I need to arrange for some other transportation.”
His gaze was admiring. “This works for me.”
Warmth bloomed within her. “Well, again, let me know if that changes.”
It didn’t take them long to get to the school, and they passed clusters of wooden houses built into the steep slope of the hill. There were Queen Anne cottages and gabled homes, and she could see men going off to work in the mines, lunch pails in hand and wondered if she’d be teaching their children.
Once they arrived, he hauled her down like a sack of potatoes and settled her on the ground once more.
She really ought to take him to task for it, but admitted to herself there was a part of her that enjoyed it, was impressed by his strength and liked the feminine way he made her feel.
Besides, she was so nervous about the upcoming day, that she simply chose to ignore his behavior. She straightened her skirt, thanked him when he handed over her bag and lunch pail, and walked toward the big, square, red-brick schoolhouse.
The place looked fairly new if she was any judge, but it wasn’t built for beauty, but rather utility. They walked up ten steps to the double doors and went inside.
The noise of rowdy children washed over her in the long hallway, as children, young and old, darted into classrooms. Nerves made her insides clench.
This was what she was in Montana for, and she had every intention of doing a proper job of it.
The hallway started to empty. They passed two rooms filled with older children, and at the third, Boone stopped. “This is it.”
She nodded. “Thank you for bringing me. Perhaps I’ll see you around today in the course of your work?”
“Probably so. Good luck.”
She took a deep breath.
“Don’t show any fear.”
That made her chuckle, releasing some of the tension she felt. “I won’t.”
Boone watched her as if curious at her reactions. “Have a wonderful day, Teach.”
“You, as well.” She could do this. She’d trained for it, though she’d really never expected to use her education for anyone other than her own children when the time came.
She took a deep fortifying breath, smiled at Boone, and walked inside the schoolroom to see young, bright, curious faces, all gazes locked upon her.
She shut the door on Boone’s smiling face and turned around with a genuine smile. “Good morning, children. I am Miss Rickman, your new teacher.”
She heard a muffled laugh through the door, and chuckled as the class welcomed her.
It wasn’t the worst bunch of ragamuffins that Lucy had ever seen, but it came close. The children she’d associated with in New York were always well-dressed, clean, and tidy.
Here, she noted more than one child without shoes, and a few with uncombed hair, but they all looked eager which filled her with hope. They looked to be from about age five to age ten, perhaps.
When she’d earned her teaching certificate from Vassar College, she’d studied under Mrs. Fordyce.
The woman had been a martinet, strict, stern, and determined to fill young minds with education and enlightenment, regardless of their economic status.
Lucy would do the same.
As she walked to the front of the classroom and settled her belongings on her desk, the room slowly quieted.
Again, following Mrs. Fordyce’s lead, her hands calmly clasped together in front of her, she faced the classroom.
“As I said, I am Miss Lucy Rickman and I am from New York City. You may all call me Miss Lucy.”
“New York Thitty!”
The boy who’d spoken was an adorable, chubby-cheeked towhead with two missing front teeth.
She smiled. “Yes. As I said, I’m from New York City, and I am happy to be here to teach you children for at least the next couple of months.”
“Where will you go after that?” A girl in a gingham dress smiled at her, cheekily.
An older boy called out, “Going to get married! That’s what they all do!”
“Quiet please, children. You will raise your hand and wait to be called upon if you’d like to participate in the discussion.”
She waited until it was silent. “Actually, I am not to be married. I will, perhaps, be reevaluated at the end of the school year and at that time it will be determined whether I’m to stay or not.”
A boy of about eight raised his hand. He was an identical twin if the boy he was sitting next to was any indication.
“Yes?”
“You’re pretty!”
The class broke out in giggles, as did the boy who’d made the comment.
Lucy smiled and started to relax. “Thank you. Now children, pay attention, we’ve a lot to learn today, and we’d best get to it. Please clean off your slates, and afterward I’ll have each of you introduce yourselves, and then we’ll get started.”
As the children did as she asked she wrote her name on the board as well as the agenda she’d prepared for the day and happiness rose within her.
Her grandmother had been right to send her here. Lately, her life was becoming one new experience after the next, and some of them were turning out to be pretty amazing.
Boone was having a lot of fun watching Miss Lucy, as the children were calling her.
He had plenty to do, and was now playing handyman after informing the county superintendent that he’d be filling in for a few days or so.
“Boone, do what you want. You always do, anyway. So long as we’re still having the year end party, that is.”
“Of course, we are. Don’t be stupid.”
Superintendent Graham White sat behind his desk and steepled his fingers. A thin, elegant man in his forties, with a passion for education, he was always trying to get Boone to contribute funds. “Just so we’re clear, I’m simply concerned that one day of dealing with the children could lead you to changing your mind.”
“Don’t worry, it won’t.”
“In that case, I have plenty to keep a man of your abilities busy.”
Boone chuckled. “That’s what I figured.”
“Any chance this has anything to do with my new teacher? I haven’t met her yet, but I’ve heard she’s pretty.”
“No comment.”
Graham had laughed and made him a list like the taskmaster he was. He’d handed it over with the remark, “Notice all these jobs are at the Adams School.”
Boone grinned. “Good thing, as I won’t be going anywhere else.”
So, he’d ended up spending the day at school checking on Miss Lucy when he could. When she dismissed the children for lunch, Boone came into her room with a smile.
“How’s it going so far?”
“It seems to be going well.”
“Really? Is that doubt I hear in your voice?”
That got a smile out of her. “Not doubt, exactly.” She gave him an impish smile. “But perhaps a bit of concern. Did I mention this is my first day teaching? Ever?”
He smiled. “You’re doing well.”
“Thank you.”
“Do you want to go to lunch?”
“Go? Go where? Mrs. Collier sent me with a pail.”
“Even better. Do you have enough to share?”
“I suppose that depends on how much you eat.”
“Hardly anything at
all.”
She laughed again, and he felt like he’d accomplished his best task of the day.
“All right, I will share. But if this is to be a regular occurrence, then you can bring lunch the next time.”
“It’s a date. Tomorrow, same time, same place.”
Looking suddenly flustered, she blushed and lowered her gaze.
He hid a smile, but it wasn’t easy.
This girl was solid gold, and the fact that she thought him a lowly handyman and yet was still blushing in his presence was making him feel invincible.
She busied herself with gathering her lunch pail from off a nearby shelf. “Pull up a chair.”
He did so and watched as she set out two small pieces of chicken and a generous portion of potato salad. “I’m afraid there’s only one plate and one fork.”
“I’m not picky, I’ll share.”
Again, her blush heightened, and he couldn’t help wanting to continue to tease her. “This is cozy, isn’t it?”
She slung him a sharp look, but didn’t answer and started to eat.
“The children giving you any trouble?”
She swallowed. “No. Not really. They’re boisterous, but I love it.” She gave him an impish smile and handed him the fork, leaving him wondering if he was going to fall in love with her, based simply on that one charming look alone.
“I am wishing I would’ve paid more attention to my own teacher when she discussed different ways to control a classroom. But I’m sure I’ll find my way.”
“I have no doubt you will.” After taking a bite, he handed her back the fork, loving the intimacy of sharing with her. “If you need any help, just say the word.”
“Thank you.”
They ate in silence for a moment, enjoying the food, and he watched in amusement as she took dainty bites of chicken.
Maybe he should just admit he wasn’t the school handyman, but rather owned the largest mine in the area. Truthfully, he was surprised he’d been able to carry the ruse on for so long.
One look into her admiring blue eyes convinced him that now was not the right moment.
So instead, he sat across from her, enjoying lunch, while he considered the fact that if any of his friends or competitors saw him, sitting at the school desk of the pretty new teacher, they’d laugh their heads off to see him mooning over her the way he was.
Well, let them laugh.
He’d seen her first.
Chapter 5
As he continued to tease her, Lucy couldn’t deny the attraction any longer. Nor, did she wish to.
She wasn’t sure how this had come about.
One moment she’d sworn off men forever. The next thing she knew, she was all blushes, and missish airs.
Did it really matter? She truly liked this man. She thought about her fiancé and how badly he’d let her down. He’d not been the man she’d thought him to be.
Boone? He seemed to be everything she’d originally wanted in a man when she’d accepted Mr. Hargraves’ proposal.
She was attracted. Definitely a must. Though perhaps she’d not realized it until Boone.
He was hard-working. Something Mr. Hargraves had always implied, but she’d never personally seen. The man had spent much of his time spending his family’s money, taking long lunches and socializing frequently.
Watching Boone do his work for the day showed him as quick and competent as well. He’d worked inside and outside her classroom, and she’d noted with her own eyes that the man was industrious, conscientious, and enthusiastic.
Good with kids? Oh, yes. After watching him today, there could be no doubt of that. He’d teased them, coaxed them, and used a myriad of ways to get them to listen, but not once had he been impatient.
She liked his wit. He was funny, charming, and someone she liked to be around.
Yes, it was too soon. Far too soon to feel this way, to think this way. But that didn’t seem to matter, did it?
If he was a drinker as Mrs. Collier proclaimed, Lucy had seen no sign of it. As long as it was firmly in his past, it was something she could overlook.
It wasn’t as if she was perfect.
Still, they would definitely have to discuss it before this went much further as she could truly see herself falling in love with this man.
Was that so wrong?
It didn’t feel wrong, it actually felt exactly right this time.
An honest, hard-working man, who was good with kids.
She glanced at him once more, and admitted that wasn’t it entirely. He was also incredibly attractive.
So, while none of this should be happening at the moment, it was, and she was glad of it.
Her parents wouldn’t approve. She knew that. But perhaps her grandmother would. Regardless, just this once, she was going to throw caution to the wind and think about what she wanted for a change.
So, he was a handyman? It was good, honest work. In all of her dreams about the man she was to marry someday, that one had never even crossed her list.
A doctor, a lawyer, a business acquaintance of her father’s maybe. Mr. Hargraves had, in fact, been the son of a business acquaintance of her father’s.
And she would have been miserable with that cheating man for the rest of her life.
Or, how about someone that made her smile, laugh, and light up like a flame when she saw him? How about someone honest?
Was she actually falling in love for the first time in her life?
She didn’t know.
It was definitely too soon to acknowledge such an emotion.
But why not find out?
She was going to set her cap for Mr. Boone Newby and see what might come of it.
When school was over, Boone was nowhere to be found, so Lucy gathered her belongings and prepared to walk home, feeling the slightest bit let down.
She hadn’t gone far when she heard a wagon rattling behind her, and turned to see Boone catching up to her.
Relief and happiness bubbled up within her as she waited by the side of the road.
He soon stopped beside her and tipped his hat. “Ma’am.”
“Sir.”
They were both grinning at each other.
“I’ve got myself some fishing gear in the back. Any desire to try your luck?”
“You want me to go fishing with you?”
“I wouldn’t say no to some company.”
“It’s been a long while since I’ve been. When I last went, it was with the entire family and we had a fishing guide.”
“I’m better than any fishing guide.”
No doubt he was.
Once again, she looked into his very handsome face for signs of dissipation and alcoholism. She couldn’t see any.
Maybe she lacked the experience to tell.
“I can see that you’re hesitant.”
“For several reasons.”
“Well, list them, and let’s see if I can put your mind at ease.”
She gathered her courage. If this, whatever this was, was to go any further, she needed to know. She glanced up to where he sat on the wagon. “Apparently, you’re an alcoholic.” She said it so baldly that she blushed at her own daring.
He looked startled, his mouth parting for a moment before he grinned, and then laughed. “I assure you I am not, nor have I ever been, a drunk. Though, I will admit, I do drink socially upon occasion, but even that is rare.”
“Then why would I have been warned of such a thing?”
“I’m not sure who would spread such rumors about me, though I have my suspicions. But I assure you they are not true.”
She looked at him and saw nothing but truth in his eyes. “I will admit that you do not seem to be one.”
“All right, what’s your next point of contention?”
“We probably should not be alone together. We ought to perhaps have a chaperone.” Again, she blushed. This man was going to turn her face permanently red. She understood she was implying that they were courting, but what else was
this?
He chuckled. “We do things differently here in the West.”
She glared at him for laughing. “I’m sure.”
“Are you coming?”
She hesitated once more before exhaling. “All right.”
With flattering eagerness, he jumped off the wagon and helped her get up and settled.
Once they were on their way, he turned to her. “Tell me more about yourself.”
She blinked, unsure what to say. “As you know, I’m from New York City.”
“Yes.”
What did she tell him that didn’t sound like she was bragging about her background? “My family traveled quite a bit.”
“Really? Where have you been?”
Again, she hesitated. Boone obviously came from humble origins. Still, he’d asked, and it wasn’t like she could hide who she was. “I’ve been to France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, in fact, throughout much of Europe.”
“Did you like it?”
“I did! I love to travel, and I love to meet new people and see how they live.”
“Is this your first time out West?”
“It is. Traveling out here, I saw some of the most beautiful landscapes I’ve ever seen.”
He turned off down a smaller dirt road, and the wagon rocked back and forth until she was forced to clutch his arm. The strength in him, obvious through the material of his shirt, left her feeling slightly breathless. When the road evened out, she didn’t let go.
“Can I ask why you’ve never married?”
She took another breath at the gall of the man. This was not the regular drawing room conversation she was used to. She thought to chastise him, but found herself chuckling instead. She wasn’t anywhere close to a drawing room, and this man’s own casualness seemed to inspire her own.
“If you must know, I was jilted recently.”
His head swung toward her and his brows rose. “I find that very hard to believe.”
“Well, believe it.”
“How did he do it? Did he show up one day and say, it’s over, Miss Rickman?”
She laughed out loud. This man really knew no social boundaries. Well, in for a penny in for a pound. She’d already practically told him her life story. “Actually, his enceinte ladylove showed up at my house to inform me of her due date.”