Tarah’s stomach jumped. Was her heart as hard as this stone where Luke was concerned?
Shaking off the thought, Tarah bent down to help Anthony clean up. Her hand brushed against his, sending her heart racing as they reached for the same piece of stone.
Raising his head, Anthony searched her face. Tarah felt heat rush to her cheeks.
“How was your day off?” he asked in a soft, velvety voice.
Tarah stood and brushed at imaginary specks of dirt on her dress, trying to compose herself. “Nice,” she said. “I appreciate you filling in for me.”
Anthony stood, as well, and moved to the open window. “Should I plan to come in tomorrow?” He tossed out the pieces of stone and pulled the shutters closed. Brushing his hands together, he strode back to the desk.
“No. I met a girl down by the river today who said she might come to school tomorrow. I need to be here just in case she shows up.”
“A girl?”
Tarah nodded. “Did you know there is a family of squatters living on Mr. Garner’s land?”
Anthony nodded. “I met Mr. Jenkins in the mercantile yesterday, as a matter of fact. But that was the first I’d heard of them. The little girl you met is his daughter?”
“She didn’t tell me her last name, but I assume so.” Tarah walked around the desk and sank into her chair. “Oh Anthony, it’s enough to break your heart. Laney was filthy and wore torn, thin clothing. Not even girls’ clothing, but boys’ trousers and a button-down shirt.”
With a nod, Anthony hoisted himself back onto the desktop and let his gaze roam across Tarah’s face. “Her pa wasn’t clean either, and his clothes looked like they might fall apart any moment.”
“Children shouldn’t have to live that way. Isn’t there something we can do for them?”
A shrug lifted Anthony’s broad shoulders. “A man has his pride, I guess. I’m not sure how much help Mr. Jenkins would accept. Of course, he did let me…”
Tarah waited for him to continue. When he looked away, she frowned. “He let you what?”
“It doesn’t matter. Let’s just say I believe he would probably be grateful for anything we could do for him.”
Though her curiosity was piqued, Tarah realized he wouldn’t elaborate, so she decided not to make him uncomfortable by asking questions. Instead, she pursed her lips reflectively. She shifted her gaze to Anthony to find him studying her mouth. Catching her bottom lip between her teeth, she cleared her throat.
Anthony’s ears reddened, and he averted his gaze, suddenly intent on studying his hands.
“What do you think we should do?” Tarah asked after taking a moment to compose herself. She couldn’t help the excitement flooding her. Was Anthony finally beginning to notice her? Oh, she hoped so!
“I guess basic necessities should come first.”
“Huh?” Mentally kicking herself for being swept away on dreams of Anthony courting her, Tarah stared dumbly, waiting for him to repeat himself. “For the Jenkinses. Basic necessities.”
“Oh of course.” Honestly! “With winter right around the corner, I suppose they will need clothing first off.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think we should ask for donations? Maybe Mr. Tucker…”
Anthony shook his head. “No. Not Tucker.”
“Why not?”
“Jenkins owes him money for supplies over the last couple of months.”
“Judging from some things Laney said about him, I guess that doesn’t surprise me.” Resting her elbow on the desk, Tarah tucked her chin into her palm. “Anthony?”
“Yes?” His soft gaze captured hers, and again Tarah lost the capacity to voice her question. An uncomfortable but short-lived silence hung between them as Tarah recovered her voice. “I was just wondering if you’ve ever known a man given to drink. Laney told me her pa doesn’t work because he’s drunk all the time.”
Indignation clouded Anthony’s eyes. “Is that right? I didn’t know that, or I wouldn’t have…”
Again he didn’t elaborate.
“Do you think the folks around here would be willing to help such a man?” Tarah asked.
“I don’t know.” A frown creased his brow. “Mr. Tucker quoted me the scripture about a man not eating if he won’t work. He doesn’t seem inclined to do much to help. If he’s spoken to any of the other folks about it…I just don’t know.”
“But what about the children? Laney and her brother—Ben, I believe she called him. The boy’s crippled.”
Compassion moved over Anthony’s features, endearing him to Tarah all the more. “Don’t fret about it,” he said, giving her a gentle smile. “I’ll ask around and see what I can do. But even if only you and I help, the family will have more than they would have had otherwise. We can’t let the children do without or become sick in the cold weather just because their pa won’t lift a finger to help himself.”
“Thank you, Anthony. I think this is the right thing to do. I’m so glad you agree and are willing to help me.”
Leaning over, he reached out and traced a line from her cheekbone to chin. “I guess I’d do just about anything for you, Tarah.”
A gasp escaped Tarah’s throat. “Y–you would?”
The door opened suddenly, and he moved away, leaving Tarah to wonder if it had been a dream.
“Why, Anthony, you’re still here, aren’t you?” Louisa’s singsong voice echoed through the schoolroom as she sashayed to the front of the room.
A look of guilt flickered in Anthony’s eyes, and he hopped from the desk. Tarah’s temper flared. From the tight, possessive grip of Louisa’s hand around Anthony’s arm, it was apparent she held some claim on him.
Humiliation started at the top of Tarah’s head and drifted to her toes. How dare he trifle with her affections! She would not be fancy’s fool again where Anthony Greene was concerned. Shooting to her feet, Tarah gave Louisa her brightest smile. “How lovely to see you. I was just leaving.” Turning to Anthony, she was hard-pressed to keep a civil tongue in her head. “Will you close the door on your way out?”
Anthony held a cornered-animal look in his eyes. “Tarah—”
“Oh Anthony,” Louisa said, a tone of reprimand in her voice that Tarah didn’t quite believe. “Where are your manners?” She cut her gaze to Tarah, a beautiful smile curving her thin, rosy lips. “Of course we’ll close the door when we leave.”
“Thank you.”
Tarah squared her shoulders and made her way down the aisle to the door.
“Tell me all about your day of teaching school,” she heard Louisa ask as she shut the door firmly behind her.
Stomping to Abby, Tarah fought to keep her tears at bay. She unwound the reins from the hitching post in front of the schoolhouse and climbed into the saddle.
Why did Anthony prefer Louisa? He always had. She had been a fool to allow herself dreams of becoming his wife. Jerking her chin, Tarah turned Abby toward home and gave her a nudge.
“Tarah, wait!”
The sound of Anthony’s voice brought her about. She pulled Abby to a stop, her traitorous heart racing like a runaway train. Watching as he jogged to catch her, Tarah willed her pulse to return to normal and arranged her face in what she hoped was only a look of mild interest.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m sorry about…”
Tarah followed his gaze to the schoolhouse, where Louisa stood, hands on her hips, lips twisted into a scowl.
“Think nothing of it, Anthony.” Tarah attempted a short, teasing laugh. “Far be it from me to interfere with your courting.”
“It’s not like that—”
“Was that all you needed?”
Anthony swiped his hand through his thick, sandy-blond hair, then cupped the back of his neck. “Actually, I thought maybe you would like to ride out to the Jenkins place with me—unless you needed to get home right away. I’d like to meet the children and maybe talk to Jenkins a bit.”
“I can ride out
there with you.”
Flashing her a heart-stopping grin, Anthony nodded. “Good. Let me grab the team from the livery and we can tether your horse to the back.”
Tarah watched him walk away, admiring the dignity with which he carried himself. A niggling of regret passed through her. Why did Anthony have to be interested in the likes of Louisa Thomas?
“I hope you had a restful day off.” Louisa’s irritating voice broke through Tarah’s musings. Reluctantly she pulled her gaze from Anthony’s retreating form to face the young woman.
“Thank you, Louisa. I did. I look forward to coming back tomorrow.”
“I’m sure that’s a relief to poor Anthony. It isn’t as though he doesn’t have enough to do without taking on your duties, as well.”
Wishing very much she could think of a crushing retort, Tarah swallowed her anger and met Louisa’s deceptively innocent gaze with a smile she was far from feeling.
“I’m sure he will be glad to get back to his own duties tomorrow. But I was certainly grateful he offered to help me out today.”
“Yes, children can be a challenge at times.” Louisa’s smile didn’t reach her eyes.
“Yes, they surely can. Of course, any job is a challenge, wouldn’t you think? Sometimes I wish I had just stayed home to help my ma.” Tarah released an exaggerated sigh. “But when the town council asked me to teach, I couldn’t very well refuse, could I?”
Tarah felt a guilty sense of glee as Louisa’s face colored at the reminder that she had been passed over for the teaching position in favor of Tarah.
“I suppose it must be nice to have your pa on the town council,” Louisa countered, lifting a delicate brow in challenge.
Temper flaring, Tarah dropped the reins and put her hands on her hips. “Now wait just a minute. That had nothing to do with—”
“All set to go?”
Intent on putting Louisa in her place, Tarah hadn’t even noticed Anthony pull up in the wagon. She dismounted and brushed past Louisa. “I’m ready,” she muttered.
Anthony hopped down and grabbed Abby’s reins from Tarah’s shaking hands.
Without waiting for his help, Tarah climbed into the seat while he tied Abby to the back of the wagon.
“Where are you two off to?” Louisa asked in ill-feigned nonchalance.
“We’re going to check on a new family in the area. Tarah is concerned for the children, and we’re going to see what we can do to help.”
“Oh Anthony,” Louisa said breathlessly. “What a wonderful idea. I’d love to help. May I come along?”
If Tarah could have spit to remove the bad taste in her mouth at Louisa’s tactics, she would have done so with relish. Say no, Anthony, she silently pleaded.
“I don’t see why not.”
“Wonderful. I just love children. I want a house full of them someday.” Louisa held on to Anthony’s hand as she climbed in through the driver’s side. “Don’t you, Anthony?”
Tarah nearly gasped at the woman’s brazenness. Did Louisa have no sense of propriety?
Anthony flushed and settled in beside Louisa. “I suppose I’d like children someday. When the right woman comes along.”
Knowing that wasn’t exactly the response Louisa was looking for, Tarah turned away to hide her grin.
With a sigh, she looked to the distant horizon and sent another prayer toward heaven. How many lessons must I be forced to learn at a time? Dealing with her attitude about Luke was one thing, but Louisa Thomas was another circumstance entirely. Years of animosity couldn’t just disappear overnight. And the way Louisa was clinging to Anthony made Tarah want to smack the smug expression from her face. Her nails bit into her palms as she tightened her fists in an attempt to gain control over her raging emotions.
The wagon lurched as a wheel dipped into a rut in the road. Louisa took the opportunity to snuggle in closer to Anthony.
Drawing a long, steadying breath, Tarah wished for all she was worth that she had never agreed to go along. From the raised brows and friendly waves of passersby, she was sure they made quite a spectacle: Anthony, Louisa Thomas, and her.
Chapter 6
Oh my! This is the most disgraceful thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. And the smell! Who on earth would live in such a place?”
The look of revulsion on Louisa’s face, as well as the tone of her voice, sent a tremor of irritation through Anthony. This family needed help, not judgment. Admittedly Jenkins was slovenly and a drunk, to boot. But the children weren’t at fault for their pa’s sins. And after all, Laney and Ben were the reasons he and Tarah felt the need to offer assistance in the first place.
He slid his gaze to Tarah’s. Her face held a similar look of revulsion, but when she turned toward him, Anthony observed tears pooling in her eyes. He knew her thoughts were on the children being forced to live in such squalor. Wishing very much that he could pull her close and comfort her, Anthony did all he knew to do and gave her what he hoped to be a reassuring smile.
When he had maneuvered the wagon as close to the soddy as he could amid the clutter strewn about the yard, he tugged on the reins, pulling the horses to a stop. He hopped from the wagon and reached out his hand to assist Louisa.
“I just can’t believe people live this way!” she declared, pressing a lacy handkerchief to her nose.
“It is a hard thing to take in,” he admitted. “But you might want to keep your voice down a little so we don’t hurt anyone’s feelings.”
Sidestepping a broken wagon wheel, Anthony walked around to help Tarah down. She sat unmoving, staring at the run-down soddy. Anthony followed her gaze. Wagon parts littered the yard, along with a broken washtub and dozens of empty liquor bottles. Anthony couldn’t stop the anger from building inside him. How could a man claim to be a pa and allow his children to live in such filth? The way the man had let Garner’s place run down was nothing short of shameful.
A wooden door lay on the ground outside the opening to the soddy, and a thin blanket hung in tatters across the doorframe. At the window, a shutter swung loosely by one hinge. At the edge of the house stood a thin, swaybacked mare, pitifully trying to pull up the dead grass from the ground.
“Come on,” Anthony said softly. “Let’s go see what we can do for those children.” Rather than offering a hand as he had to Louisa, Anthony instinctively opened his arms.
Turning sorrowful eyes upon him, Tarah stood and allowed him to lift her from the wagon. Anthony swallowed hard, wishing they were alone so he could ask her permission to court her. In the back of his mind, he knew this wasn’t the proper time or place, but at the moment, his rapidly beating heart remained at odds with his head.
His senses cleared as Tarah placed her hands on his arms, still encircling her small waist, and gave them a gentle push. Instantly he released her.
With a furrowed brow, Louisa hurried to stand next to Anthony. “This is all just so…horrid.” She held tightly to his arm, her long fingernails digging in as though she feared for her very life.
Staring at the devastation, guilt pricked Anthony. This was no place for either young woman. Already his skin crawled at the thought of what they might find inside the soddy.
“Hello?” he called as they reached the doorway. “Anyone home?”
The rusty barrel of a shotgun poked through a hole in the blanket. Anthony stepped back suddenly, pulling Louisa with him. He narrowly missed knocking against Tarah and reached out to steady her.
“Get on outta here, mister,” a child’s voice commanded. “We got a right to this place. Ain’t no one but Mr. Garner gonna throw us out.”
“Laney? It’s Tarah. Can we come in?”
The blanket was pulled back, and the dirtiest little urchin Anthony had ever seen emerged from the soddy. Her face split into a wide grin at the sight of Tarah. “Whatcha doin’ here, Teacher? I told ya I’d be at yer school tomorra.”
Tarah stepped forward. “I wanted you to meet a friend of mine.”
Anthony disentangled himself
from Louisa and stepped forward.
Laney eyed him warily, then gave his proffered hand a firm shake. “You her beau?” she asked, jerking her head toward Tarah.
“He certainly is not, young man.” Louisa pushed forward and reclaimed her place at Anthony’s side.
“Sor–ry, lady.” Laney’s eyes flashed as she looked Louisa up and down. “And I ain’t no boy. I’m a girl, same as you. Only I’d rather be tarred and feathered than wear a getup like you got on.” She squinted and peered closer. “And my pa says only loose women paint their faces. And if there’s one thing my pa knows about, it’s loose women. Though I wouldn’t hold to what he has to say about nothin’ else.”
A gasp escaped Louisa’s lips. Anthony stood in stunned silence, cutting his gaze to Tarah. Her face glowed red, and a hand covered her mouth as she tried hard to hide her amusement.
Louisa held herself up primly. “I do not paint my face, young lady,” she replied hotly. “And I will thank you to keep a civil tongue in your mouth when addressing an adult.”
“I’ll talk any way I want to, lady. And you are so wearin’ paint.”
“I am not!”
“Want me to prove it?” Laney shot back, stretching her hand toward Louisa’s face.
Louisa recoiled. Anthony caught Tarah’s gaze and silently pleaded with her to intervene. Nearly choked with suppressed mirth, Tarah obviously couldn’t speak for fear of doubling over and howling with laughter.
Louisa seemed to be managing pretty well anyway, so Anthony left her to her own defense. “Don’t you dare put your hands on me! I have never seen such an ill-mannered, filthy child in my life.”
“I don’t recollect askin’ your opinion, lady. And who invited you anyways?”
She had a point there. Anthony strongly regretted allowing Louisa to accompany him. But when that young woman put her mind to something, she had a way of getting what she wanted. Although he couldn’t excuse the child’s rudeness, neither could he help but feel that Louisa was getting a little of what she deserved from the sharp-tongued girl.
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