Tarah's Lessons

by Tracey V. Bateman

  A gasp escaped her lips. “Honestly, Anthony, I forgot all about soap.”

  Anthony chuckled. “Plain water’s not going to do much to cut through all that dirt.”

  Though tempted to turn the wagon toward home and beg soap from Ma, Tarah put the thought from her mind. Doing so would take another half hour at least, and she didn’t want to take a chance on Mr. Jenkins waking before she returned.

  “Well, there’s nothing to be done about that now. Maybe we can get the first couple of layers off, anyway.”

  The sound of Anthony’s laughter filled the air with a pleasant ring. “Tarah, you’re some fine woman. That girl is blessed to have found you.”

  Her heart soared at the compliment. “I can’t help but believe God brought Laney into my life. I was feeling like such a failure as a teacher and just about ready to give up,” she confided. “Then, from nowhere, Laney appeared at the river, so obviously in need of love and care. I just knew she was a child I could help.”

  “God has a way of lifting us from our own problems by showing us how much greater need exists in the world.”

  The homestead loomed before them, the squalor once again causing Tarah to cringe. Laney stood outside, along with an equally dirty boy who could only be Ben.

  “Howdy, Tarah.” Laney waved her hand wildly.

  Tarah waved back and smiled. “Hello!” She slowed the horses to a stop and wrapped the reins around the brake. Anthony dismounted Dodger and hurried to the wagon.

  She accepted his proffered hand, thrilling to the warmth of his touch as their fingers met. Pulled into the depth of his gaze, Tarah climbed down, unable to breathe.

  Rather than dropping her hand immediately as propriety demanded, Anthony tightened his grip, causing her pulse to quicken. Oh, how she wished he would draw her into the strength of his arms! As if reading her thoughts, he took a step closer.

  Laney’s voice brought Tarah to her senses. “You make yer girl stay home this time, Preacher?”

  Tarah snatched her hand away and quickly averted her gaze. Idiot! she chided herself. It’s Louisa, not you, Anthony wants.

  “I told you, she’s not my girl,” Anthony insisted.

  Laney smirked. “She’ll get her claws in you. ’Lessen you get smart and send her packin’.”

  Tarah couldn’t disagree with Laney’s assessment, but from Anthony’s pleading gaze, she knew he expected her to bail him out of the embarrassing predicament. “Laney,” she said firmly. “That’s Reverend Greene’s business. Why don’t you introduce me to the handsome young man with you.”

  An impish grin split Laney’s face. “Don’t see no han’some young man ’round here.” She elbowed the suddenly red-faced boy. “Ain’t nobody but my brother, Ben, near as I can tell.”

  “Aw, hush up, Laney,” Ben said, keeping his eyes on his dirty bare feet.

  Boots! Tarah groaned inwardly. These children were both barefoot. Why hadn’t she thought of buying boots while Mr. Tucker was being so generous?

  Stepping forward, she extended her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ben. I’m Miss St. John. The schoolteacher.”

  Tarah hadn’t planned to bring up the subject of Ben attending school until she had convinced Laney to come back. But the eager light in his eyes spurred her to do just that. “I’d love to see you in school. I have a brother I’ll bet is just about your age. Are you twelve?”

  “Fourteen.”

  So he, too, was small for his age.

  “Luke will be thirteen soon. That’s pretty close to your age. So you see? You already have something in common.”

  A loud snort from Laney drew Tarah’s attention from Ben. “I ain’t goin’ back to that school, Tarah. And neither is Ben.”

  “You don’t tell me where I am or ain’t goin’, Laney,” Ben said hotly. “Iffen I want to go to school, I’m goin’.”

  “Then yer about as dumb as Pa says. I tole ya what them kids said to me. All pluggin’ up their noses and sayin’ how I was dirty and all.”

  “They was right. Ya are dirty, and I don’t blame ’em for pluggin’ up their noses. Ya stink!”

  “I ain’t takin’ none of yer insults.” Laney flew at Ben, the force of her weight knocking him off his already unstable feet. She landed atop him. Fists flying, she made little or no contact before his arms came around her, pinning her arms to her sides. “If you don’t settle down, I’m gonna have to tie you up.”

  Tarah looked helplessly at Anthony. He gaped at the pair, disbelief plastered across his face.

  “Honestly, Anthony. Do something.”

  “Sorry,” he muttered. “I just can’t believe. . .” He shook his head and stepped forward. Grabbing Laney around the waist, he pulled her off Ben.

  “Let go of me!” she hollered, twisting and kicking.

  Anthony set her on the ground, keeping a firm hold on her arms. “Simmer down.”

  Raring back, Laney gave him a sound kick in the shin.

  “Ow!” Anthony growled. “Why you little—”

  “No one tells me what to do. ’Specially not no preacher.”

  “Good grief.” Tarah shook her head at the spectacle. How in the world had the situation gotten so out of hand? “Laney, would you like to know why I’m here?”

  Sudden interest flickered in her eyes, then her face clouded over. “I figure yer here to try and get my pa to make me go to school. But it won’t do no good,” she said, setting her jaw stubbornly. “I don’t go where I ain’t wanted. ’Sides, ain’t seen Pa ’round here since yesterday. We figure he probably got locked up again.”

  Tarah caught Anthony’s gaze, noting his look of bewilderment, which in all likelihood matched her own.

  “You’ve been all alone since yesterday?” she asked incredulously, thinking of her own small brothers and sisters. “What have you eaten?”

  “Aw, Tarah,” Laney said, kicking at the ground. “Don’t go worryin’ about us. Me and Ben can take care of ourselves.”

  “Now, that sounds familiar,” Anthony said, the corners of his lips curving into a wry grin.

  Tarah felt herself blush. “I’m not exactly a child.” She turned her attention back to Laney and Ben. “I’m sure you’re very self-reliant—”

  “We ain’t neither!”

  “Hush up, Laney,” Ben commanded. “The teacher means we can take care of ourselves.”

  “Well, ain’t that what I just said?”

  “Honestly.” How would she ever get these children to accept help? Their fierce pride radiated through dirty faces and showed strongly in the stance of their thin bodies.

  Helpless fury swept through her, and she had a strong urge to snatch up the pair and take them home with her—kicking and screaming if need be.

  Anthony’s grip on her elbow brought her to her senses, and she drew a long, slow breath to steady her raging emotions.

  “You can’t stay alone out here with no food.” She waited for the outrage, but mercifully, it didn’t come. The children stared at her curiously, as though awaiting the alternative. “So I wondered if you would mind coming home with me—just until your pa comes back.”

  “Pa’ll whale the daylights out of us iffen we ain’t here when he gets back,” Laney piped up.

  “We’ll convince your pa that we insisted.”

  Hope shone in both pairs of eyes. Then Ben’s face slowly clouded over with disappointment. “We cain’t go, Teacher.”

  “Why not?”

  “Yer folks ain’t gonna want us sleepin’ on their clean beds and eatin’ at their table.”

  Laney cut her gaze to her brother. “Maybe we could sleep in the barn like we did that time Missus Avery tried to help out.”

  Crossing her arms across her chest, Tarah looked firmly from one child to the other. “You’re not sleeping in the barn, and you’re not staying here.”

  “There is the matter of cleanliness, Tarah.” Anthony motioned toward the wagon with his head. “Might be awkward for them bathing at your house with all
your brothers and sisters there.”

  Tarah smiled up at him, warmed by his sensitivity to the children’s feelings. Of course, the children needed to bathe first. There was no need to give Luke any more ammunition—just in case his good behavior today was a one-time reprieve.

  “Hey, who says we’re gonna take baths, anyways? ’Sides, I done told you, Tarah, Pa kicked a hole in the washtub.”

  Reaching into the back of the wagon, Anthony produced the new washtub. “Here you go.” His eyes twinkled at the expressions of dread on the two faces. “And there are new clothes for each of you where that came from.”

  Laney’s mouth dropped open. “We got new clothes?”

  “Yes,” Tarah said with a smile. “Now you can come to school without worrying about the other kids making fun of you.”

  Suddenly, Laney’s face grew stormy. “Me and Ben don’t need yer charity,” she spat. “What we got on is just fine. Ya can take them clothes back to the folks they came from and tell ’em we said we don’t want ’em.”

  Oh, Lord, thank You for instructing me to buy new clothing for these children.

  “I can’t take them back, Laney. They came from Tucker’s.”

  “You got us new clothes?” Ben asked, a hesitant smile peeking around the edges of his mouth. “Really new?”

  Tarah nodded. “I guessed at your sizes, so I hope they fit.”

  “Why’d ya go and do that, Tarah?” Laney asked.

  “Because I don’t want children to make fun of you. Because I want to see you come to school and learn.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “Because I want you to have a chance to grow up and have a better life.”

  “Pity!” Laney spat.

  “Love, Laney, Honey,” Anthony said softly. “Not pity.”

  Tarah’s breath caught in her throat at the sound of his voice. He, too, seemed choked up, and Tarah thought she might die of love for him right then and there. If the children weren’t right under their noses, she would have thrown herself into his arms and begged him to love her back.

  She turned back to Laney. All the thunder was gone from the child’s face. “Well. . .”

  “It’s okay, Laney,” Ben said, placing a gentle hand upon his little sister’s arm. “Let’s just take it. This ain’t like other folks. I can tell the teacher ain’t tryin’ to make us feel bad. She just wants to help.”

  “We don’t need her help,” Laney mumbled, eyeing the crate Anthony held in his arms.

  Ben gazed sadly into her eyes. “Yes, we do. Them britches yer wearin’ are gonna come apart ’fore long, and then you’ll be nekkid. And this shirt I’m wearin’ only gots two buttons.”

  Folding her scrawny arms across her chest, Laney set her jaw stubbornly. “I don’t want ’em if I gotta take a bath.”

  Tarah’s lips twitched. The girl was softening. She looked to Ben, hoping he would keep talking sense into Laney.

  A worried frown creased his brow. “Do we gotta take a bath to get the new clothes?”

  Swallowing hard, Tarah shook her head. “The new things belong to you, Ben. I won’t dictate what you have to do in order to have them.”

  “Good.” Laney gave a curt nod. “Reckon that settles things, then.”

  Tarah’s heart sank to her toes.

  “Wait, Laney.” Ben’s hesitant voice made Tarah’s dashed hopes rise. “We gotta take a bath.”

  “What fer? Didn’t you hear what Tarah just said? You was right. She ain’t like them other folks.”

  The children continued their discourse as though Anthony and Tarah weren’t present. Capturing her bottom lip between her teeth, Tarah caught Anthony’s gaze. He winked and gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Ain’t nobody makin’ me take a bath iffen I don’t want one,” Laney declared hotly, her fiery temper once more blazing.

  “It ain’t right to smell up them new clothes. ’Sides, we cain’t go to Tarah’s house like this.” Ben glanced at Tarah, then back to Laney. “I know she’s nicer than most folks, but that don’t mean her ma and pa want us sleepin’ in their clean beds.”

  “Aw, I’d rather sleep in the barn.”

  Ben grinned and nudged her with his elbow. “Come on. Betcha can’t get all that dirt off, anyhow.”

  “Bet I can!”

  “It’s settled then.” Anthony spoke up before another argument ensued. “Ben, come take this crate off my hands. Laney, can you warm water for the baths?”

  “Guess I can do that, Preacher.”

  Ben limped forward and took the crate of clothes, his eyes growing wide at the sight of the wool coats. “Never had a coat that I recollect,” he said in awe.

  “We got coats in there, too? Lemme see.” Suddenly, Laney turned to Tarah, her nose scrunching in disgust. “Ya ain’t aimin’ to try and get me to wear no dress, are ya? ’Cause I ain’t wearin’ no dress and ain’t no one makin’ me do—”

  Tarah laughed outright. “Laney Jenkins, do you think I’d try to get you to wear anything you don’t want to? There are two fine, sturdy pairs of Levi’s and two warm shirts just your size, I think.”

  Laney beamed. “Yep, ya sure ain’t like them other folks.” She followed after Ben, trying to grab at the new things.

  “Keep yer dirty hands off my new coat!” Ben hollered.

  “Sor–ry. Don’t you be puttin’ yer hands on my new coat neither, then.”

  “Anthony,” Tarah said, once the children were out of earshot. “Can you ride to my house and let Ma and Pa know I’ll be along later with guests?”

  Anthony scowled. “What if Jenkins comes around while I’m gone?”

  “He won’t. Besides, I need that soap—and I noticed them both scratching their heads. Better bring some kerosene just in case they have lice.”

  Anthony grimaced. “You’re right.”

  “Oh, and ask Ma to send along some bread, too. These children probably haven’t eaten all day. I want to get something into their stomachs to hold them over until we get them home.”

  Tenderness flickered in Anthony’s eyes. He reached forward and brushed his fingertips along her cheek, sending a shiver up her spine. “I admire what you’re doing for these children,” he said. “You’ve become quite a woman, Tarah St. John.”

  Before she could respond, he mounted Dodger and took off toward the St. John ranch.

  The moon hovered full and bright, and a smattering of stars dotted the sky by the time a weary and waterlogged Tarah climbed into the wagon with two very clean, deloused children.

  Laney had sputtered and protested, but Tarah insisted upon helping the girl with her bath. They were forced to change the filthy water three times before no more dirt surfaced on her skin.

  The child had let out a howl loud enough to put any warring Indian to shame while Tarah poured kerosene through her hair, then soaped the long tresses three times to remove the grime. Once clean, Tarah noticed Laney’s hair wasn’t brown or dark auburn as she had originally suspected. Laney had beautiful, dark blond hair, with just a hint of curl at the ends.

  The combing process was long and painful for the girl, who begged Tarah to simply chop it off like Ben’s and be done with it. Tarah refused, and once the ordeal ended, managed to convince Laney two braids hanging on either side of her head would help keep her hair from matting up again.

  Anthony repeated the process with Ben, although he gave the boy more privacy. But he took care of his hair and inspected the dirt removal process just to be certain the lad cleaned himself thoroughly.

  The children fidgeted with pent-up anxiety on the ride to the ranch.

  “I sure hope yer folks don’t mind about you invitin’ us to yer house, Tarah,” said Laney from the back of the wagon.

  “They seem to be looking forward to it,” Anthony answered for Tarah.

  “Well, they ain’t met us yet, Preacher,” she shot back.

  Tarah turned in the seat and gave the girl a reassuring smile. “I know they’ll love you, too. Don’t worry.”

  “Ain’t worried.
Just don’t stay where I ain’t wanted, that’s all.”

  Tarah noticed Anthony’s lips twitching and was hard pressed to bite back her own laugh. Laney was the most stubborn child she had ever met. “I assure you, you are wanted at our home.”

  Laney let out a snort. “We’ll see.”

  Both children were sound asleep by the time they made it to the ranch. Pa greeted them from his seat on the porch. “I was about to head over to the soddy and make sure everything was all right,” he said.

  “It took a while to finish with baths,” Tarah replied, glad to be home.

  Anthony offered Pa his hand. “You needn’t have worried. I wouldn’t have let anything happen to her, Sir.”

  Pa grinned. “No, I don’t suppose you would. You two better get those youngsters inside. I’ll tie up Anthony’s horse and take care of the team.”

  “Thank you, Pa.”

  Tarah gently woke Ben while Anthony gathered up Laney and carried her into the house.

  Cassidy’s face gentled at the sight of the tiny girl snoring lightly in Anthony’s arms and Ben limping behind them, a wide sleepy yawn stretching his thin mouth. She turned to the boy and took his hand. “I’m Tarah’s ma, but you can call me Cassidy, unless you’re more comfortable with Mrs. St. John. I’m delighted to have you with us.”

  “Thanks, Ma’am. Me an’ Laney ’preciate yer kindness.”

  “Think nothing of it. It’s our pleasure. Are you hungry?”

  “A mite.”

  “I have a pot of buffalo stew warming on the stove. You sit at the table there, and I’ll be back in a jiffy.” She turned to Tarah. “Show Anthony to Emily’s bedroom. The covers are already turned down. I put Em in with you in Granny’s room for the night.”

  In the bedroom, Anthony gently deposited Laney onto the bed. Tarah glanced down at the beautiful face bathed in moonlight shining in through the window. “She’s lovely, isn’t she?”

  “Who would have ever thought beneath all that dirt was such a pretty little girl?” Anthony said with a chuckle.

  Tarah pulled up the quilt and tucked it securely around Laney’s shoulders. The little girl moaned and shifted in her sleep. Anthony and Tarah remained motionless until she lay still and her steady breathing resumed.