Suddenly Will recognized which families were causing her problems.
"Sorry, but I don't look at a child's color, what their religion is, or anything other than trying to stimulate their minds and teach them what they need to know. The term half breed I find distasteful, vulgar, and rude."
Will watched his wife clench her fists like she wanted to punch someone. "And I found Mrs. Brown's threats to remove her daughter from school to be especially vile. But it's her choice."
Bull’s eye. The family had moved to Zenith about four years ago when the husband took over the bank in town. The banker's wife was a rigid, elite matron doing her best to bring high society out west. Pecos’s family were generous and loving and their daughter married an Indian brave. The result, Pecos.
Though he didn't like the situation with the Browns, he would try to let Quinlan handle this. Hopefully she wouldn't need his protection. The boy was an innocent child caught between two worlds, and now his world had spilled over onto his wife.
"I'm proud of how you stood up for that child, but keep in mind Mrs. Brown will go to every parent in that school. That woman is vicious and will try to have you either fired or the boy removed."
They reached the porch and she sank down to the swing and he sat beside her. This had become their ritual in the last week. When she came home from school, they would sit on the swing and enjoy a few moments relaxing before they went in and cooked supper.
This was his favorite time with his wife.
"All I want to do is teach. Not try to keep snobbish parents happy. This boy wants to learn like all the other kids."
With a yank, he pulled her against him. "You'll do what's right for both the boy and the children in the school."
As she gazed at him, her emerald eyes glowed with warmth and he leaned down covering her mouth with his. The kiss deepened with his lips moving over hers, letting her realize how happy she made him. A moan escaped from the back of her throat as he released her lips.
"For now, I'm so glad that my wife is home."
"You just want me to cook supper," she said grinning.
Laughter erupted from his lips. Lately they had started to tease one another, and she realized the last thing he wanted was some of her burned cooking. "How about we fix dinner together."
She hugged him to her and he felt his heart slam into his chest. How long before she gave him some kind of signal she was ready to consummate their marriage. He was beginning to fall in love with this gentle woman who stood her ground for what she believed was right.
Chapter 7
If Quinlan thought the situation with Pecos was going away, she was wrong. Even the kids whispered about the Indian boy, ignoring the child, pointing and making fun of him. On the playground, she tried not to interfere, but if they didn't stop, she would have to confront them.
She kept hoping this would peacefully end, though her gut was telling her the problem wouldn't end. Someone would be punished.
That afternoon, writing on the chalkboard with her back to the class, she heard giggling. When she whirled around, she caught sight of the little boy sitting his face forward, stoically watching her. Someone made a paper braid and tried to glue it to the back of his head. The braid was stuck on his shirt.
Anger roiled through her like a dust storm, coating her insides. Enough.
As she walked to the boy, she picked up the paper braid, then returned to stand in front of them. "While you are here in my classroom, I require your full attention. Your purpose is to learn. Not belittle other children who don't look like you. Not to think you're better than someone else, not to cause division in this schoolroom.”
Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady the fury that still rode her. "In here, you are all young people being educated about the world outside. Now who wasted their time making this braid instead of studying?"
Silence filled the room as she glared at the children.
"All right no one is going to tell me who did this. Take out your tablets. To reinforce my message, we will spend the next two hours writing I am here to learn."
A groan resounded in the schoolroom.
"Why?" asked a little red hair girl. "That's not fair. I didn't do this."
Oh yes, this punishment was getting to them. The thought of scribbling the same sentence over and over for two hours would be torture for many of them.
"For one student’s prank, everyone will be disciplined, since no one came forward."
"Wait," another boy said, licking his lips nervously. "John took Sally's paper braid and glued it to Pecos’s head."
Of course, her two main troublemakers were the instigators who escalated the bullying.
"Is this true, John?"
The boy slouched in his desk. "Why do you care? This kid is a half breed. He's too stupid to go to school."
Those words would not gain him any slack. He was the one who didn't have the learning skills necessary to stay out of trouble.
"Did you do this?"
"Sally made the braid and I glued it to the half breed's head."
"Stop," she said. "We do not name call in this classroom."
For a moment, she had to breathe and calm her racing heart, cool her rage, and not let the boy see how he upset her. This was her first discipline problem that Madam Wigg had not addressed and she tried to think of how her mentor would handle a student like this. And then the resolve came to her.
"Well, it's true," the boy said. "He's a half breed."
"John, I want you to pack up your things for the day. Tomorrow, I will expect you to have written an essay on how every child is entitled to attend school and better themselves. You will write it on paper, and you will turn your paper into me in the morning when you return. Do you understand?"
The kid's eyes widened and she could see how frustrated the task made him.
"Yes, ma'am. What about Sally? Why does she get away with this?"
Quinlan smiled. "Sally is going home as well. Her homework is to write an essay on how important it is that we respect each other and that we are all here to get an education."
The girl groaned. "Thanks, John."
"Now pack up your stuff, both of you and leave. In the morning, I will expect your essays."
After they walked out the door, she turned and faced the other children. The room was so quiet except for a mouse squeaking behind the walls. "Disrespect will not be tolerated. Do you understand?"
The remaining children nodded. "Now, let's finish our lesson."
During the time she taught, she considered how she could bring the class to a better understanding about their heritage and the people around them.
At the end of the day, she gazed at her students and made her decision.
"Today gave me an idea. Here is your homework assignment. Talk to your parents and ask them about your family. Where you came from. How you arrived in Zenith, Texas. Write a short paper on your family story and be prepared to read yours aloud to everyone. All of us have a history and the more we know about our background the more we understand. Have a great night everyone."
Only her own history was one she would never tell the children. Not all families were created equal. Some had secrets that should remain in the dark.
After the children left, Pecos hung around a little longer.
"Thank you," he said to Quinlan. "My father said for me to be strong and proud, but I don't understand why they don't like me."
Quinlan's heart seized inside her chest. What could she say? They were ignorant. Their parents were ignorant. After all, he was just a boy whose appearance was different.
"Sometimes children don't know what they're doing is wrong. Ignore them and continue studying. Right now, your grades are some of the best in the school. Soon these kids will realize how smart you are. Don't hesitate to come to me if something like this happens again."
Time after time, she'd seen children bully someone who was different until they learned how intelligent that child was and then they wante
d that student to be their friend. No one deserved to be bullied including Pecos.
Walking out the door together, there stood the child's mother.
"I was getting worried," she said. "Give me a moment to speak to your teacher alone. Go on ahead and I'll catch up to you."
The boy walked away.
"Pecos told me some of the children are picking on him."
"Yes, everything came to a head today. Two of the students went home early and received extra homework."
The woman sighed. "His mother, my sister, ran off with a handsome Indian chief and Pecos is a product of that union. Unfortunately, she died when he was four and his father brought him to me to raise. We're trying to let him learn the ways of his tribe and our ways. But I don't want the boy to be harmed or picked on."
The concern in the woman's expression, her eyes warm and yet pleading, showed how much she cared about the boy. Quinlan was sure raising the child must be difficult.
"Pecos is very intelligent. A quick learner and we're going to do our best to make sure he continues to excel," Quinlan told the boy's aunt.
The lady smiled. "My sister was extremely bright." She bit her lip. "As his teacher, I hope you don't pay a price for helping him. There are people in town who will not make your life easy."
The thought had already crossed Quinlan's mind, especially after her visit from Mrs. Brown. Tomorrow she would probably encounter more angry parents, but she refused to back down. Pecos would receive an education.
Quinlan nodded. "I'm sure. My job is to educate all the children. Not just a few. Pecos deserves to learn as much as the others."
"Thank you. That means a lot," she said and turned and walked away.
No, this would not be the end of this situation.
The next day, Will insisted on driving Quinlan to school. While he realized the parents would be upset, maybe if he stood beside her when the children arrived, they would see she had a man determined to protect his wife. No one would harm Quinlan.
When they drove up, an Indian brave sat on a horse in the distance, watching. After Will helped Quinlan out, he walked over to the man on horseback.
"Hello," he said.
"Hello," the man responded.
"Will Adams," he said holding out his hand.
"Chief Isatai," he said his eyes never wavering.
"Why are you here?" Will asked, wondering if this was Pecos father.
"For the same reason you are," the man said, staring at the children arriving. "My son attends school there. Making certain my boy and his teacher are not harmed."
For some strange reason, Will trusted the man and he believed he was watching over the children.
Will smiled. "I'm married to the teacher, Mrs. Adams."
The man nodded. "My wife's sister spoke to her yesterday. The other students don't like Pecos being there and Mrs. Adams is doing her best to help him."
"Do you think the townspeople will hurt your boy?" Will asked. "My wife would do everything in her power to keep any of the children from being hurt."
The man gazed at him, his large dark eyes softening for the first time.
"I believe you. I've been watching, and your woman has a kind spirit. There are those in town who don't like us around."
No way could Will argue with the man because it was true. They all wanted to live in this area, but without tolerance, Will feared someday another war might break out. All that would do was get good men on both sides killed. Somehow they needed to learn to live together in harmony or face dire consequences.
Some tribes never wanted peace, but many wanted the killing to stop.
Will looked down the hill at his wife, waving the children into the classroom.
"Could I ask a favor of you," he said, thinking he was crazy for even asking as he stared up at the man sitting stoically on the horse.
"What is this favor?"
"Mrs. Adams studies Indian culture and would like to visit a village. Would it be possible to come to your village?"
The man smiled. "On Saturday, bring her to the other side of the creek and I'll ride in with you. My new wife will fix us lunch."
Joy spread through Will's heart as Quinlan would be so pleased and would love learning about their way of life.
"Thank you, that will mean a lot to Quinlan," he said. "Can I ask you another question?"
"Yes?"
"Why are you putting your son in a white man's school?"
"My boy, Pecos is half white and half Comanche. As my son, he will be in both worlds and must learn the ways of each, so he can use the best information."
Will nodded, understanding, but thinking the kid was going to have a rough, hard road in most places.
"Thanks for watching over my wife."
The brave gave a brief nod. "Thanks to your wife for watching over my son and making him a smart man in the white man's world."
With a touch of his finger to the tip of his hat, Will walked down the side of the hill to the tiny building to tell Quinlan goodbye. Rounding the corner of the building, he heard the yelling and his stomach tightened with fury.
"What's going on?" he asked, his voice trembling with rage.
"Your wife sent my son home from school yesterday over him teasing a half breed."
Will had never liked Mike Scott and thought his kid was a bully. He'd witnessed how the boy treated other children and he wondered if the kid received that kind of treatment at home.
"My wife, your son's teacher doesn't deserve to be yelled at. Her pay doesn't include having parents screaming at her. And her students shouldn't have to listen to your disrespect. Maybe it's time you left so that school can get started."
Quinlan stood in the doorway, her face pale, her hands shaking. If this kept up, her days of teaching would be over.
The man glared at Will. "Don't think this is over. I saw you up there talking to that Injun. We don't need his stealing band of thieves robbing us blind. We certainly don't want his diseased children among our own. You can be I'm going to the school board."
"Let's make it a date," Will said. While he knew he shouldn't, he couldn't stop the words from slipping from his mouth. "See you in church on Sunday, Mike."
The man turned and stomped toward town.
As he turned to Quinlan, she raised her hand to his face. "Thank you, my husband. Now I need to go to work."
"Do you want me to stay?"
She smiled. "No, I'll be all right. See you tonight."
Entering the schoolroom, she shut and locked the door behind her, while Will had to take deep breaths to keep from going into town to find Mike Scott.
After a week of heated conversation with parents, Quinlan hated that her school had suddenly become embroiled in controversy. All she wanted was to teach children, not segregate them into groups based on their families or their skin color. Hopefully today would be the day she could get back to teaching.
The early morning sun was shining brightly and she knew it was time for her to leave for school. She just couldn't seem to muster the enthusiasm for her job she once loved.
A knock on the door startled both of them.
Will opened the door and Quinlan was shocked to see Meg, Annabelle, and Ruby, along with their friend Dora, standing there.
"Good morning. We came to escort you to school," Meg said.
Annabelle stepped forward with the cutest little girl. "My name is Charlotte. Can I come to school with you?"
The pixie shaped face looked up at with such innocence and adoration that Quinlan's heart melted. They were showing their support and she couldn't help but smile. She squatted to the little girl's level. "How old are you?"
"I'm five," she said. "Momma said today I could go to school and learn."
"Well, of course, you can," Quinlan said.
This morning for the first time, when she awoke beside Will she thought about staying home. All week her children were upset. In their young eyes, she saw they were frightened and nervous. The adults argued amongs
t themselves and they heard the discussions, the yelling, and the ugliness. This wasn't what she wanted for her class.
"If you don't mind, I'd like for her to be there for a couple of days. That way people will witness we're not afraid to send our children to school. Why should they be?"
"Maybe this will soon blow over," Meg said.
The last few days, Will had tried to cheer her, but Quinlan was starting to feel like a failure. At her very first independent job, already there was contention. But she refused to back down. Her morals said every child deserved an education.
"So, we're here to walk you through town to school," Ruby said.
Will stood at the door, smiling. "Thank you for supporting my wife."
Never before had Quinlan experienced such love and encouragement.
"You're welcome," Dora said. "Don't know what the big hullaballoo is."
The woman appeared almost bored with the whole situation. "Kids are kids."
"Let's get going," Meg said.
"Sure, let me grab my things," Quinlan said, going back into the house.
Will followed her inside, his face tight, eyes shadowed with worry. The man had been nothing but caring and attentive.
"Be careful."
Reaching up, she ran her hand along his face, enjoying the smooth texture of his skin. "Come pick me up. The idea of walking back alone makes me uneasy."
"Oh, and by the way, Saturday, we're doing something special. It's a secret."
"What?"
He grinned at her, her heart glowing. "It wouldn't be a secret if I told you."
As he layered his mouth over hers, the touch of his lips was enough to have her thinking of the two of them entwined together in bed. Married almost a month, she wondered how long before her husband decided it was time.
Funny, but she no longer feared him and was anxious to finalize their marriage. Never before had she been drawn to a man who created all kinds of emotions within her, but Will was certainly making her feel something new and exciting.
Lipstick and Lead Series: The Complete Box Set With a Bonus Book Page 136