A Christmas Bride for the Teacher

by Indiana Wake

  “I’m trying to get my sister-in-law to come home.” Wayne spread his hands. “She’s just as stubborn as her sister.”

  “Does she need to come home right now?”

  “Well, Greta wants me to walk her home.”

  Jonathan looked at Lynne, and Lynne shivered when she saw the warm look in his eyes. She had a sudden urge to run into his arms and enfold herself into his warmth. That had been the reaction she had experienced for the past week, and Lynne wasn’t sure how to react to it.

  “If Lynne wants to finish what she’s doing, she can.” Jonathan said evenly. “I can walk her back.”

  Lynne’s mouth dropped open. Wayne looked a little perplexed.

  “Really?”

  “Really,” Jonathan chuckled. “It’s not exactly out of my way.”

  Lynne could see Wayne was dithering. And she badly wanted to spend some time with Jonathan without her sister hovering around them. She gave Wayne a smile.

  “I don’t mind, Wayne. Jonathan will look after me. You go on home.”

  Wayne was still looking torn. But he sighed and nodded.

  “I’ll let Greta know. See you back at the house,” he added to Lynne before giving a wave and disappearing.

  Lynne turned to Jonathan, who still hadn’t looked away from her. That look, those eyes… they were mesmerizing.

  “Thank you,” Lynne managed to stutter out. She always forgot how to speak around him.

  “No problem.” Jonathan indicated the papers in his hand. “Let me finish up with these. That should be plenty of time for you.”

  Then he was gone, and Lynne felt like the warmth had gone with him. She shook herself and concentrated on hurrying through her task of putting all the books in order. Now there was a job title to her name, Lynne wanted to take it seriously. The library was her domain, and she needed to get things in order, to continually improve it.

  The children were making things easy as they seemed to love it.

  As soon as the last book was put on the shelf, Lynne grabbed her coat and hat, tugging both on as she hurried out into the hall, nearly prodding her scalp with the hat pin. Jonathan was coming out of his office near the front door, now wearing a jacket and coat, his hat on over his silver hair. He gave Lynne a smile that she felt all the way down to her toes.

  “Ready to go?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Jonathan opened the door and let Lynne out first. She stepped outside and swayed backward as the wind hit her in the face.

  “Whoa!”

  She fell back, and arms went around her. Looking up, Lynne found herself staring up at Jonathan. His hands were on her shoulders steadying her. His face was very close. Then Jonathan’s cheeks, his face half-bathed in light, went red and he carefully righted her again.

  “Careful.”

  His tone was light despite his red face. Quickly, he let her go and turned to close the schoolhouse door, locking up.

  “You need to watch that wind.”

  “I noticed.” Lynne shivered and burrowed into her coat. “It’s so cold and so strong!”

  “San Francisco is meant to be warm at this time of year, but there are times when the cold wind rockets through.” Jonathan indicated the hill the church and the schoolhouse stood on. “This hillside turns into a bit of a wind tunnel.”

  Lynne had certainly noticed that. Another gust of wind almost knocked her off her feet, but she managed to catch her balance.

  Jonathan turned to her and held an arm.

  “Want to hang on to me?”

  Lynne hesitated. In all this time, she had never touched Jonathan. They had been in the same room many times and they talked, but Jonathan never made to touch her, apart from a moment before to keep her on her feet. Lynne could feel her hand tingling in anticipation.

  She smiled at him and slid her hand into the crook of his elbow. It was warm, and very solid. Muscles flexed under her fingers.

  “Thank you.”

  Jonathan cleared his throat, and they made their way down the hill. It was slow going; the wind pushed at them, slowing their progress, and it had been raining during the day. The ground was still soft and muddy. Lynne could feel her feet slipping from under her, which caused her to hold onto Jonathan a little tighter. From the way his arm tightened, he wasn’t planning on letting go.

  He helped her over a rocky part of the path before they walked on, coming to shelter underneath some trees.

  “How are you liking your new life?” he asked.

  Lynne smiled at him.

  “I love it and I feel better, too. Greta was right. You do appreciate the change.”

  Before she could stop herself, Lynne leaned into him. His shoulder was very warm.

  “It’s so freeing not having to explain to my parents where I’ve been every second of the day. I have no need to meet with people I detest. I get to have a job, live with people I love and who love me, and I’m allowed to have friends who don’t need to go through my parents.”

  “You make it sound like you were a prisoner.”

  Lynne sighed.

  “I was, in a way. Mother and Father both came from money, but where we lived, we weren’t the wealthiest and Mother and Father started doing rather outrageous things to make it look like we had more money than we did. They had ambitions, but they were selfish ones.” She looked at the ground. “And they tried to live them through Greta and me.”

  “Clearly, it hasn’t worked,” Jonathan grunted.

  He paused under some branches, grabbing onto his hat before it blew away.

  “What did they say when Greta ran away with Wayne?”

  “Oh, they were furious. After Father had ranted and raved for an hour, he said that Greta was dead to him. Mother agreed.”

  Lynne grabbed at her hat as it threatened to fly off her head. Even with the hatpin, it was wanting to escape.

  “I had to get Greta to send her letters to a friend’s house, just so Father wouldn’t intercept them. The servants would have told them as well. After she left, they put all their hopes and fears onto me.”

  Lynne had hated it. She didn’t have a great relationship with her parents anyway, so when they started showering her with attention that Lynne had long given up on she had no idea what to do. It was awkward and uncomfortable, and neither of her parents would stop.

  Jonathan was watching her closely. His expression wasn’t judgmental. It was like he was understanding.

  “Sounds like they tried to love you in the wrong way,” he said quietly.

  Even above the wind, Lynne could hear him.

  He sighed for a moment. “Money isn’t everything, especially if the person wielding it isn’t the most desirable of people.”

  “You talk as if you know from experience.” Lynne stared at him. “Do you come from money as well?”

  “Yes.”

  Jonathan didn’t look too happy about it. He looked away.

  “My father’s family owns most of Illinois. It’s not something I’m proud of. We didn’t have to work for our money, everyone else made it for us. I wouldn’t have minded that but my father paid them as little as he could.”

  Lynne listened to this with some clarity growing. Jonathan understood a lot more than she expected. He had been there, and it had pained him. Lynne could see it in his eyes.

  “What did they say when you said you wanted to work?”

  “My parents were shocked.” Jonathan shook his head. “They told me I didn’t need to work, and teaching was the worst choice they could think of. But I stood firm. So, they threw me out with just the clothes on my back.”

  Lynne thought she and Greta had struggled with their parents and their behavior. She had no idea. She stared at him.

  “They threw you out because you wanted to work?”

  “I know, I have a strange family.”

  “I won’t argue with that.”

  Lynne could feel her hat straining to take flight, so she took the hatpin out and then her hat off, sticking
the pin through it.

  “Was that what made you come out here?”

  “That was another reason I was thrown out. Because I wanted to do something that was nothing to do with the family business. Maybe… maybe, if I thought it was a fair business, I would have worked in it. That’s not good of me to say, is it?” Jonathan shrugged. “I haven’t spoken to any of my family in the last seven years.”

  He said it flippantly, but there was a tinge of sadness there. He was still hurting, despite it all. Lynne wanted to reach out and hug him.

  “I’m sorry.”

  They stopped and turned to face each other.

  “Don’t be. It was probably for the best. Life out here can be hard, but it’s fulfilling. I make a difference and I do it for a fair wage. People out here have hope and a future. If I can educate the children then they will have even more choice, more of a future. What could be better?”

  “I so agree,” Lynne said and she found she was a little breathless at his vision.

  Jonathan reached out and brushed Lynne’s hair from her eyes. His fingers, in spite of the cold, were very warm. Lynne lost the power of speech. Her breathing quickened as she looked up at him. They were still under the tree, and now Jonathan was standing closer than he was supposed to. They were almost touching. It wouldn’t take much for Lynne to lean a little more toward him…

  She had to stop thinking like that. But Lynne would be a fool to deny that she wanted more of Jonathan’s attention. It was nice. Lynne had never gotten the attention of any man who was picked by her. Somehow, this was the first time it had felt genuine.

  She cleared her throat, trying not to think about his lovely warm fingers against her temple as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

  “Listen, Mr. Davey…”

  “Jonathan.”

  That voice. It was almost like a blanket wrapped around her. Lynne nearly sighed.

  “Jonathan.” She tried not to sound so breathless. “While my parents made sure I had an education, it wasn’t much. I… I think when I listened to you and Wayne teaching, I struggled to understand most of what you two were teaching. Do you think…?”

  “You want me to be your tutor?”

  Jonathan was smiling.

  Lynne nearly melted at his feet. She nodded vigorously.

  “Yes. If you don’t mind? I know I’m a little older than your pupils…”

  Jonathan laughed.

  “You’re never too old to learn, Lynne. And I’d be happy to do it.”

  Lynne couldn’t say anything. That laugh had rendered her speechless once more.

  Chapter 5

  “What were you and Jonathan talking about?”

  Lynne looked up. Greta stood in the doorway to her bedroom, arms folded, a harsh scowl marred her pretty face. It had been a while since Lynne had seen her sister looking like that. She straightened up, laying her nightgown on the bed.

  “When?”

  “Just before dinner. When you were walking back from the schoolhouse.”

  Lynne had wondered what was on Greta’s mind. She had clearly seen Greta standing at the window watching them as they came through the gate. Jonathan had held it for Lynne to come through.

  She had seen Greta standing at the door with a dark expression. Before they got there, she had turned on her heel and stomped back inside. All through dinner, Wayne and Lynne talked and focused on the children, while Greta sat munching at her food without a word.

  Her bad mood had all been about Jonathan? Lynne was a little bewildered.

  “Why didn’t you ask throughout dinner? I would have answered anything then.”

  “Because this wasn’t something I wanted to talk about in front of my boys.” Greta entered Lynne’s bedroom and shut the door. “I wanted to talk to you privately.”

  Now Lynne was getting nervous. Greta was still acting strangely, and she didn’t know how to deal with it. Moving away she sat on the bed.

  “You make it sound like we were doing something sordid. He was only walking me home. You saw us.”

  “Yes, I did.” Greta folded her arms again. “That was a very long walk.”

  Lynne snorted.

  “I didn’t realized you had turned into Mother since coming out here. Jonathan and I were just talking, that’s all. You would have seen that. He’s a very nice man.”

  “Really?”

  Greta was mocking her.

  Lynne peered at her sister. She had had an inkling that Greta was a little off with Jonathan before, but she wasn’t sure why.

  “What makes you say that, Greta?”

  “I’ve known Jonathan for four years since I came out to San Francisco, Lynne. Wayne thinks the world of him, but I know better.”

  Greta shook her head.

  “I see things. Jonathan isn’t known for being loyal to anyone, not even to his friends. He’s broken up several marriages.”

  Lynne almost burst out laughing. That sounded so ludicrous she couldn’t believe it.

  “Come off it, Greta. You sound ridiculous. In fact, you sound jealous.”

  Then she stopped laughing as realization dawned.

  “My God, did you and Jonathan…”

  “Don’t be daft.” Greta snorted. “I’ve never done anything with Jonathan. But I know when a man is unfaithful. I keep away.”

  “If you know that, why haven’t you told Wayne? He wouldn’t be around someone like that.”

  “Wayne just wouldn’t understand. He wouldn’t believe it.” Greta narrowed her eyes. “Much like you don’t believe it.”

  “Of course, I don’t.”

  Greta shook her head. She looked very disappointed.

  “He’s already pulled the wool over your eyes. I thought it would happen, but I didn’t realize it would happen that quickly. I thought you were a smart girl.”

  “I am.” Lynne stood. She felt like Greta was towering over her and it was intimidating. “What’s got into you, Greta? Why are you so concerned about Jonathan and I talking? We’re not doing anything except talk.”

  Greta stared at her. She stared at Lynne for so long that the silence in the room became awkward. Lynne tried not to fidget as Greta looked at her with unblinking eyes. When she spoke, Lynne jumped.

  “I believe you,” Greta said quietly. “For now. But I know something’s going to happen in the future. And it’ll leave you broken hearted.”

  Without another word Greta spun on her heels and left the room, closing the door behind her.

  Lynne was left swaying in her wake. What had just happened there? What was going on? Greta was acting bizarrely, and Lynne had no idea what to make of it.

  She could only hope whatever it was, Greta would tell her soon. It was pointless having an argument over something they shouldn’t be arguing about.

  Chapter 6

  When Lynne had asked Jonathan for tutoring, Jonathan had been delighted. He wasn’t about to pass up on such an opportunity.

  He would have to be careful, they mustn’t spend too much time alone. That would be pushing the rules of Society, even out in the Wild West, but this was one of the few times Jonathan would be able to see Lynne without Greta breathing down their necks. She watched them like a hawk whenever the three of them were together. Jonathan knew why, and he felt very sorry for Wayne, who was oblivious to the faults of his wife.

  Greta was simply being greedy. And Jonathan’s feelings for her had changed a long time ago. Now, he was rapidly falling for her younger sister, and Jonathan didn’t want to change that.

  For the next two weeks, Lynne and Jonathan stayed behind and worked on their lessons at the school. Lynne showed that she had a good grasp of her reading skills, which blossomed when Jonathan worked with her. She loved reading, and her eyes lit up whenever she saw a book. Her love of history became evident. Soon she was quoting dates better than Jonathan had ever done. And her numbers… she was astounding.

  Jonathan wondered how much of an education Lynne had actually been given, because she was incredib
le. Not that he was complaining; the more time he got with her, the better.

  Lynne was not like her sister at all. She was genuine. You just had to look at her to know what she was thinking. Lynne was adorable with children, loved to work and there was always a smile on her face. Everyone loved her.

  Jonathan could see why.

  He was still thinking that when Lynne finished the sheet of numbers that Jonathan had given her to work on. It took a moment for him to check and to see that everything was correct. And Lynne had worked through it very fast.

  The woman was certainly a quick learner.

  “That’s very good.” Jonathan was impressed. “You’ve come along well with your numbers in the last two weeks.”

  “Thank you.” Lynne blushed. “I didn’t realize I was any good at numbers. My mother said women shouldn’t pay attention to them as they’re for a man to deal with.”

  Jonathan laughed.

  “I can see with you that this is certainly not the case. Right.” He sat forward and reached for his pen, “I’ll write some more numbers down for you.”

  “I’ll just get another book…” Lynne started, reaching over for a book at the same time.

  Their hands bumped, and Lynne’s knocked against the ink pot. It tipped over and Lynne jumped back with a scream as ink sprayed across the table, hitting Lynne in a splatter. Jonathan was on his feet immediately, running over to his desk and grabbing the blotting paper.

  “I’ll clean it up.”

  “Don’t worry about the dress.” Lynne was wiping at her dress with a handkerchief. “It’s navy blue. Nobody will be able to see it.”

  “Even then…”

  Jonathan quickly dried off the ink on the table – some of the books were going to be ruined – and then he turned to Lynne. Her handkerchief was stained with ink, and the stains were clear on her dress. There were also a few splatters of ink on her chin and cheek. This was too tempting to pass up.

  He approached her, stopping Lynne’s hand and tilting her chin up to him.

  “I think you missed some.”