be glad you are the teacher, you will need to make sure that you have earned their respect. You have a big heart and no one can doubt your enthusiasm, but if you can't control your class, they won't learn anything and you won't be happy, either. Your pupils will emulate your behavior and if they see you treat others with respect, if they see you consider your actions before just running blindly into something, if they understand that when you won't allow them to do something it isn't because you don't want them to be happy or to have fun, but because you want them to be safe, then they will learn those lessons as well. Do you understand?"
"I guess so. You're saying there are more lessons to learn than just reading, writing and arithmetic."
"Exactly, and when a pupil continues to ignore his teacher or to treat my girl with disrespect, then you can teach him the folly of his ways with a tall stool in that corner." He pointed to the corner opposite where she'd said the stove would be.
"Oh, Roger, I'm sure that won't be necessary."
He chuckled and hugged her tighter. "If you have boys who are anything like I used to be, I promise you'll find it quite necessary."
She giggled. "I can't imagine you sitting on a stool. You are always so… I don't know, so perfect."
"I am by no means perfect," he said. "Believe me, I warmed many a stool, and then my pa warmed my backside when I got home." Her eyes widened and she giggled again. "It's true and, young lady, just remember that there are corners for naughty teachers as well." She gasped, her eyes sliding to the empty corner. Deciding that he'd lectured enough for one day, he helped her off his lap. Standing, her drew her up and into his arms, and bending his head, he kissed her lightly, then a bit harder when her arms twined around his neck. It took a great deal of will power to end the kiss and set her back a bit. "You are one beautiful teacher, Miss Goldman. Now, we'd better get back before your pa sends a posse after me."
She giggled and took his arm.
Once back at her home, they rejoined her family. After visiting for a while, Roger stood. "I'd better be heading out."
"Oh, do you really have to go?" Teresa said, rising from the settee.
"It's getting late." Seeing the disappointment on her face, he said, "How do you feel about ice…"
"Roger!" she hissed, her eyes cutting to where her father had risen from his chair.
Chuckling, he shook his head. "Ice skating," he clarified.
"Oh, I love skating, why?"
"Because I'd love to take you. Though I'm not very good, it's been fun the few times we've gone."
"We?"
"Yes, hold on, let me ask your pa."
"Pa, Roger wants to ask you something," Teresa said.
Benjamin's expectant look had Roger fighting back a grin. No, it was not yet time to ask that particular question. Instead, he said, "I'd like to take Teresa out to the ranch next Saturday. We've all been feeling a bit of cabin fever and are planning a snow day. Nothing fancy, just some skating, sledding, and supper. It will give Teresa a chance to see the ranch and spend some time with everyone who lives there."
"That sounds lovely," Catherine said. "I'm sure it would be a lot of fun. Agatha loved skating when she was a little girl."
"Are you sure you can get along without her help?" Benjamin asked. "It seems that you are doing more and more of the work…"
"That's what you pay me for," Catherine said. "I don't mind, and it will give Teresa a chance to get out."
"Barbara, what about you? Do you mind if your sister plays hooky for a day?" Roger asked.
"Hmmm, I don't know. A whole day where I have to do all the dishes and serve more people?"
"Please, Barb, I'll make it up to you."
"I'm just teasing. Of course I don't mind."
"Then that's settled," Benjamin said. "You may go, but make sure you listen to whatever Roger says. A ranch can be a dangerous place."
"Pa, I'm going to be skating, not boxing with the cows."
Roger chuckled. "It's called punching cattle but you are
"I guess so. You're saying there are more lessons to learn than just reading, writing and arithmetic."
"Exactly, and when a pupil continues to ignore his teacher or to treat my girl with disrespect, then you can teach him the folly of his ways with a tall stool in that corner." He pointed to the corner opposite where she'd said the stove would be.
"Oh, Roger, I'm sure that won't be necessary."
He chuckled and hugged her tighter. "If you have boys who are anything like I used to be, I promise you'll find it quite necessary."
She giggled. "I can't imagine you sitting on a stool. You are always so… I don't know, so perfect."
"I am by no means perfect," he said. "Believe me, I warmed many a stool, and then my pa warmed my backside when I got home." Her eyes widened and she giggled again. "It's true and, young lady, just remember that there are corners for naughty teachers as well." She gasped, her eyes sliding to the empty corner. Deciding that he'd lectured enough for one day, he helped her off his lap. Standing, her drew her up and into his arms, and bending his head, he kissed her lightly, then a bit harder when her arms twined around his neck. It took a great deal of will power to end the kiss and set her back a bit. "You are one beautiful teacher, Miss Goldman. Now, we'd better get back before your pa sends a posse after me."
She giggled and took his arm.
Once back at her home, they rejoined her family. After visiting for a while, Roger stood. "I'd better be heading out."
"Oh, do you really have to go?" Teresa said, rising from the settee.
"It's getting late." Seeing the disappointment on her face, he said, "How do you feel about ice…"
"Roger!" she hissed, her eyes cutting to where her father had risen from his chair.
Chuckling, he shook his head. "Ice skating," he clarified.
"Oh, I love skating, why?"
"Because I'd love to take you. Though I'm not very good, it's been fun the few times we've gone."
"We?"
"Yes, hold on, let me ask your pa."
"Pa, Roger wants to ask you something," Teresa said.
Benjamin's expectant look had Roger fighting back a grin. No, it was not yet time to ask that particular question. Instead, he said, "I'd like to take Teresa out to the ranch next Saturday. We've all been feeling a bit of cabin fever and are planning a snow day. Nothing fancy, just some skating, sledding, and supper. It will give Teresa a chance to see the ranch and spend some time with everyone who lives there."
"That sounds lovely," Catherine said. "I'm sure it would be a lot of fun. Agatha loved skating when she was a little girl."
"Are you sure you can get along without her help?" Benjamin asked. "It seems that you are doing more and more of the work…"
"That's what you pay me for," Catherine said. "I don't mind, and it will give Teresa a chance to get out."
"Barbara, what about you? Do you mind if your sister plays hooky for a day?" Roger asked.
"Hmmm, I don't know. A whole day where I have to do all the dishes and serve more people?"
"Please, Barb, I'll make it up to you."
"I'm just teasing. Of course I don't mind."
"Then that's settled," Benjamin said. "You may go, but make sure you listen to whatever Roger says. A ranch can be a dangerous place."
"Pa, I'm going to be skating, not boxing with the cows."
Roger chuckled. "It's called punching cattle but you are
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