In Your Arms (Montana Romance) Read Free Page A

without putting them in harm’s way here,” he said.
    Lily cros sed her arms and scowled at him. “I don’t recall your name being added to the faculty of Cold Springs’s school, Mr. Avery.”
    “So?”
    “So I would appreciate it if you would kindly not meddle with issues arising in my classroom.”
    “This is a schoolyard, not a classroom,” he countered.
    She wasn’t amused. “We are not discussing geography. It is not your place to interfere with school matters.”
    “It’s my place to interfere with anything that will become a problem for my town,” he growled.
    “Oh? Is it your town?”
    “I’ve lived here ten years ,” he barked. “How long have you lived here?”
    “Long enough to care about the welfare of Cold Springs’s children, Mr. Avery.”
    Any other day, he would have cheered the vehemence of her statement. Not today.
    “I don’t care who you are, if you suggest that I don’t care about the people of this town—”
    “Enough!” Michael held up his hands to intervene. “You both mean well,” he said. “Let’s stop there a minute.” He paused, giving Christian and Lily enough time to glare at each other.
    The rise and fall of Lily’s chest as she panted in frustration came dangerously close to stamping out Christian’s irritation. She had far too shapely a bosom for a teacher and knew how to use it. Clever woman.
    “ The school is new and the town is experiencing growing pains,” Michael reasoned on, drawing his attention back to where it should be. “I’ve got one child already and another on the way, and I’d like to see these issues sorted out before they’re in school.”
    He turned to Christian with his most stoic shopkeeper face. “No one is suggesting you don’t care about Cold Springs, but rein it in a little. She’s right. Every child is entitled to an education, regardless of race.” He switched to Lily. “I mean no disrespect, Miss Singer, but I don’t think it would do any harm if Christian spoke to Sturdy Oak. There could be another solution we haven’t thought of.”
    Lily was silent. The kind of silence that said a woman was up to something. She pressed her pink lips together. The tip of her slender nose was red with cold or fury or both. Any minute now she would crack and let him do what he knew was right for the school and the town.
    Any minute now.
    She stared at him with eyes that could ignite a glacier. Christian’s back itched and his heart beat faster.
    At last she said, “You do what you feel you have to do, Mr. Avery.”
    He let out a breath, his lips twitching in victory. “I will.”
    She nodded. “And I will do what I must.”
     

 
     
    Chapter Two
     
    The cluster of houses and outbuildings that were home to Sturdy Oak and his family sat nestled in a valley, almost hidden behind the hills a few miles outside of Cold Springs. Lily snapped the reins across the backs of the horses pulling her borrowed wagon, encouraging them to round the last crest. They slipped and struggled in the fresh snow.
    “You should ask Grandfather to let you take the sleigh next week,” young Martha , Red Sun Boy’s cousin, said by her side.
    “By next week the snow may be gone,” Lily answered.
    “Or there may be more,” Martha added sagely.
    Lily smiled. She liked the clever girl. She was a fast learner and a joy to teach. They all were. They were not liabilities.
    Her cheery mood slipped. How dare Christian Avery interfere without even being present?
    They rolled up to the edge of the cluster of houses and Lily pulled the horses to a stop. As soon as the wagon was still, the half dozen Flathead children in the back scurried down and ran to whichever modest house they called home.
    The snow did little to hide the rundown state of the tiny dwellings. All except the large main house at the end of the row seemed thrown together with greying logs and tiny windows. A few had areas marked off for gardens or coops for chickens, but they were empty in the