The Teacher's Mail Order Bride Read Free Page B

ago, and he had hoped that she had returned to wherever she’d come from. He was already sure that he and she did not share his opinions about education. Unfortunately.
    “Mr. Tate, I stopped by to see how you were faring. Is your room at the boarding house suiting you well? You know, we do want you to be happy here.” She closed her parasol and tapped it on the wooden floor.
    He couldn’t help his eyebrows from traveling upward, but said, “Thank you. It’s kind of you to be concerned for my welfare.” He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against his desk.
    Mrs. Samson looked down at the floor and cleared her throat. “I do imagine that the additional requirement of you not being a single man has taken you a bit by surprise, but I am sure you understand our reasoning,” she said after a few moments when Michael said nothing further, only waited for her to continue. She looked away at the window. “I’m sure you have some sort of plan so as to not jeopardize your contract.”
    Michael took off his spectacles and closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Yes, ma’am, I do have a plan.”
    Mrs. Samson pulled at her black gloves, securing them more tightly over her hands before she looked up at him. “I can’t imagine what that could be. There certainly isn’t enough time to court anyone here in Tombstone, I don’t think. I do wish you good luck, and I know you’re aware that I take my responsibility very seriously. The children’s welfare rests in my hands, you see.”
    Michael did see, but from his encounters with her since he’d arrived he wondered exactly whose best interests she had in mind. It didn’t seem to him it was the children.
    She tapped her parasol once more before turning toward the door, standing still in front of it and clearing her throat again as she turned to look at Michael.
    He stifled a smile and pushed himself away from the desk, crossing to the door and opening it for her. “Good day, Mrs. Samson. Thank you for stopping by.”
    She nodded in his direction, her eyes closed. “You’re welcome, and I do hope that the school year opens well. Last year was a disaster, and we’ve paid a higher salary to you based on your fine training. Do know, however, that we are a simple lot, and teaching these students reading and writing will do just fine.”
    Michael resisted the urge to push the door shut harder than he should as she passed through it, knowing that wouldn’t help his cause. Just reading and writing? Was that their only expectations for the students of their town?
    He walked back to his desk, watching the waning light shine through the windows, casting shadows over the student desks all lined up, waiting for their charges.
    “We’ll see about that, won’t we,” he said to the empty room, certain that he would know exactly what to do when the students arrived.

Chapter 5
    R ose splashed water on her face and looked in the mirror on her vanity. The dark circles under her eyes were something she hadn’t seen for quite a long time—since her mother died, she noted with surprise. She lifted up one eyelid and then the other. How could tossing and turning just for one night cause bloodshot eyes?
    Sleep had eluded her as she thought of the warmth of the schoolhouse, her love of learning and the feel and smell of the books that contained so much exciting information about the world outside of Tombstone. As the first bright rays peeked through the window, ending her long night of contemplation, she’d finally arrived at a decision. At his earliest convenience, she’d ask Mr. Tate if he had received permission for volunteers and, if he had, offer her own services.
    She rubbed her hands together to warm them against the early morning chill, hoping the sun would be fully risen by the time she got to the barn to collect the eggs and milk the cows. She reached for a scarf and tied her brown, curly hair back so as not to be in her way while she did her