Emmy didn’t notice their arrival as she continued to stack the wood precariously on her arms. She turned, and swayed under the cumbersome weight, but Ben reached out and put a steady hand on her elbow.
“Whoa, there,” he said.
“Oh, my!” She startled at his touch and the wood cascaded from her arms.
“I’m sorry.” Ben still held her arm to steady her. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She was breathing heavy and her cheeks were pink from exertion. Her free hand came up and rested over her heart. “I was so preoccupied with my chore I didn’t hear you arrive.”
Ben reached down and picked up the wood one piece at a time. He could carry three times as much as her, but he didn’t want her to feel incompetent. “The boys and I are here to help. I should have made our presence known a bit sooner.”
She straightened her cap and smiled at the boys. “Good morning.”
Ben handed a stick of firewood to Zeb. “Hold out your arms.”
Zeb obeyed and Ben stacked three pieces in his grasp.
“Your turn, Levi,” Ben said.
“I can hold more than three.” Zeb puffed out his chest.
“Zeb’s strong,” Levi said to Ben. “He’s stronger than anyone I know.”
Emmy smiled as she started to gather more wood.
“One more piece, then,” Ben said with a serious nod, though he caught Emmy’s eye and smiled. “Now you, Levi.”
Levi took a few pieces and then Ben filled his own arms.
“Thank you,” Emmy said to all three of them. “But you didn’t need to bother.”
They followed her into the back of the school and filled the wood box near the door.
“We’ll plan to get here before you tomorrow and have all the chores done,” Ben said. “It’s the least we can do.”
Emmy’s eyes showed her appreciation as she shook her head. “I don’t expect such treatment. I’m capable to do the work required of the teacher.”
“We’d like to help.” Ben looked at the boys, who stared at the schoolroom with a bit of awe. “Wouldn’t we like to help, boys?”
Zeb glanced toward Ben and nodded, but Levi didn’t seem to hear Ben. He took a step away from his brother and looked at the shelf full of primers.
Emmy’s gaze followed Levi and she watched him for a moment, a knowing look on her face.
“I’ll fetch more wood and then bring in fresh water,” Ben told her.
Emmy looked his way. “I’d be happy to fetch more wood.”
“No need.” Ben stepped outside before she could protest and returned to the woodpile.
The sun peeked over the horizon when Ben entered the school with the last load of wood. He filled the water buckets and then put more wood in the stove as the first children arrived outside the schoolhouse, their conversation and laughter filling the air.
“Boys, you’ll need to go outside until Miss Wilkes rings the school bell,” Ben said to the boys. “You can join the other children in their games.”
Zeb and Levi looked at one another, apprehension in their green eyes.
“It won’t be long.” Emmy stood in front of the chalkboard, a piece of dusty chalk in hand. “I’ll ring the bell in about fifteen minutes.”
The boys walked quietly toward the door, in no apparent hurry.
“I’ll be back to pick you up at the end of the day,” Ben said as they slipped outside. Zeb glanced at Ben before he closed the door, his sad eyes filled with uncertainty.
Ben let out a sigh. “It’ll take them time to trust me.”
“I’m afraid you’re right—but you’re off to a great start.”
He turned and met her gaze. “I’m heading to Mrs. Carver’s to see if she’ll agree to keep house for me.”
“I hope she’ll say yes.” She smiled, and the light in her eyes made him want to stay right where he was for the rest of the day, but she looked at her pocket watch and then glanced out the window, and he knew it was time to leave.
“I need to get going,” Ben said quickly. “I’ll see you later this afternoon.”
“Goodbye.”
Ben left the school, looking around for Zeb and Levi. They stood off to the side, alone, as they watched the other children laugh and play. He hated to see them excluded, but there was little he could do. They weren’t like the other children, nestled into warm and loving families. They were twice abandoned, living with a man they didn’t know, in a town they’d probably never heard of. The other children didn’t seem to notice them, and the boys didn’t try to join the games.
Maybe, given time, they would warm up to the other students—but by then, they’d probably be back with their father and need to readjust all over again.
* * *
That evening, Emmy wanted nothing more than a quiet corner, a comfortable chair and a good book. Instead, she sat awkwardly on the bed she shared with Rachel, her feet hanging off the edge, and her back against the hard wall. In place of a good book, she held a large tome titled: A School Atlas of Physical Geography, while balancing a piece of paper on another book on her lap to take notes. Her handwriting was wobbly and her patience waning.
Supper had been an exhausting affair filled with eager young men all clamoring for her attention. They begged her to stay in the parlor afterward, but she had returned to her room to study. Though she was in the back of the house, she could still hear the piano music and boisterous laughter from the front.
“What is the point in studying?” she asked herself as she closed the atlas with a thud.
“Miss Emmy?” Rachel opened their door and peeked inside. “There’s coffee and cookies if you’d like some refreshment.”
“What I’d like is to prepare my lessons for tomorrow.”
“I’m sorry, I’ll leave you in peace,” Rachel said, closing the door.
“Oh, no!” Emmy scrambled off the bed and opened the door, embarrassment warming her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I didn’t mean for you to think you’re the problem.” It had been a long first day of school and things had not gone smoothly. From Mr. Samuelson’s daughters, who treated her like an imposter, to the Trask twins who had been teased by the other children, she’d had her hands full just dealing with discipline. It had taken most of the day to test the children and see where their strengths and weaknesses were, and she’d been disheartened to realize they were farther behind than most their age. Was it because they hadn’t had consistent teachers? “Maybe I do need some refreshments.”
Rachel gave her a reassuring smile. “You’ll find it in the front parlor. I’d bring you some, but Mrs. Hubbard is feeling poorly and she asked me to fetch her another blanket.”
“The baby?”
“Not yet, but soon.”
Emmy thanked Rachel and left the kitchen, taking a deep breath to prepare herself. Maybe, if she was quick, she could get her refreshments and return to her room in peace.
At least a dozen men sat in the parlor. Some were playing cards, others were singing around the piano and still others were sitting on the furniture engaged in conversation.
The one named Mr. Archibald was the first to notice