As she stepped off the bottom stair, Mrs. Potter and the man turned to face her. Laura paused. Wasn’t this the gentleman who’d arrived at the sheriff’s office just as she’d been leaving?
“Oh, good. I won’t have to send for you, Mrs. Lee. This gentleman has asked to see you.” Mrs. Potter glanced from her to the man waiting.
“Thank you, Mrs. Potter.” She turned to look at him. Did he know something about Hope? Who she belonged to? Had he come to claim Hope as part of his family?
A little girl stood beside him, holding his pinky finger in her small hand. Big brown eyes looked from her to Hope. She tugged at his hand and chattered something, but the language was baby gibberish.
He smiled at the child. “I don’t know, Grace. You’ll have to ask Mrs. Lee.” Dark brown eyes rose and met hers.
He’d understood what the little girl had said?
Hope began pushing away from Laura, trying to get down to Grace. Laura hung on to her tighter. She jiggled the child against her hip to get her attention and then looking her in the eyes, said, “Hope, be still.” Her tone was that of a schoolteacher.
The child immediately stopped and laid her head on Laura’s shoulder. Laura rubbed her small back. Hope seemed to be a well-behaved child.
The handsome man nodded. “That’s a nice trick, Mrs. Lee. Maybe you could teach it to me someday.”
Laura frowned. “You seem to know me, sir, but I don’t know you.” She’d seen him around town before today, but they had never spoken. Had someone pointed her out to him?
Mrs. Potter’s head swung from one to the other. Laura wanted to ask her to leave but at the same time was happy that she’d stayed. This man was a stranger to her and yet knew her name.
He stepped forward with his free hand extended. “I’m sorry. I’m Clint Shepard. I’m looking for a nanny for Grace here, and the sheriff suggested you.”
Laura shook his hand, just as she would one of her students’ fathers. She tilted her head and gazed at Mr. Shepard. Was he the answer to her prayers? The sheriff wouldn’t have sent a dangerous man to look for her, if he didn’t think Mr. Shepard could help her with her current situation.
“If you are interested, it would mean moving out to my ranch.” He shifted his booted feet as if wanting to leave and yet knowing he needed to stay.
She indicated the bench that rested against the wall beside the stairs. “Perhaps you’d like to explain what you are offering, Mr. Shepard.” Laura sat Hope down.
Hope waited until Mr. Shepard had sat down and then toddled over to the other little girl who stood in front of her father.
He took a deep breath and then blurted, “I have a housekeeper and cook, but she refuses to take on the care of my daughter, Grace, too. So, if you will take the job, you’ll need to move out to the ranch. You and your little girl will be given a room next to Grace’s, and I will make sure that you make more than what you do now as a teacher.”
Did he know that she made forty dollars a month as a schoolteacher? “Do you have any idea what this town pays a schoolteacher, Mr. Shepard?”
He grinned and nodded. Grace jabbered something to him, while tugging at his leg. Clint reached down and touched the top of her head. “We’ll go in a moment, Grace.”
Laura needed the money. If she could work until planting season was over and school started back, maybe she’d make enough money to buy a house in town or at least rent something. “How much more are we talking?”
His head came up and a look of hope entered his eyes. “I’ll double what they are paying you.”
She swallowed. “Mr. Shepard. I have no desire to give up my teaching position. As you are aware, school is closed for the summer until the end of the harvest, but as soon as harvest is over, I’ll resume my job.” For some reason, Laura found herself sharing more than she normally would. “My goal is to obtain a house for myself and Hope by that time.”
Clint nodded. “I see. What if I promise to help you look for a house and you work for me until school resumes?”
Laura’s gaze moved to the two little girls who were sitting on the floor at their feet. Grace’s small voice was speaking in low tones to Hope. Hope sucked her thumb and nodded as if in agreement with Grace. Would Hope become attached to Grace, if she took the job and moved to the ranch? Or worse, would she?
* * *
Clint held his breath while he waited for Mrs. Lee to make up her mind. If she accepted his proposal, he’d have to find another nanny to replace her, but at least he wouldn’t be rushed, like he was right now.
“My board is paid until the end of the week here. I’d like to pray about it.” Laura studied the children at their feet.
He nodded. “I realize you need the time, but I also have a ranch to run. I’d planned on staying in town until tomorrow, and even though I’d love to give you the extra days, I really can’t stay longer than that.”
“I’ll have an answer for you in the morning. Is that satisfactory?” Laura asked.
He heard the schoolteacher tone in her voice. If he didn’t miss his guess, Clint was pretty sure it didn’t matter if it was agreeable to him or not, she’d not have a solid answer until then. Clint turned his attention to the boardinghouse owner, put on his most charming smile and asked, “Would it be possible for me to rent a room for the night?”
The older woman frowned. “I don’t normally allow children to live here, Mr. Shepard.”
His mind raced. Where else could he rent a room? The hotel was still in the process of being built, so that wasn’t an option. He looked down at Grace. Why hadn’t he considered that the boardinghouse wouldn’t accept children? Since he’d never had need to stay overnight in town before, he’d not considered that the boardinghouse might be full or not have room for children within its walls.
Mrs. Potter sighed and looked down at the two children. “I suppose one night won’t hurt, but I’ll not allow it again.” Mrs. Potter gave him a stern look.
“Thank you. I promise I’ll keep Grace as quiet as I possibly can.” Clint looked down at his chattering daughter and wondered if he’d be able to keep that promise.
Grace prattled up at him and pointed to Hope. Hope pointed to her heart-shaped mouth and pointed inside. It was obvious his daughter and little Hope were hungry.
“All right, Grace.” He looked to Laura. “Would you ladies like to join us for lunch?”
Grace pulled on Hope’s arms until she stood steadily on her feet. The two children looked up at Laura expectantly. Did she understand the children were waiting to go eat?
Laura grinned. “I see that I am outnumbered. We are going to go over to Miss Pearl’s for lunch. You and Grace are welcome to join us.” She picked up the ball of yarn Hope had been playing with and dropped it into her handbag. Then Laura scooped up Hope and swung the child on to her hip.
Grace tugged on his shirt. Clint lifted his daughter up and set her on his shoulders. “Then that sounds like a nice place for us to go, too. I’ve never eaten there. I usually do my business and get right back to the ranch.”
Mrs. Potter snorted. “Dinner is at six.” She left the room with her skirts swirling around her.
Clint followed Laura and Hope out the door. Why hadn’t Laura had lunch at the boardinghouse? Maybe the food wasn’t as good there as it was at Pearl’s.
He stepped into place beside Laura when she made room on the sidewalk for him. Grace giggled and chattered above his head. “She really is a talker, isn’t she?” Laura grinned up at Grace.