Miss Wilkes studied him with unabashed curiosity. “You’re a very interesting man, Reverend Lahaye. I’d like to hear more about your life and travels one day.”
He didn’t mind her honest assessment. Welcomed it, actually. “Feel free to call me Ben.”
She lifted her eyebrows and took a sip of her coffee. “I hardly know you.”
“I don’t sit on pretenses or eastern manners,” Ben said. “Life’s too hard and too short to worry about all that.”
She set her mug down, sadness filling her countenance. “Life is too short.”
What had this young lady experienced that would sit so heavily upon her? He had always been good at reading people, and he could sense she had a great deal of pain in her past.
She pulled herself from the sadness and squared her shoulders. “I suppose you should call me Emmy, then, since I intend to stay.”
Ben paused as he spread his jam over his bread. “I have it on good authority that the superintendent will send you home on Monday.”
“And I have it on good authority that I won’t let him.”
He liked her willpower, even if it was misguided. “The school board wants a man.”
“Don’t you need a teacher? At least while you look for a man? Why not give me a chance?” Her eyes filled with such passion, he couldn’t look away, even if he wanted to. “Allow me to prove to you that I am here to stay. I want this job more than anything—and I assure you, I have no intentions on marrying now or in the future.”
What a pity. It wasn’t hard to imagine her in a snug home, surrounded by children.
“As a school board member,” Emmy continued, unaware of Ben’s wayward thoughts, “could you speak on my behalf? I promise you won’t regret keeping me in Little Falls.”
It wouldn’t take long for suitors to come calling on Emmy Wilkes—despite her declaration to remain single. It would be impossible to keep the men away. But didn’t they owe her the benefit of the doubt? “I will do what I can to help.”
She let out a relieved sigh. “I’m in your debt.”
A knock at the front door brought both their heads up.
“Who would brave this storm?” Ben wiped his mouth and looked out the window. Sure enough, the wind had finally calmed and the snow lessened so he could actually see his backyard again. He had hardly noticed as he spoke to Emmy.
Should he invite her to join him in the front room? The last thing he wanted was a neighbor to see them alone together—yet, he didn’t want to hide her and lie. Everyone would eventually know.
“Would you care to join me?” he asked.
She also wiped her lips, but shook her head. “I’ll stay here and finish my breakfast.”
He left the kitchen, being sure to close the door behind him, and entered the front room.
The knock came again, this time with more force.
Ben pulled the door open and found Mr. Samuelson on his front porch.
“Ahh, Reverend Lahaye.” Mr. Samuelson walked into Ben’s house without invitation and clapped his mitted hands together. “Is Mr. Wilkes here? Did he arrive safely?”
“Come in, Mr. Samuelson.” Ben closed the door behind him, glancing toward the kitchen. The superintendent lived about two blocks east of Ben. He was a widower with five children, though his two oldest daughters were old enough to see to the needs of the younger ones.
“I came the moment the snow started to let up a bit.” Mr. Samuelson’s dark eyebrows were caked with ice. “I wanted to meet the man who will teach my children.”
Ben was uncertain how he should proceed. No matter what he said, it would still come as a shock to Mr. Samuelson, and there would be no way around the truth.
The kitchen door squeaked open and Emmy spared Ben the discomfort of deciding.
She stepped out with confidence and grace. “I’m afraid there’s been a mistake, Mr. Samuelson.”
Dennis Samuelson spun on his heels at the sound of the lady’s voice.
Emmy walked across the front room and extended her hand. “I am Miss Emery Wilkes. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dennis didn’t move a muscle to welcome the new teacher.
Ben squared his shoulders, ready to fight on Emmy’s behalf. They had made the mistake in hiring her, and they owed her a chance to prove them wrong.
* * *
The superintendent stared at Emmy much longer than she felt necessary.
Ben came to stand beside Mr. Samuelson, though his gaze was on her. “As Miss Wilkes said, there’s been a mistake.”
Mr. Samuelson stood in all his outdoor gear, mouth and nose covered by a thick scarf. Emmy was only able to see his hazel eyes as he took her in, head to foot. “What’s the meaning of this?”
“Apparently, you thought I was a man.”
“Of course we thought you were a man. Your name is Emery, is it not?”
“She was named after her maternal grandfather,” Ben told the superintendent.
He’d remembered that little detail?
“I don’t care if she was named after the president of the United States.” Mr. Samuelson unwrapped his scarf with more force than necessary. “We don’t want another female.”
“I realize that,” Ben said, coming to her defense. “But what’s done is done.”
“It must be undone.” Mr. Samuelson was younger than Emmy first thought, now that she could see the rest of his face. He was a pleasant-looking fellow, though his face was contorted in anger. “She’ll have to go back posthaste.”
Emmy took a step forward, unwilling to let these two men determine her future without some say in the matter. “I came in good faith that a job would be waiting for me. I’m not returning home until I fulfill the contract.”
“She’s right, Dennis.” Ben put his hands in his pockets and nodded in her direction. “She came because we hired her—”
“We didn’t hire her.” Mr. Samuelson motioned toward her like she was a pesky fly. “We were expecting him.”
“I realize you’re upset,” Emmy said. “But you have to understand how I feel.” It had been five years since William died, and it had taken her that long to get the courage to fulfill their dream to come west. She couldn’t let one little mistake send her back. “Reverend Lahaye explained to me why you’re seeking a male teacher—and I’ve assured him you have no fear of losing me. I don’t plan to marry, nor will I in the future. I am committed to staying in Little Falls as long as the Lord sees fit.” She smiled and added quickly, “Which I hope is a long, long time.”
Both men studied her. Mr. Samuelson with a calculating, unhappy look, and Ben with an approving, tender one.
“I suggest we let her stay on at least until we can find a replacement,” Ben suggested. “We did guarantee her a contract for the first term, which ends at Christmas. Surely she’ll stay unmarried until then.”
Mr. Samuelson crossed his arms and let out a discontented grunt. “I thought we were done with looking for a teacher once and for all.”
Emmy offered up a silent prayer, hoping her journey was not over before it had begun. She wanted desperately to stay and serve the children and families of Little Falls. It was all she had thought about this past month after she’d received the acceptance letter. She had fought so hard to come on her own, defying her parents’