Unexpected Holiday Blessings

Finding twin five-year-old boys on his doorstep isn’t the first surprise Reverend Benjamin Lahaye has faced lately. Emery Wilkes, the new schoolteacher the town has hired, turns out to be a very pretty woman—not the man they’d been expecting. And though the twins and Emmy are only boarding with Ben until Christmas, the arrangement feels all too natural.

Emmy has moved to Minnesota to put loss behind her. Marriage would mean forsaking her position and her purpose, and Ben is an honorable man who understands her refusal to wed. But as he gets closer to tracking down the little boys’ father, Emmy realizes just how much she wants their sweet temporary family to become permanent.

Emmy hadn’t known Ben for long, but she sensed he was out of sorts the whole day.

It was almost as if Ben was jealous of Adam—but that would be preposterous. Ben had never intimated that his feelings were more than platonic.

“Is something wrong, Emmy?” Ben took a step toward her, concern clouding his eyes.

“I—I was going to ask you the same question.”

For a moment, he didn’t say anything, and when he looked up she saw the old Ben reappear. “Nothing is wrong.”

“Then why the sullen mood today?”

“I’m sorry I’ve been so moody. There’s no excuse for it.”

“Maybe not, but is there a reason?” The question came of its own accord, as if her heart longed to hear that his feelings did run deeper while her mind begged her to walk away—nay, run—before he answered.

He studied her for a moment, as if he, too, wanted something he knew he shouldn’t want, but then he shook his head and started toward the door. “Good night, Emmy.”

Ben’s actions were so out of character she didn’t know what to think or believe. But his feelings were not what concerned her the most—her feelings scared her even more.

Dear Reader,

When I research the history of my hometown, I’m always amazed at the little nuggets of information I find. One of those nuggets is about Miss Ellen Nichols. She arrived in Little Falls in 1855 and served as the first schoolteacher in town. She and her husband, C.S.K. Smith, also have the distinction of celebrating the first wedding in Little Falls soon after her arrival. In a town known for its large male population, it’s no wonder the schoolteacher married quickly. This historical information was the idea that sparked and grew into the third story in my Little Falls Legacy miniseries.

This story is especially dear to my heart because I modeled the twins, Zeb and Levi, after my own twin boys, Judah and Asher, who were six at the time I wrote The Gift of Twins. I tried to imagine how Judah and Asher would react if put in the same situation as Zeb and Levi. Some of the scenes were hard to write when life wasn’t fair to the Trask boys, but other scenes were a lot of fun. I especially enjoyed watching Ben and Emmy fall in love with them.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this story as much as I have.

In His name,

Gabrielle Meyer

GABRIELLE MEYER lives in central Minnesota on the banks of the Mississippi River with her husband and four young children. As an employee of the Minnesota Historical Society, she fell in love with the rich history of her state and enjoys writing fictional stories inspired by real people and events. Gabrielle can be found at www.gabriellemeyer.com, where she writes about her passion for history, Minnesota and her faith.

The Gift of Twins

Gabrielle Meyer

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Therefore shall a man leave his father

and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife,

and they shall be one flesh.

—Genesis 2:24

To Beka Swisher, Sarah Olson, Lindsay LeClair and Jessica Janski. Thank you for being some of

the first people to read my stories and believe in

my dream. Your friendship is a gift from God.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Little Falls, Minnesota

October 15, 1858

Reverend Benjamin Lahaye was usually a man of patience, but tonight he felt like a caged bear, pacing up and down the room. He stopped in front of the fireplace and placed another log on the blazing flames to give himself something to do. When he stood, he glanced out the window at the raging blizzard and started to pace again.

The new schoolmaster, Mr. Emery Wilkes, should have arrived on the stagecoach hours ago, but the temperature had dropped steadily all day and an unseasonable snowstorm came out of nowhere. Maybe the stagecoach driver had stopped to find shelter. At least, that’s what Ben hoped. He’d hate to think the schoolmaster was stuck in a snowdrift, freezing to death.

A knock sounded at the front door, bringing Ben’s worries to rest.

He sprinted across the room to the front door where a lantern sat on a table near the window. He kept it lit every night to welcome friends or strangers who might need a warm home, a listening ear or a bit of counsel. Tonight, the lantern would welcome the first male schoolteacher to Little Falls—a much-needed change after the three previous female teachers had all married before their contracts were fulfilled. In a town that boasted over two hundred bachelors, women were in high demand. As a school board member, it had become a tiresome task to refill the position, so Ben had been adamant about hiring a man. He’d also offered to let the new schoolmaster board with him, since he lived alone.

Ben opened the door, a smile at the ready. “Welcome, Mr.—”

A young woman stood on his front porch, shivering and hugging her body as she blinked up at him with snowflakes clinging to her long lashes. Her cheeks and nose were pink, making her blue eyes more brilliant under the light of the lantern. “H-hello,” she said through chattering teeth. “A-are you Reverend Lahaye?”

He stood there, speechless at the sight of her.

“I’m M-Miss Wilkes,” she continued as a shiver moved through her body. “Th-the new schoolteacher.”

She couldn’t be. He’d reviewed the application himself. It had clearly said “Emery A. Wilkes.”

She stared at him for a moment, a frown creasing her brow. “Y-you are R-Reverend Lahaye, aren’t y-you?”

He finally found his voice. “Yes.”

“May I—I come in?” She took a step toward the warmth of his home. “I—I’ve never been s-so cold in m-my life.”

Where were his manners? He couldn’t let her continue to freeze on his front porch. He opened the door wider and let her come over the threshold. “Yes, of course, come in.”

She moved past him and shook out her full skirts, snow falling to the ground in a perfect circle around her gown. “Is there s-someone to help with my l-luggage? The driver p-practically tossed me off the s-stage in his quest to find suitable lodging.”

He looked out at the swirling storm where three trunks sat haphazardly collecting snow. Ben couldn’t very well bring her trunks into the house—what would people think? But he couldn’t leave them out there to get buried, either. If he did, they might not dig them out until spring. “I’ll see to them.”

He grabbed his coat off the hook and slipped it over his shoulders, his mind whirling with unanswered questions. “Go on over to the fireplace and warm yourself.”

Miss Wilkes didn’t wait for a second invitation, but walked to the fire and extended her hands to the heat, closing her eyes with a sigh.

Ben stood for a minute, his confusion mounting. Who was this little bit of a thing and how had this mistake happened? Nowhere on the application did it hint that Emery Wilkes was a woman.

He stepped into the biting wind and hefted the first trunk onto his shoulder. It was surprisingly heavy, and he suspected it was full of books. He brought it into the house where the ring of snow was now melting into a puddle.

He dropped it to the ground and shoved it to the side. As soon as he had a place for her to go, the trunks would need to leave. But where would he take her? The Northern Hotel? It seemed the best place, though it could be dangerous trying to get there in this storm. He’d known people lost to wander in the blinding white, freezing to death without finding shelter. Maybe he’d take her to the Coopers. They were his closest friends and they’d never turn away a young lady in need. Their house was full, but it had been fuller.

He contemplated his choices as he brought in the other trunks. When he finished, he closed the door against the frigid wind and stood for a moment to shake off the snow. Miss Wilkes had removed her coat and bonnet and pulled a chair up closer to the fire, her back to him.

Firelight danced and flickered over her face as she surveyed his home. Her gaze went to the mantel where he kept his snowshoes from his circuit preaching days, reminding him that God’s plans were not always his own. Next, she looked toward the piles of books he had stacked on the floor. The stories had been his boon companions these three years, and he suspected that if her first trunk was filled with books, then she fully understood why he had so many.

She must have sensed him, because she stood and clasped her hands in front of her. “Thank you for bringing in my things.” Her voice had an eastern ring to it that he didn’t hear often. It reminded him of Mrs. Ayers, the woman who had raised him when his father had abandoned him at the mission in Pokegama when he was six.

“It was my pleasure.” Ben slipped off his coat and hung it on the hook, uncertainty in his movements. What would she say when she learned about the mistake?

The young lady looked around the parlor, an uncomfortable smile forming on her pretty face. “It’s awfully quiet. Is Mrs. Lahaye at home?”

Ben took a tentative step into the room—but paused. “There is no Mrs. Lahaye.”

Her smile fell and she took a step back, putting the chair between them. “No Mrs. Lahaye?”

“I think there’s been a mistake.”

She swallowed, her gaze darting around the room as if mapping out her escape. “What kind of a mistake?”

“You’re not who we expected.”

She frowned, her expressive eyes filling with dismay. “What do you mean?”

“Are you Miss Wilkes of Springfield, Massachusetts?”

“Yes.”

“Miss Emery Wilkes?”

“Yes. Miss Emery Anne Wilkes of Springfield, Massachusetts.”

Ben groaned. “We thought you were a man.”

She let out a relieved breath. “Is that all? It’s an honest mistake. I was named after my maternal grandfather, Emery Anthrop, though my parents have always called me Emmy.”

He took another step toward her. “But you don’t understand. We didn’t want to hire a woman—we were specifically looking for a man.”

Her frown deepened as the truth settled over her. “I’m just as capable and hardworking as a man.”

“I’m sure you are, but every woman we’ve hired has been married within three months of arriving and then we’re forced to look for another schoolteacher. We want more consistency for our students.”

She swallowed and lifted her chin a notch, though her quiet voice didn’t match her determined confidence. “You have nothing to fear on that count. I have no intentions of marrying.”

“Neither did the others.”

“You have my word.” She looked pained, clearly expecting him to believe her.

He wanted to, but experience had taught him otherwise. “I don’t think your word will be good enough for the school board.” They were just as adamant as Ben. They had better things to do than replace their teachers every three months.

Her shoulders drooped and she shook her head. “I’m not wanted?”

The simple question was laced with a deeper pain—one Ben knew all too well. He’d spent his entire childhood believing he wasn’t wanted.

He didn’t answer. Couldn’t.

“Surely the school board won’t turn me away after I’ve come so far.” She looked at him with uncertainty. “They won’t...will they?”

Ben wished he could offer some hope. She had come a long way after all, and according to her application, she was more than qualified. But Mr. Samuelson, the newly appointed superintendent of the Little Falls school, was a hard man and once he had his mind set, it was difficult to change. Ben could just about imagine what he’d say to this attractive young lady. It wouldn’t take long for a line of beaus to come knocking on her door.

“We need to find somewhere for you to stay.” Ben started toward the kitchen. “But, first, I’ll get you a cup of hot coffee to warm you up.”

He entered the cozy kitchen and grabbed a mug, glancing at her when she stepped over the threshold. She was so young and defenseless, he wondered how her family felt about her coming all the way to Minnesota. If he had a daughter, he doubted he’d let her go so far alone—especially if she was so pretty.

“We’ll need to face the weather and go down the hill to my friends, the Coopers.” He handed her the mug of coffee, taking note of her long, slender fingers and her clear skin. “They’re friends of mine and the best chance we have of getting you somewhere safely tonight. They’ll put you up for a few nights until we can get you back on the stage Monday morning. The school board will pay for your trip home.”

“I’m not going home.” She held the coffee mug in both her hands, her back straightening with determination. “I’ve come west to teach and that’s what I intend to do.”

He crossed his arms. “Then I’m afraid you’ll have to do it somewhere else, Miss Wilkes. The school board decided to hire a man, and we won’t be happy until one is found.”

It looked like the school board would need to start looking for another teacher, and Ben would need to find a new boarder—one who wasn’t as fetching as Miss Emery Anne Wilkes.

* * *

Emmy was not going back east—not after she had come so far and sacrificed so much to leave Massachusetts. There was nothing holding her to the east, nothing but dreadful memories and angry words.

The hot coffee didn’t set well in her stomach as she stood near the front door in Reverend Lahaye’s home a few minutes later, a bag of necessities by her feet, tying her bonnet strings in preparation to go to the Coopers’ home. She watched Reverend Lahaye wrap a long scarf around his neck and then put mittens on his large hands. He was not what she had expected—but then, nothing was as she had expected. If it wasn’t snowing, she’d already be at the superintendent’s home, begging him to give her a chance. As it was, she’d go to him as soon as possible and assure him she was there to stay. She had no intentions on marrying—ever. After William’s unexpected death two days before their wedding, she had vowed to never love again. She refused to put herself in a position to suffer through the same heartache twice.

Surely, they wouldn’t turn her away once she gave her word that she didn’t plan to marry.

Reverend Lahaye glanced at her with his dark brown eyes as he put a knit cap on his equally dark hair. He was much younger and far more handsome than she had expected. When he’d answered the door, she had thought she’d arrived at the wrong house. In her mind, Reverend Lahaye was old and married—nothing like the man standing before her.

Kindness and gentleness radiated from his countenance, though she’d had a moment of panic when she realized they were alone in the house. But what woman wouldn’t?

“Do you have a scarf?” he asked.

“I’m afraid not.”

“What about mittens or a warmer coat?”

She shook her head. She hadn’t anticipated such weather for several months—time enough to buy the needed items.

“You’ll freeze to death in that bonnet and coat.” He took the lantern from the ledge near the window and walked to a door on the right side of the parlor. He opened the door and stepped inside, the shadowed light revealing a bed and a bureau in the large room. His bedroom?

She stood patiently and waited until he returned. When he stepped into the parlor again, he had a large item draped over his arm. It looked like the skin of an animal, but she’d never seen anything like it.

“What is that?”

“It’s my old buffalo robe. I used to wear it when I was a circuit preacher.” He set the lantern on the ledge again and held the robe out for her.

She blinked at him. “What am I to do with it?”

“It’ll keep you warm. Much warmer than that.” He nodded at her fashionable winter coat. “Trust me,” he said. “You’ll thank me when we’re in the midst of the storm.”

He held it open with the fur toward the inside and the skin on the outside. She turned to let him put it on her shoulders.

She swam in the heavy material and it dragged on the floor. She could easily wrap it around her body two or three times. “I don’t know that I can trudge through the snow in this thing.”

His expression softened and a bemused smile tilted his wide mouth as he looked her over. “It’s a little bigger than I remember, but I’ll help you.” He handed her a cap, scarf and mittens. “You’ll need these, too.”

The buffalo robe engulfed her and she could hardly raise her arms. “I don’t think I can manage to put them on.”

He took the robe off again, which allowed her to remove her bonnet. She placed it in her bag and then put on the winter items.

Without warning, he draped the robe over her shoulders again. Its weight almost knocked her down.

“Your boots are impractical for this weather, as well,” he said.

“I can’t possibly wear your boots.” His feet were much larger than hers.

“I suppose you can’t.” He looked at her, the smile returning to his eyes. “I can hardly see you under all that gear.”

She felt ridiculous, but she appreciated the added protection against the cold and snow.

He lifted her bag. “We’ll go out the back door.”

She followed him through the parlor, tripping over the buffalo robe, and entered the kitchen. He glanced out the window, squinting as he looked uncertain. “I hate to take you into this storm—but we have little choice.” He turned to study her. “You’ll need to hold my hand at all times. I’m familiar with the trek to Abram and Charlotte’s, so I’ll rely on my instincts. If, for some reason we’re separated, don’t move. Stay where you are and I’ll find you.”

Apprehension wound its way around Emmy’s heart as she thought of the consequences of being lost in a blizzard. She simply nodded, thankful that he seemed so confident—but wondering if she could trust his instincts.

He opened the door and then reached his hand toward her.

She took it without hesitation and followed him into the storm. The wind bit at the exposed skin of her cheeks and nose. It stole her breath with its intensity and she clung to Reverend Lahaye’s hand with all her might. Somehow, it was even worse now than it had been when the stagecoach dropped her off.

He closed the door and then bent into the storm, tugging her along with him.

The snow whipped about them in every conceivable direction. She didn’t know if it was coming or going. Though she held his hand, she could hardly make out his shape in front of her and it hurt to look into the swirling wind and snow.

There was no sunshine to mark the way—just darkness and bitter cold wind.

They didn’t go more than ten yards before Reverend Lahaye stopped and she bumped into his back. She didn’t dare move as he turned to face her. He bent forward and spoke, but she couldn’t make out his words in the howling wind.

He didn’t move and she feared they were lost. Panic began to creep up her legs. It hit her heart with a thud, making her want to run—yet she didn’t dare.

Again, he leaned forward and spoke into her ear, but she couldn’t hear. What was wrong? Why had they stopped?

Finally, he tugged on her hand again—but if they were going forward or backward, she didn’t know. It was impossible to know anything.

They didn’t walk very far when she made out the shape of a building and he stepped through an open door.

When she followed, and her eyes adjusted, she realized they were back in his kitchen.

He shoved the door closed against the raging wind, breathing hard. “It’s madness out there.”

Emmy swallowed hard, trying to catch her breath, her fingers and toes numb. “Why are we back?”

He shook his head and took off his cap and mittens. “We would never have made it alive. We could have very well ended up in the river, or wandered out of town. I didn’t know my right from my left out there.” His eyes filled with concern. “I’m sorry, Miss Wilkes. I couldn’t risk your safety. We’ll have to stay here for the night.”

Emmy stood motionless in the buffalo robe, the reality of their situation hitting her. “I must choose between my safety or my reputation?”

He took a step away from her, as if sensing her dismay and put some space between them. “We can try again in the morning when there is a bit of sun. Maybe the storm will cease by then.” He went to the stove and put more wood inside. “Are you hungry? I can make you some flapjacks and sausage.”

She hadn’t eaten since lunch, but she didn’t think she could swallow a bite now. “Where shall I sleep?” If she’d sleep at all.

“There are two bedrooms upstairs. I had one prepared for Mr. Wil—” He paused. “You should be comfortable there. I’ll sleep in my room down here.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. Would sleeping unchaperoned in the pastor’s house make it more difficult to convince the superintendent to let her stay? What would the community say? It was vital that they think highly of her.

“I’m sure everyone will understand.” He put an iron skillet on the stove and gave her a reassuring smile, as if he could read her thoughts. “This is a small community, but no one would fault us for staying safe. I’ll explain everything.”

Emmy wasn’t so sure, but what choice did they have? They were stuck in the parsonage until the storm subsided.

Chapter Two

The next morning, Ben stood near the cast-iron stove scrambling eggs for breakfast. Snow and ice blew against the house with a vengeance, as if winter was shaking its angry fist at the world, daring it to lay dormant. He’d never seen a blizzard so early, and it didn’t bode well for the lonely months ahead.

A floorboard creaked and Ben turned to find Miss Wilkes fidgeting uncomfortably in the doorway. In the light of day, he found her to be even prettier than he’d first thought by the glow of the lantern. Her blond hair was twisted in a becoming knot, with tendrils curling around her face. Blue eyes, the color of wild forget-me-nots under a warm prairie sun were fringed with those long lashes, and she had the tiniest waist he’d ever seen. She didn’t look as young and defenseless as he’d first thought, either. He guessed her to be twenty-three or twenty-four, though she carried herself as if she had a fair share of life already behind her.

“Good morning,” Ben said as he nodded to the table. “I’ll have some eggs for you in a minute. Help yourself to bread and jam. The coffee’s hot.”

She took a tentative step into the kitchen as if afraid of being in the same room alone with him. Last night, they’d gone to their bedrooms immediately after they ate their flapjacks. It had been awkward and she’d fled the moment he’d said good-night. He didn’t blame her. It was a difficult situation she’d found herself in, but he’d do all he could to protect her reputation.

“Will I find a more suitable place to stay this morning?” she asked as she picked up a mug and filled it with coffee. “I’d also like to see the superintendent as soon as possible.”

Ben glanced out the window, but all he could see was snow and more snow. “I think the storm is worse today than last night.” He shook his head. “I don’t feel right about taking you out there again. At least not now. We’ll go later, if it lets up.”

She sighed and set the coffeepot back on the stove. “I suppose the damage is already done.”

Ben put the eggs on the table and motioned for her to take a seat. He also sat and then he bowed his head. “For this meal, and our lives, Lord, we are eternally grateful. Amen.”

“Amen,” she echoed.

Ben dished up her plate and she took a piece of bread and lathered it with strawberry jam. There was so much he’d like to know about her. He was always fascinated when a young lady braved the frontier and set out on her own—this one especially. She seemed so vulnerable, yet he suspected there was steel-like determination under that delicate exterior.

She glanced up at him. “Thank you for your hospitality. I’m sure this isn’t what you expected, either.”

He laughed. “I was definitely expecting Mr. Wilkes.”

She smiled, revealing a row of beautiful white teeth. “Do you take in many boarders?”

“He would have been my first.”

She laughed, and the sound was the merriest thing he’d ever heard. “He doesn’t exist.”

“I suppose you’re right.” Ben scooped some eggs onto his own plate. “I was looking forward to a roommate for the winter months. I used to be a circuit preacher and I would go from home to home, rarely alone for more than a night or two. Before that, I lived at three different missions, which were always busy with people coming and going. It’s been a hard transition to living alone.”

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’ wishes, her friends’ concerns, and putting up with the tittle-tattle of neighbors who thought she was ruining her life. She couldn’t return now, not like this.

“Fine,” Mr. Samuelson said. “She can stay—but only until Christmas. In the meantime, I will continue searching for a male teacher and have him ready to take her place the first of the year.”

Emmy let out the breath she’d been holding. It wasn’t what she’d hoped for, but it was a start. “If I can prove to you that you have nothing to fear, and that I have no intentions on ever marrying, will you allow me to stay?”

Mr. Samuelson squinted at her. “How would you prove that?”

“On Christmas Day, if I have made myself invaluable to the school and community, and I’ve shown myself above reproach, will you allow me to stay?”

Mr. Samuelson looked at Ben, who stared back at him without expression.

The superintendent threw his hands in the air. “Fine. But I’m warning you, Miss Wilkes—” he pointed at her, his finger shaking “—I will watch you closely, and if I see even a hint of romance, I will immediately terminate your contract and find a new teacher. Do I make myself clear?”

Hope bubbled in Emmy’s chest for the first time since her arrival. She had no doubt she’d prove herself to the superintendent. No doubt at all. “You’ve made yourself clear.”

“Now.” Mr. Samuelson turned to Ben. “Where is she staying?”

“I haven’t decided.”

Mr. Samuelson eyes grew wide as he swung around to face Emmy. “Where did you stay last night, Miss Wilkes?”

“She stayed here,” Ben said quickly. “We tried to go to the Coopers, but I turned back, knowing it would have put her life in jeopardy if we had continued.”

“Here? Unchaperoned?” Mr. Samuelson’s face filled with disapproval.

“There was nothing untoward about last night,” Ben said with authority in his voice. “Neither one of us expected the mistake and we did our best to rectify it. Miss Wilkes slept upstairs, while I slept down. I hope my character and reputation will speak for itself.”

Mr. Samuelson balled his scarf in one hand. “I don’t like it, but what’s done is done.” He addressed Emmy. “It is your upmost priority to ensure that your reputation stays untarnished, do you understand?”

“Of course.” Her reputation meant more to her than almost anything.

“I want you to bring her to the Hubbards immediately,” Mr. Samuelson said to Ben. “It’ll be cheaper to board her with the Hubbards than pay full price at the hotel, and her meals will be included.”

“But don’t you think she’ll have more privacy at the hotel?” Ben asked. “The Hubbards’ boardinghouse is always full.”

“Pearl will make room for her.” Mr. Samuelson’s voice suggested the debate was over. “And she’ll be across the road from me, so I can keep an eye on her.”

Emmy suspected that was the real reason he wanted her at the Hubbards’ boardinghouse.

“I’ll help you with your things,” Mr. Samuelson said to Emmy. “We’ll leave right now.”

“We haven’t finished our breakfast,” Ben said.

“Now.”

Emmy smiled at Ben, offering him a quiet thank-you with her eyes. He had done more than he needed, and she was grateful.

Without prompting, Emmy entered the enclosed stairway near the front door and went up to the room she’d slept in the night before. It was a spacious bedroom with a large bed, a bureau and a generous window. The bed had been warm and comfortable, and she’d had the best night sleep since leaving Massachusetts, given the circumstances. She gathered up her things as quickly as she could and placed them in her bag, and then she went back downstairs where the men were waiting.

“Feel free to borrow the cap and scarf and mittens,” Ben said. “You’ll need them.”

“Thank you.” She dressed for the outdoors, and when she was ready, she instructed them to bring the two trunks she needed most. She’d leave the one full of books at Ben’s to be picked up later. She lifted her bag and then followed them out into the snow.

The cold air took her breath again, but this time she could see where she was walking. It was hard to get a good look at Little Falls with all the snow, but there would be time enough for that later.

She followed close behind Ben, thinking of the evening before when he’d held her hand. He was a kind man and she could sense that they would be friends. It didn’t surprise her that he was a pastor. No doubt his parishioners loved him. She looked forward to attending church the following morning to hear him preach. She imagined he was good at that, too.

Ben led her and Mr. Samuelson across the road and down a block. A large, brown house appeared in the falling snow. It was quite impressive, and not what she would have expected on the frontier. Where Ben’s home was modest and simple, this structure was overbearing, if not ornate. It was styled after the Greek Revival architecture and reminded her of some of the homes back east.

“Timothy and Pearl Hubbard are one of the founding families in Little Falls,” Ben explained as they drew near the house. “You’ll like Pearl. She runs a respectable home. They have three children. They’ll be some of your students.”

Excitement raced up Emmy’s spine at the prospect of meeting some students, despite the frigid air. She had taught for several years back east, but she suspected it would be much different in the West.

A picket fence ran around the property and Ben unlatched the gate, allowing Emmy and Mr. Samuelson to pass by. Mr. Samuelson then went to the front door and opened it without knocking.

Emmy stepped over the threshold and into the foyer. She was instantly met with the smell of warm spice cake and fresh coffee. A wide staircase ran straight up the right-hand wall, curving to the left at the top. Two archways flanked the foyer. The one on her left went into a front parlor and the one on her right looked into a dining room. Noise at the back of the foyer suggested a kitchen was in that direction.

“Hello,” called a woman from the kitchen.

“Hello, Mrs. Hubbard.” Mr. Samuelson set the trunk down with a thud. “We have a boarder for you.”

A plain-faced woman entered the foyer, her middle thick with child. She wiped her hands on her apron as she came down the hall. She was a bit older than Emmy would expect to bear children, but she looked healthy and robust, if a little frazzled. Her dark hair was split down the center and dropped to cover her ears, before being secured at the back in a bun. She smiled a welcome to Emmy and offered Ben a fond glance, but she squared her shoulders when she met Mr. Samuelson’s gaze. “I’m sorry, but I’m full at the moment.”

As if summoned, five boisterous men plodded down the wide stairs. They stopped short when they glimpsed Emmy, the ones in back plowing into the ones in front. All but one grinned like an idiot in her direction.

“Is there nowhere to put her?” Mr. Samuelson asked, as if she was a piece of furniture to be stored.

“Mrs. Hubbard,” Ben said graciously. “May I introduce you to Miss Wilkes, the new schoolmistress?”

Pearl’s eyes lit and she took Emmy’s hand in a gentle squeeze. “The new teacher? Why didn’t you say so to begin with? It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wilkes. I’m so happy you’ve come to teach our children.”

“For the time being,” Mr. Samuelson amended. “Now, can you board her or not?”

The men passed by and entered the parlor, though they didn’t make any noise, suggesting they were listening to the conversation in the foyer.

“I suppose I can make room.” Mrs. Hubbard sighed. “We always have space for the teacher. You’ll need to room with Rachel, my serving girl. She sleeps in the room off the kitchen.”

It wasn’t ideal. Emmy liked to spend her evenings studying and reading in solitude—but if it was all that was available to her, and meant she could stay in Little Falls, she’d make do. “Thank you.”

Mrs. Hubbard eyed her two large trunks. “We’ll have to store your things in the attic. There won’t be any space in your room with Rachel.”

“Store my things? Will they be safe?”

“It’s just until another room becomes available,” Mrs. Hubbard assured Emmy.

“When will that be?”

“There’s no way of knowing. We have men in and out all the time.”

“I’ll go home and retrieve your other trunk,” Ben said to Emmy.

“There’s more?” Mrs. Hubbard asked.

“All my books.” Emmy felt bad that she’d packed so much, but she couldn’t bear to leave anything behind.

Mrs. Hubbard shook her head. “There’s not much room in the attic, either, I’m afraid.”

“I’d be happy to store them for the time being,” Ben offered. “You could come for them anytime you’d like.”

The thought of not having her books at her disposal made her uneasy—but one look at Mr. Samuelson suggested she leave well enough alone. “Thank you, Reverend Lahaye.”

“If this storm passes, we’ll expect school to begin at eight o’clock sharp on Monday morning,” Mr. Samuelson said. “See that you’re there and ready on time.”

“I will.”

Mr. Samuelson tipped his hat at Mrs. Hubbard, and then at Emmy, though she suspected he did it out of habit and not a desire to be a gentleman, and then he left.

“I’ll bring the trunks to the attic,” Ben said to Mrs. Hubbard. He turned to Emmy. “It’s been my pleasure, Miss Wilkes. I hope you’ll be happy here.”

“Thank you.” She wanted to say more than thank you, but she couldn’t find the words to express her gratitude. If he had been any other man, she probably wouldn’t have a job right now.

“Do my ears deceive me?” One of the men exited the parlor and put his hands over his heart. “Is this beautiful creature going to abide under the same roof as me?”

“Mr. Archibald, remember your manners,” Mrs. Hubbard said. “Miss Wilkes is a lady.”

“How could I forget?” Mr. Archibald took Emmy’s hand and bent over it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Wilkes.” The other men followed Mr. Archibald out of the parlor. They circled her like a hungry pack of wolves, and she their prey.

It would be quite a feat to hold them at bay—of that she was certain—but it was vital if she wanted to keep her job.

Chapter Three

Ben returned home, disliking the way the men had surrounded Emmy. He’d seen it countless times before. As one of the only single females in town, she would be hounded incessantly. He didn’t doubt she could resist their charms—but it wouldn’t be an easy task.

He trudged through the drifting snow, his thoughts full of the young lady and all that had transpired since last evening.

A sleigh sat in front of Ben’s home. It was piled with furniture and household belongings. A man waited on the front bench, reins in hand, while half a dozen children sat huddled in the back. They looked as if they were just passing through. People often stopped by the church and parsonage for one thing or another, and he tried to accommodate everyone to the best of his ability.

“Hello,” Ben called as he drew near the parsonage. Snow continued to fall, but it was letting up and would probably stop soon. Activity had begun to commence on Main Street, though most would still be home, digging out from the storm.

A woman stood by Ben’s front door, two small children by her side. She turned when she heard Ben and grabbed each child by an arm. “Are you the pastor?”

“I am.”

The man on the buckboard gave Ben a cursory glance, but his attention was soon snagged by one of his children.

“I need to talk to you, quick,” the woman said.

“Would you and your husband like to step into the house?”

“Norm will stay outside with the children, if it’s all the same to you. We don’t have much time and I’d like to get this over with.” The woman had brown hair with strands of wiry gray at the temples. She looked tired and worn—but there was grit in the way she held her thin shoulders.

“Please step inside,” he said, opening the door.

The lady walked into Ben’s home with heavy footsteps, pulling the two children with her. Now that he was close enough to see, he noticed they were little boys, about the same age, if he were to guess.

Ben closed the door behind them, but didn’t make a motion to remove his hat, or invite her farther inside. “How may I help you?”

“These here are my sister’s boys, Zebulun and Levi. They’re twins, five years old.” She grasped each one’s wrist. “Their ma died when they were three and their pa wasn’t fit to raise them, so she sent ’em to me.” She let them go and gave a decided nod. “My husband and me ain’t got the means or the energy to raise ’em no more. I’ve got six of my own, and one more on the way, and we’re just plumb wore out.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Ben stood there expectantly, wondering why she’d come. Did she need money? He kept some on hand for situations like this one. “If there’s anything I can do to help, please let me know.”

“You can take ’em off my hands.” She started to move to the door. “That’s why I’ve come and now I’m heading out with my man. We’re going north and want to get a move on before another storm takes us by surprise.”

Alarm rang inside Ben’s head as he looked down at the two little boys. They clasped hands and looked up at him, their eyes round with fear.

“I can’t take them.”

The lady grabbed the knob. “I can’t take ’em, neither. Do what you want with them. I did what I could, and now I’m handing them off to you. I told my man that the first church we come across we’d drop ’em off, so here we are.” She turned the knob to leave.

“Wait.” Ben reached out to put his hand on the door to stop her departure. “I don’t have a wife, or the means to raise them.”

“Then find a family who needs a couple extra hands.”

“But—I don’t even know their last name, or their kin. How am I to find their father?”

She snorted. “That good-fer-nothing shouldn’t be found.”

“But he deserves to know where his sons have gone.”

“The name’s Trask—Malachi Trask—but I don’t know where he is. Last I heard, he was in St. Paul, but I suspect he moved on. Probably lying in a saloon somewhere west of here, I’d wager.”

“Malachi Trask.” Ben repeated the name.

“They’re not my problem anymore,” the lady said. “I did what I could, but I can’t do no more.” She nodded at the twins. “Goodbye, boys. I hope the pastor’ll do right by you.”

She opened the door and Ben moved back, knowing he couldn’t keep her from leaving. He followed her out of the house, his pulse speeding up as she walked toward the sleigh.

“How will I contact you?” Ben asked.

“I don’t aim to be contacted,” the lady said, climbing into the sleigh. “I told my sister not to marry that man, but she went against my wishes. I don’t hold no responsibility for them boys she bore.”

“Giddyup,” the man said as he hit the horses’ rumps with the reins.

Neither one looked back as they pulled north, out of town.

Ben stared after them, helpless to stop them and make them return for the boys. He didn’t know the name of the lady or her husband, but he suspected that was intentional. They didn’t want to be known.

Ben turned back to the house, scratching his head with his mitted hand. What would he do with twin boys?

He entered his house and found them exactly as he’d left them.

Ben closed the door, apprehension making his back tight. He tried to smile, to reassure them that he was trustworthy, but they continued to look at him with those sad, fearful eyes.

“You’re twins?” Ben asked, uncertain what else to say. They didn’t look like twins—didn’t even look like brothers, really. One had brown hair and round green eyes, while the other one had blond hair and almond-shaped green eyes. The brown-haired boy was shorter, but he was the one who nodded at Ben in answer to his question.

The blond-haired boy just stared.

“Which one of you is Zebulun?” Ben asked.

The brown-haired boy raised his hand, just enough for Ben to acknowledge him. “And this is my brother, Levi.” He spoke with a bit of a lisp.

“It’s nice to meet you both.” Ben slowly took off his coat, not wanting to frighten them with quick movements. Memories of the day his father had left him at the mission at Pokegama came rushing back unbidden. He hadn’t been much older than these two, and he’d been just as scared. Above all else, he remembered how hungry he was that first day, but he’d been afraid to ask for a thing. “Would you like something to eat?”

The boys looked at one another, and then Zebulun nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“Let’s see what we can find.” He didn’t bother to ask if they’d like to take off their coats. He remembered feeling safer keeping his meager belongings with him when Father left. These boys didn’t even have a bag—just the clothes on their back, and threadbare clothes at that. Where had they sheltered the night before? Had they been cold? Scared? He hated to think that they had suffered through the storm, only to be abandoned today. But he suspected their suffering had started long before now.

They slowly followed him, not letting go of one another, their eyes roaming his home.

The breakfast he’d enjoyed with Emmy only an hour before was still on the table, cold and half-eaten. Ben cleared away the dishes and set them to the side, then he stoked the fire and put the frying pan over the heat. “Do you like eggs?” he asked.

Zebulun nodded, but Levi shook his head. Ben smiled to himself. It was the first response he’d gotten out of Levi. “What do you like, Levi?”

The little boy looked around the kitchen, his gaze resting on the bread and jam. “I like toast and jam.”

“Then that’s what you’ll get.” Ben sliced a couple pieces of bread and looked at Zebulun. “What about you? Do you like toast, too?”

Zebulun nodded.

“Why don’t you two have a seat at the table. I’ll get some milk for you while we wait for the food.”

The boys did as he suggested, needing to let go of each other to take their seats.

“Do you know your names are from the Bible?” Ben asked as he placed the bread on a pan to put into the oven.

“Yes, sir,” Levi spoke up, confidence in his answer. “We’re tribes of Israel.”

Ben’s eyebrows rose, impressed that a boy so young would know about the Tribes of Israel. Someone must have taught him.

“My name is Benjamin,” Ben said, trying not to pay them too much attention, lest they get nervous, but trying to hold up the conversation to keep their minds preoccupied. “It’s also a Tribe of Israel.”

Zebulun looked impressed, but Levi didn’t show any response to the revelation.

Ben grinned. “We just need to find Asher, Judah, Naphtali, Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Gad, Dan and Joseph, and then everyone would be here.”

The boys looked at one another, clearly confused at the string of strange names he’d just said.

Ben’s smile fell and he took a deep breath. What would he do with these boys? He wasn’t equipped to care for them, yet he didn’t know who could. Abram and Charlotte Cooper had just welcomed their fifth child less than three weeks ago, and Jude and Elizabeth Allen had their hands full caring for their twin girls, only two months old. With the national recession, and troubles closer to home, he could think of no one eager to take in two extra children. Ben had the financial resources—he just lacked the skill and experience, not to mention the help.

The only thing he could think to do was go back to the Hubbards and ask Pearl for advice. She had become a surrogate mother in the community. An honorable woman of wisdom and discernment. If anyone could help, it would be Pearl.

* * *

The bedroom was smaller than Emmy anticipated, and there was only one bed she’d have to share with the girl named Rachel. There were four hooks on the far wall, a single window looking out at a snow-covered world, and a rag rug on the floor. The space was so tight, it would be almost impossible to dress properly without bumping the walls. She thought of the large room she’d slept in the night before at Ben’s home and sighed. How would she get the privacy she craved, or the necessary space to study here? A cursory glance around the house had suggested there were generous public areas—but those rooms would also hold men. Lots of men. Too many men for Emmy to get anything done if she took her books to the parlor or dining room to study. Maybe there was another space she wasn’t aware of. She’d be sure to ask Mrs. Hubbard.

Her trunks were now in the attic, with two long flights of stairs in between. She’d taken only the necessary items she’d need, but she suspected she’d make that trek up the stairs several times a day.

With a final glance around the room to make sure her few items were in their place, she entered the kitchen at the same moment as a young lady she’d yet to meet.

“Hello,” Emmy said. “You must be Rachel.”

“And you must be Emmy.” Rachel set a pile of folded towels on a worktable and smiled. “Welcome to Little Falls.”

Rachel was not a girl, after all, but a young woman in her midtwenties with shiny black hair and large brown eyes. If Emmy wasn’t mistaken, she, like Ben, had Indian heritage, though her English was flawless and lacked any hint of accent. She was a beautiful woman, and Emmy wondered for a fleeting moment why she wasn’t married.

“I’m sorry to intrude on your space,” Emmy said, indicating the small room.

“I don’t mind. It’s nice to have another lady in the house again.” She opened a cabinet door and placed the towels inside. “They come and go so fast.”

“Is Mrs. Hubbard close at hand?” Emmy moved through the kitchen, not wanting to intrude on yet another room Rachel occupied.

“She’s in the parlor, setting her feet up.” Rachel smiled. “I told her to take a little break with that baby coming any day.”

“Thank you.” Emmy left the kitchen and walked down the long hall to the foyer. She didn’t want to bother Mrs. Hubbard if she was resting, but it was important to find a room to work, and the sooner the better. With school starting in two short days, she needed to prepare.

The parlor was beautifully decorated with floral wallpaper, wide plank flooring painted blue and a large piano in the corner.

Mrs. Hubbard sat in a chair near a window, a sewing project in hand, while three men sat at a table in the opposite corner, a card game between them. When Emmy entered, the men immediately stood.

“Sit yourselves down,” Mrs. Hubbard said to the men. “She probably didn’t come to see you.”

Emmy smiled at Mrs. Hubbard and nodded an acknowledgment to the men, who listened to their landlady and stayed on their side of the room.

“What can I do for you, Miss Wilkes?”

The front door opened, letting in a gust of wind and snow. A man walked over the threshold with two boys in tow, holding hands.

“Ben?” Mrs. Hubbard rose from the chair, holding the small of her back as she stood.

Ben ushered the boys into the house and then closed the door behind them. They stood like little statues, their eyes wide beneath the felt brims of their flat caps.

The pastor took off his knit cap and held it in his hand, nodding a greeting to Emmy before turning his attention to Mrs. Hubbard.

“Who are these lads?” Mrs. Hubbard asked.

Ben glanced at the boys, and then stepped around them, coming into the parlor. He spoke quietly. “Their aunt just left them with me.”

“Are they your relation?”

Ben shook his head, his eyes filled with concern. “I’ve never met them or their aunt before. She left them with only their names and the clothes on their back. I don’t know who she is, or where she is going. The only thing I know is the name of their pa.”

“Well, I’ll be.” Mrs. Hubbard looked around Ben. “They’re cute little ones.”

Emmy caught the eye of the blond-haired boy and smiled. He looked at her with soulful eyes, but didn’t return her smile. How frightened they must be.

“What will you do?” Mrs. Hubbard asked.

“I don’t know.” Ben clenched his cap and glanced from Emmy to Mrs. Hubbard. “That’s why I came here.”

“It seems the good Lord is full of all kinds of surprises today,” Mrs. Hubbard said with a smile in Emmy’s direction. “Never a dull moment in these parts.”

“What will you do?” Emmy asked.

Ben swallowed and looked at the boys again. They glanced up at him, quiet as mice. “I’ll need to find them somewhere to live.”

“I wish I could help,” Mrs. Hubbard said. “But Timothy and I have more than we can manage now.”

“I understand.” Ben nodded. “I wouldn’t ask you to care for them, but is there anyone else you can think of?”

Mrs. Hubbard pursed her lips as she looked from one boy to the next. “I don’t know of a single family who could take the pair of them—and I don’t think they’d like to be separated.”

The boys locked hands even tighter than before.

Ben shook his head. “I would never separate them.”

Mrs. Hubbard sighed. “Then there’s only one thing to do.”

Ben watched her, waiting.

“Keep them yourself.”

Emmy’s eyebrows rose as she looked to Ben for his reaction. She didn’t doubt his capability—but was his life conducive to raising a family?

“What?” Ben asked.

“Widow Carver was by here last week,” Mrs. Hubbard said. “Since Stan passed, she’s been mighty lonesome in that house by herself. Her oldest daughter is expecting her first child come New Year’s, and Mrs. Carver plans to go to her—but she’s not needed until then. Perhaps she’d consider keeping house for you, until you can create a more permanent arrangement.”

Ben frowned, his eyes hooded as he studied the boys, deep in thought. “I visited Mrs. Carver a couple weeks ago and sensed she was lonely.” He took a step toward the boys and they looked up at him. They didn’t warm to his nearness, but they didn’t cower, either. It would take them some time to come to know and trust this unexpected guardian.

“I think I’ll visit with Mrs. Carver again and ask if she’d consider such a request.” Ben nodded, lifting his shoulders. “That might be just what we all need—for now.”

“If she’s willing, it will give you some time to think and plan for the future.” Mrs. Hubbard smiled at the boys. “Give you all time to pray.”

Ben continued to nod, as if he was trying to wrap his mind around this change of events. “Thank you for your advice, Pearl.”

“You’re always welcome.”

Emmy took a step forward, eager to meet the boys and try to put them at ease. “I’m Miss Wilkes, the new teacher,” she said in her kindest voice. “Have you been to school?”

The boys shook their heads, but it was the one with blond hair that spoke up. “I know all my numbers and letters, and I can spell Zeb’s name.”

Zeb smiled at his brother, admiration in his eyes. “Levi’s smart.”

“I’m sure you’re both smart.” Emmy bent to look them in the eyes. “I’d love to see you at school on Monday. We’ll have fun learning how to read and write. Would you like that?”

The boys looked at each other, and then Zeb glanced up at Ben, a question in his eyes.

“I think school’s a fine idea.” Ben put his cap back in place, his handsome brown eyes filled with appreciation. “We’ll see you first thing Monday morning.”

“Hopefully you’ll see me at church tomorrow first.” Emmy straightened and gave him a reassuring smile. “I’d be happy to sit with the boys during the service.”

Relief washed over his features as he put his hands on the boys’ shoulders. “We’ll plan on that.”

Ben said his goodbyes and then left with Zeb and Levi.

“Well, what do you think about that?” Mrs. Hubbard shook her head. “Ben Lahaye, raising a set of twin boys.”

“It is a strange turn of events,” Emmy conceded, wishing she could help the pastor in some way. “I imagine he’ll have a lot of adjusting to do in the coming weeks.”

“He’ll need help, that’s for sure.”

Emmy glanced out the window and watched Ben walk away with the boys. One slipped on the ice, but Ben reached out and grabbed him before he fell.

As she watched them, her heart tugged at the tender scene. If things had gone differently with her and William, perhaps they would have had children close to that age by now. Instead of Ben, she would be watching William walking in the snow with their children.

Tears threatened to gather in her eyes, but she forced them away, nibbling on her bottom lip to keep it from trembling. It had been almost a year since she’d given up the melancholy of losing her fiancé. At that time, she’d set her mind to fulfilling their dreams, even if William was not there with her—and that’s what she was doing, she was living her life in the West. She just prayed it would be everything she’d always hoped and imagined.

Chapter Four

On Monday morning, Ben trudged through the snow before the sun had crested the eastern horizon. His breath billowed out in a cloud of white as he turned and glanced at Zeb and Levi who followed behind, their mitted hands clasped together. Levi’s pants were about an inch too short, and a hole in Zeb’s pants showed his knobby knee. Ben wished he had found proper clothing for them before they started school, but there hadn’t been time. Sundays were always a busy day for him, and especially so with two little boys in tow. If Mrs. Carver came to live with them, he’d ask her to sew them a new set of clothes immediately.

The school was only three blocks up Main Street from Ben’s front door, but with the snowdrifts and the boys lagging, it took much longer than he’d anticipated.

“We’re almost there,” Ben said over his shoulder.

The boys didn’t respond. They had been quiet since their aunt had left them and they only spoke when spoken to. Ben had used every conceivable idea to draw them out and so had the ladies in the church. When Charlotte and Abram had invited them to lunch yesterday, the boys had sat in the kitchen with the grown-ups, while the Cooper children played in the other room.

More than anything, Ben wanted them to feel safe in his care—but he knew better than to expect too much, too soon. It had taken him months, years really, to get used to his life at the mission when Father left. And, as soon as he’d come to accept the Ayers as his guardians, there had been an ambush by the Dakota and the Ayers had fled for their lives, leaving Ben with the Chippewa missionary, John Johnson. He’d felt abandoned all over again, and it had led him to rebellion and the darkest moments of his life.

He shook off the memories as he spotted the schoolhouse just ahead. A lantern was lit within the white clapboard building and smoke puffed out of the chimney. He’d hoped to get to the school before Emmy to start the fire and haul in wood for the day, but he wasn’t surprised to find her already there.

A movement behind the school caught Ben’s eye. Emmy was wrapped in the scarf and cap he’d lent her, and she was filling her arms with wood.

Seeing her again sent a warm sensation straight through Ben’s chest. It had been a pleasant, if somewhat unnerving, experience to see her shining face in the congregation yesterday. His gaze had returned to her several times, and each time he’d looked at her pretty face, he’d had a hard time concentrating on his sermon.

He smiled now as he watched her determination. She tried to pile the wood high, but she’d have to return to the pile three or four times to have enough wood for the school day.

“Come, boys,” Ben said. “Let’s help Teacher bring in the wood.”

The boys followed obediently around the schoolhouse and into the back lot where a pile of wood had been stacked earlier that fall by members of the community.

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 her. He stood near the piano, his boisterous voice louder than the others, but he stopped singing and let out a whoop. “She’s here, gents!”

Everyone paused what they were doing, and for a heartbeat, there was complete silence—then all of them started talking at once. Mr. Archibald rushed across the room and took her by the elbow. “This way, Miss Wilkes.”

He practically pulled her to the piano. “Do you sing? No matter. Everyone sounds good around Mrs. Hubbard’s piano.”

“I only came for the coffee,” Emmy protested, trying to pull away. “I have work to do this evening.”

“Ah, work,” Mr. Archibald said it like it was a dirty word. “We work during the day and play at night, right boys?”

A chorus of agreement rang in the air.

“How about a little dancing?” someone yelled from across the room. “I get the first dance.”

“No.” Emmy shook her head. She had no desire to spend the evening in frivolity. “This was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come.”

“You’re here now.” A man with red whiskers pulled her into his arms, as if he was spinning her in a waltz.

Emmy yanked out of his hold and straightened her skirt. “Gentlemen,” she said in her sternest teacher’s voice. “I have no intention to dan—”

The piano music started again, drowning out her objection, while all the furniture was pushed to the edges of the room.

“Really,” Emmy said. “I don’t want—”

“Come on, Aaron,” Mr. Archibald said to the man who had suggested the dance. “You’re up first.”

Emmy shook her head while the man named Aaron climbed over a chair, his eager gaze focused on her, his mouth in a lopsided grin.

She dashed behind a table and shook her head, out of breath. “No!”

“Ah, come on.” Aaron circled the table like a cat on the prowl. “Just a little fun is all we want.” He lunged for her, but she was fast and dodged his advance.

“The lady said no.” A firm male voice filled the parlor.

The piano music came to a jarring halt, and all the men turned to stare.

Ben stood under the archway, still in his outdoor clothing, his brown eyes full of authority.

“We were just funning her, Reverend,” Mr. Archibald said. “No harm done.”

Emmy still stood behind the table, her hands braced, her feet ready to take flight, her chest rising and falling with deep breaths.

Ben looked her over. “Are you all right, Miss Wilkes?”

She stood straight and ran her hand over her hair, tucking a wayward curl back into place. “Yes.”

Ben surveyed the room, looking at each man with intention, and nodded at Aaron. “See that all of Mrs. Hubbard’s furniture is put to rights.” He then looked at Emmy. “Could I have a word with you?”

She almost sighed in relief. “Of course.”

“Ah,” Mr. Archibald whined. “We got to her first.”

“Miss Wilkes is not a prize to be won,” Ben said to the other man. “She is a lady who is to be respected. Now leave her in peace and quiet.”

Emmy took a tentative step away from the security of the table and kept her eyes on the men as she stepped out of the parlor, across the foyer and into the dining room. A lantern had been left on, but dimmed, making the room intimate. Thankfully it was quiet.

Emmy sank into one of the chairs, her legs wobbly.

A smile quirked Ben’s lips as he sat near her. “That was quite something to watch.”

“How long were you standing there?”

“Long enough.” He couldn’t hide his grin.

Emmy sighed and shook her head. “I just want a quiet, comfortable place to study. I suppose I’ll have to stay late at the school to get things done.”

“It’s not safe for you to be there so late alone.” Ben’s smile disappeared. “Little Falls is a lawless town, thanks to our sheriff, and there’s no telling how long it will take for the men to discover you’re at the school alone.”

“What will I do? I have to study.”

Ben was quiet a moment. “You could always come to my home in the evenings. With Mrs. Carver there, she’d act as chaperone, and the boys are not loud.”

“Mrs. Carver agreed to stay with you?”

“She’s there now getting to know the boys and putting her things in place.”

Emmy smiled, truly relieved for him. “I’m so happy she could come.”

“So am I.”

“Do you know what you’ll do once she leaves?”

Ben looked down and fiddled with his cap. “I plan to find their nearest kin as soon as possible. I’m going to Abram Cooper’s this evening to see if he can help me locate their father. That’s partially why I stopped here first. I wanted to make sure you were getting along and see if you needed anything before I go to the Coopers’.” He chuckled. “It appears that you were in dire need, actually.”

“Unfortunately, I was.” She smiled, thankful he had come. “But I don’t believe I have any other needs right now. You’ve done more than enough.”

Ben stood and put his knitted cap back on. “I should go, but before I do, I’d like to reiterate my invitation.” He looked at her, his brown eyes so warm and friendly. “You’re welcome to come and study at my home whenever you’d like.”

The prospect of being in Ben’s snug home was appealing, especially with all the commotion at the Hubbards’. “I just might.”

“Good.” He glanced across the foyer, into the parlor. “Will you be okay?”

She stood. “I’ll go back to my room.”

“That’s probably for the best.” He pulled his mittens on and met her gaze. “Good night, Emmy.”

“Good night, Ben.”

He took his leave and Emmy stood in the dim dining room for a few moments, her thoughts full of Zeb and Levi, and their dashing guardian.

Chapter Five

Ben knocked on the Coopers’ lean-to door, his hands cold and his thoughts swinging from Levi and Jeb to the image of Emmy being chased around that table in the Hubbards’ parlor.

Charlotte Cooper greeted Ben with a big smile, opening the door wider for him to enter. She held baby Louise in her arms, swaddled in a blanket. “Why’d you knock?”

“Is that Ben?” Abram asked as he entered the kitchen from the front room.

“It is,” Charlotte answered, closing the door behind Ben.

Abram paused on his way to the stove with his coffee mug in hand, a frown tucked between his brows. “Why’d you knock?”

Ben grinned at his friends, who were more like family. “I thought it the civilized thing to do.”

Charlotte’s brown eyes filled with mirth as she tried taking his coat with her free hand.

“I’ve got it.” Ben slipped it off and hung it on the peg near the door.

“I remember the first time we met,” Charlotte said with a shake of her head. “You came right on in—”

“And scared you half to death,” Ben finished, thinking of that long-ago day when he’d walked into the cabin and learned that Abram’s first wife, Susanne, had died and Charlotte had come to help raise Abram and Susanne’s three boys. Back then, he’d dressed more like his mother’s people and Charlotte had feared that he was there to do her harm.

“I thought Charlotte would be so frightened from the incident, she’d be on her way back to Iowa when I got home.” Abram laughed as he took another mug off the cupboard and didn’t even ask Ben before filling it for him.

“Come in.” Charlotte gently nudged Ben out of the lean-to and into the warmth of her kitchen—but she paused. “Where are Levi and Zeb?”

“Mrs. Carver is with them.”

Charlotte placed her free hand over her heart. “Oh, good. I’m happy that worked out for you.”

“I actually came to talk to you about the twins.” Ben took the steaming mug of coffee from Abram. “I need some help.”

“Let’s go into the front room,” Abram suggested. “It’s almost bedtime for the children, but they’ll be happy to see you first.”

Ben loved Abram and Charlotte’s children. In all the ways that mattered, they were like his nieces and nephews.

The adults pushed through the door and entered the front room. The oldest boy, Robert, was eight and had been deaf for almost four years. He sat with his half-sister Patricia, who was only two years old, pointing to pictures in a book and making the signs for them. Martin, at the age of six, was playing jacks on the floor with George, who would soon be four. Miss Louise had been a welcome addition to the growing family, and Ben marveled that Charlotte and Abram made parenting look so effortless.

In just two days, with two little boys who barely made a sound, Ben felt overwhelmed at the idea of parenting. Having Mrs. Carver to rely on had already made a big difference, but she couldn’t stay with him forever. He needed to find the boys’ father before Christmas. If he didn’t, he would be raising them by himself.

Ben played with the children for a few minutes, and then Charlotte handed the baby to Abram before taking the children up to bed.

“Good night,” the children called out to Ben.

Ben said good-night and signed to Robert.

“It’s amazing how quiet it gets when they all go to bed,” Abram commented as he looked down at his sleeping daughter. He glanced up at Ben. “Don’t tell the children, but it’s my favorite time of day, when I get Charlotte all to myself.” He chuckled and began to rock as he looked back at Louise. “Well, almost all to myself. This one stays close to her mama most of the day.”

Ben tried not to envy the happiness of his friends. There had been a time when Ben had been in love with Charlotte and he’d proposed, but the whole time he knew in his heart that she was in love with Abram. He’d stepped back when he knew he should, and he’d been truly happy to perform their marriage ceremony.

Two years later, he’d fallen for a young lady named Elizabeth, but she was in love with Ben’s friend, Jude. Ben had performed their marriage ceremony, as well, leaving Ben to wonder if his time would ever come. With so few prospects, and so many competitors, it didn’t seem likely.

On its own accord, his mind turned back to Emmy—but he pushed thoughts of her aside as best he could, knowing she had no interest in marriage. Even if she did, there would probably be someone else she’d take a liking to.

“What’d you have in mind to discuss?” Abram asked as he studied Ben.

“I’d like help locating Levi and Zeb’s next of kin. I thought if I spread the word, maybe someone would have heard of them. Their father’s name is Malachi Trask.”

“Trask.” Abram continued to rock as he looked toward the floor, deep in thought. “The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place it.” He glanced up at Ben. “Would you like me to ask around?”

“That’s exactly what I was thinking. At least it’s a start. I’m hoping to go to St. Paul soon and see if I can find any leads there. The boys’ aunt said their father was in St. Paul last she heard.”

“Are you sure that finding their pa is the right thing to do?” Abram asked.

Ben had been thinking hard about the wisdom in finding Mr. Trask. The boys’ aunt didn’t speak highly of him, but Ben believed he needed to know where his children were. In Ben’s opinion, everyone needed a second chance.

They spoke for some time about the boys and then Charlotte reappeared. She took a seat in her rocker and closed her eyes with a weary sigh—but when she opened them, and looked at Abram, they shared a contented smile.

“I don’t want to take up more of your time,” Ben said as he stood to leave.

“Nonsense.” Charlotte put her hand on his arm. “I just sat down to visit.”

Ben nodded and sat once again. “I really shouldn’t stay much longer. I left Mrs. Carver with the boys quite a while ago to check on Emmy—Miss Wilkes.”

Charlotte looked at Abram again, this time a knowing smile in her eyes before turning her attention back to Ben. “How is the new schoolteacher getting along? Robert and Martin said Mr. Samuelson’s girls were giving her a hard time today, but it sounds like my boys like her.”

“I stopped by the Hubbards’ and found her in quite a predicament.” Ben laughed just thinking about the scene he’d come across. “The boarders were trying to get her to dance, and Aaron Chambers had her cornered behind a table, ready to pounce.”

Charlotte’s mouth parted. “That’s horrible. Those men should be ashamed of themselves.”

“Things haven’t changed much around here,” Abram said. “I remember that first winter, when Charlotte was the only female for miles. It was a full-time job just keeping the men at bay. The only way to stop them was to marry her myself.”

Charlotte chuckled. “I suppose that’s true.”

“Unfortunately, that’s not an option for me,” Ben said.

“And why not?” Abram asked. “It’s about time you find a nice young lady and settle down.”

“Miss Wilkes wouldn’t be interested. The school board hired her to teach—and that’s exactly what she needs to do.” Not to mention that she already expressed her desire to stay single. Ben had been rejected more than he cared to admit, and the idea of pursuing someone again, just to be turned down, wasn’t something he cared to do. He had come to terms with the idea of staying single while he served God, and that’s how he intended to stay. Any time he had strayed from that plan, he had been heartbroken. “Miss Wilkes is struggling for other reasons at the boardinghouse. She needs a quiet place to work and study, and she’d like to have her books with her, but there’s no room. She said she’d stay late at the school, but I said that would be foolish, so I invited her to study at my home in the evenings.”

“Why can’t she board with you?” Charlotte asked.

Ben frowned. “That would hardly be—”

“And why not?” Charlotte leaned forward, her eyes animated. “With Mrs. Carver there, it would be completely respectable. And, in my opinion, a better option. Living in a crowded house with over a dozen single men all vying for her attention doesn’t sound like it’s any more respectable.”

The baby began to fuss, so Abram handed her off to her mama. “Charlotte’s right. You have plenty of room, and with the housekeeper present, no one would have any issues with the arrangement.”

Ben stood and paced to the fireplace. Would Emmy be amenable to the idea? “Mrs. Carver can only stay until after Christmas, then she’s planning to move out to her daughter’s farm to help with a new baby.”

“At least the school board would have time to locate another place for Miss Wilkes to live.” Charlotte held Louise up to her shoulder and patted her on the back. “And it would give Miss Wilkes time to get settled into the school without all the commotion at the Hubbards’.”

Ben couldn’t deny the surge of pleasure he felt at the idea of Emmy leaving the boardinghouse.

“There’s no harm in asking,” Abram added.

Ben supposed there was no harm in asking—only in being rejected, though he suspected Miss Wilkes would have no objections.

* * *

“Annabeth Samuelson.” Emmy stood from her desk where she was listening to the first-year students recite their arithmetic. “Please come to the front of the class.”

Annabeth gave a sideways glance at her sister, Margareta, and took her time leaving her desk. “Yes, Teacher?” she asked as she stopped in front of Emmy’s desk.

Emmy pulled her shoulders back and inhaled a deep breath before addressing her pupil. The Samuelson sisters had been difficult from the moment the first bell had rung on Emmy’s first day. Whether they believed they were above her authority because their father was the superintendent, or because they were grieving and missing their mama, they were bent on making Emmy’s job miserable.

“I called for complete silence from the upper classes until the first-year students were through reciting.”

Annabeth blinked in feigned innocence. “I remember.”

“Why were you whispering to Margareta?”

The fourteen-year-old girl gave a pouty look. “Why are you picking on me, Miss Wilkes? Is it because my father doesn’t like you and you’re taking it out on me?”

Twenty students sat or stood around the room, all their eyes pinned to Emmy. Annabeth had tried bating Emmy every chance she could get—but Emmy refused to play her games.

“I want you to write on the board fifty times, ‘I will not whisper in class.’”

“Fifty?” Annabeth’s mouth fell open. “My hand will cramp, and my father will be very upset when he hears you’re making an example of me. He doesn’t like to be embarrassed.”

“And I don’t like disobedience. If you haven’t finished by recess, you’ll have to stay indoors.”

Annabeth lifted her nose and walked to the chalkboard, stomping her feet all the way. She picked up a piece of chalk and scratched each word onto the board with deliberate strokes, causing the chalk to squeak in protest.

Emmy slowly sat in her chair and looked back at the younger students. Levi and Zeb stood quietly, their eyes fixed on Emmy’s face, though Levi glanced at Annabeth from time to time.

“Now, where were we?” Emmy asked.

The door opened and a gentleman entered the schoolhouse with a gust of wind.

“What now?” Emmy asked under her breath, rising from her desk once again. “May I help you?”

The man took off his hat and clutched it in his hands, looking left and right at the students as he tentatively walked down the aisle between the desks. “Are you Miss Wilkes?” he asked as he stopped at her desk.

“I am.”

He swallowed hard and turned his hat around in his hands. “I came to speak with you.”

Emmy frowned. “Do you have a student you’d like to enroll?”

“No.” He leaned forward, his greasy hair falling over his forehead, and lowered his voice. “This here is a personal matter.”

Annabeth stopped writing and stared openly at the man while all the other children listened in.

“I’m sorry, but if you’re not here on school business, you’ll need to leave,” Emmy said.

“But this can’t wait. If I don’t talk to you now, some other fella will swoop in and stake his claim.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Emmy came around the desk to show him to the door. “I have a school to run and I need you to leave.”

“Will you allow me to call on you at the Hubbard home?”

Emmy walked with determined steps into the cloakroom and to the door.

“Miss Wilkes.” He followed her. “Did you hear me?”

She opened the door. “I most certainly did, and I am not interested—”

“What is the meaning of this?” Mr. Samuelson stood on the stoop outside the door, his hand raised as if he had just reached for the doorknob. He looked between the strange man and Emmy.

Emmy’s stomach dropped and she grappled for an explanation. “I was just showing this gentleman out.”

“What is he doing here?” Mr. Samuelson demanded.

“I came to see if Miss Wilkes will let me call on her, but she hasn’t given me an answer.” The man looked at Emmy with great interest. “What do you say?”

Mr. Samuelson crossed his arms, his face turning red. “Well?” he asked. “What do you say, Miss Wilkes?”

“I’ve never met this man in my life,” Emmy said to her superintendent. “I have no interest in accepting his invitation and I’d prefer if he left.”

The man straightened his shoulders and shoved his hat back on. “I guess the lady has spoken.”

Emmy lifted her chin. “Please do not return.”

He stepped between her and Mr. Samuelson and walked out of the schoolhouse without a backward glance.

Mr. Samuelson stared at Emmy. “Please put on your wraps and come outside with me. I’d like to speak to you.”

Emmy let out a sigh as she grabbed her wraps and then poked her head back into the classroom. “Greta Merchant, will you please watch over the classroom while I’m speaking with Mr. Samuelson?”

Greta stood and nodded. “Yes, Miss Wilkes.”

Annabeth gave Emmy a smug look at the front of the class, but Emmy chose to ignore the girl as she pulled on her mittens and stepped outside, closing the door behind her.

“How many men have come to the school like this?” Mr. Samuelson asked without waiting for her to explain herself.

“None. Like I said, I don’t know—”

“Do you think it’s proper to have men calling on you at the school?”

“Of course not—”

“I knew it was a mistake to keep you on. I should have gone with my first instinct and sent you back east.”

“Please, Mr. Samuelson, listen to—”

“You leave me no choice but to start seeking another teacher to replace you.”

Ben appeared at the edge of the school yard, his curious gaze latched on Emmy and Mr. Samuelson. “Is everything all right?”

“It is not.” Mr. Samuelson shared the scene he’d just witnessed a moment ago. “I shouldn’t have listened to you, Pastor Lahaye. I knew it would only be a matter of time before I caught her in an inappropriate situation—but I never thought it would be at the school.”

Indignation rose in Emmy’s chest. “I did not invite that man into the school!”

“You need to see reason,” Ben said to Mr. Samuelson, his voice calm. “Miss Wilkes is not to blame.”

“If she was a man, this would not have happened.”

Ben chuckled. “I suppose you’re right, but that’s not her fault.”

Mr. Samuelson straightened his shoulders, his jaw tight. “I can see it’s impossible to discuss Miss Wilkes with you. I will bring up this matter at the next school board meeting.” He spoke the words with finality. “I must get back to my store, and if I’m not mistaken, it’s time to release the children for recess.”

Emmy looked at her pocket watch, trying to calm the turmoil she felt in her gut. If she wasn’t careful, she might say something she’d regret—but one look at Ben’s gentle countenance and her emotions began to settle. “I made a promise to you and the school, and I intend to keep it.”

Mr. Samuelson acted as if he didn’t hear her. He gave her a curt nod and then strode away.

Ben shook his head. “That man has a knack for finding fault. I’m just sorry he’s directed that particular talent on you.”

Despite her frustration, she smiled. “I am, too.” Her smile faded and she wrapped her arms around her body for warmth. “I thought I was safe from amorous men here at the school—but it doesn’t look like I’m safe anywhere.”

“That’s actually why I’m here.” Ben looked down and readjusted his footing, clearly uncomfortable with his mission. “I thought I could speak privately with you during recess. I can wait until you release the children.”

“My whole day has been disrupted. The children can wait a few more moments if you’d like to speak now.”

He met her gaze, uncertainty in his dark brown eyes. “My friend Mrs. Cooper made a suggestion that I thought I’d share with you.”

“Go ahead.”

“Since I have a housekeeper now, Charlotte thought you might be inclined to leave the Hubbards and board at my house.” He went on quickly. “You’d have to share a room with Mrs. Carver on the second floor, but it’s a big room, with plenty of space for your trunks. I could put a desk in there, and you could study to your heart’s content each evening.”

The thought of having more privacy to study made her want to cry in happiness—but then she paused. “Would it be seemly?”

“Charlotte assures me it would. With Mrs. Carver as a chaperone, no one would raise an eyebrow.”

Emmy nibbled her bottom lip. Even if people did think twice about the arrangement, she couldn’t deny its appeal. “I will accept.”

He blinked twice before responding. “You will?”

“When shall I move in?”

“As soon as you’d like.”

She reached out and shook his hand. “I will move my things immediately after school.”

Ben’s smile was wide and charming. “I’ll be over to help.”

A flutter filled her stomach at that handsome smile, but she pushed the silly notion aside and started to look forward to a quiet house after five days of chaos at the Hubbards’.

Chapter Six

Ben pushed the last trunk against the wall of the room Mrs. Carver and Emmy would share and stepped out into the hall. He wanted to make sure Emmy had everything she’d need to do her work and be comfortable with them, so he’d brought in a desk he usually kept in his front room and placed it near the window. After supper, he’d be sure to help Mrs. Carver clean the kitchen, giving Emmy plenty of time to study.

Laughter and conversation filtered up the stairs and he paused a moment to appreciate the sound. Not only were Mrs. Carver and Emmy getting along, but the boys were also joining in on the fun. He shook his head at the sound of one of the boys laughing. It did his heart good to know this little band of people who were in need of family for one reason or another had found each other. He could hardly believe that just a week ago, his house was quiet and empty.

Ben walked down the stairs, across the front room and into the kitchen where they were getting supper on the table. Mrs. Carver was a jolly old woman, almost as wide as she was tall. She had dark gray hair and kind blue eyes, which sparkled when she spoke. Life had thrown her more than her share of heartache, but she was resilient and faithful, and had always been one of Ben’s favorite parishioners.

“Set the mashed potatoes over there, dearie,” Mrs. Carver said to Emmy. “Right next to my chair.” She laughed and the others laughed along, which made Ben suspect he’d missed out on a joke.

Zeb looked at Ben from where he was placing forks at the table and grinned. “Mrs. Carver says that potatoes help her keep her girlish finger.”

Emmy and Mrs. Carver laughed, and Ben couldn’t help but chuckle with them.

“Figure.” Mrs. Carver enunciated the word with a nod. “And that, they do.” She stood at the cast-iron stove, whisking up chicken gravy, and tilted her head toward Emmy. “We best put some by Miss Emmy’s place, too.”

Emmy’s cheeks turned pink as she glanced up at Ben while setting a platter of sliced bread on the table.

“It looks like we’re in for another feast.” Ben walked over to the stove and inhaled the scent of roasted chicken. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You can have a seat,” Mrs. Carver said. “I’ll pour this gravy into a bowl and we’re ready to eat.”

“You did a wonderful job setting the table, boys,” Emmy said to Zeb and Levi as she held out a chair for each boy to take a seat.

The boys glowed under her approval, and for the first time since arriving at Ben’s, they looked comfortable to be there.

Mrs. Carver shuffled over to the table with the gravy and set it next to the potatoes. She stood for a moment, surveying the spread. “I feel like we’re missing something.”

“You!” Zeb said with a laugh.

“I think that’s it.” Mrs. Carver chuckled and took her seat closest to the stove.

Ben sat at the head of the table with the boys to his right. Emmy stood for a moment, as if she didn’t know whether to sit in the empty seat near Ben, or take the seat at the foot of the table.

“Why don’t you sit right here,” Mrs. Carver said, patting the spot next to Ben.

Emmy walked around the table and took the seat Mrs. Carver suggested.

“Shall we say grace?” Ben asked.

Mrs. Carver reached across the table and took Levi’s hand, and then offered her other one to Emmy, who sat to her right.

Emmy glanced up at Ben and their gazes met for a heartbeat before she slipped her hand inside his.

For a moment, Ben marveled at how soft and warm her skin felt, but then he reached for Zeb’s sticky hand to his right and bowed his head, trying to concentrate on his prayer.

“For this meal and our lives, Lord, we are eternally grateful. Amen.”

“And for Mrs. Carver’s potatoes. Amen,” Zeb added quickly.

Laughter filled the room again and Emmy gave Ben’s hand a gentle squeeze before she let go, turning her attention to Mrs. Carver’s savory food.

“It feels good to be cooking for a full house again.” Mrs. Carver placed a drumstick on each of the boys’ plates. “After my children grew up and moved away, and my husband, Stan, died, it was just me. I love to cook, but there was no one to eat my food, but me.” She smiled at the four of them. “Now look. Here I am, doing what I love most. I say this is a gift from God.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Ben said. “A gift for all of us.”

“I’m also counting my blessings.” Emmy took a piece of chicken and placed it on her plate before handing the platter to Ben. “Living here will be so much nicer than the boardinghouse.” She smiled at the boys. “And I get extra time with two of my favorite students.”

Levi’s cheeks turned pink and Zeb dipped his head in embarrassment, clearly pleased by her words.

“I put the desk in your room and brought up all your trunks,” Ben told her. “As soon as we’re done eating, feel free to get to work.”

Emmy looked around the table, sadness marring her features. “I would hate to miss out on all the fun we have planned.”

“Fun?” Ben asked.

“We’re going to make popcorn and hot chocolate with Mrs. Carver after supper,” Levi said to Ben. “And Miss Wilkes said she would teach us a parlor game if we’re good and help clear the table.”

“It sounds like you have quite the evening planned.” Ben took a bite of the fluffy potatoes, surprised by how creamy and smooth they were. “I can understand now why you love these potatoes so much, Mrs. Carver. I’ve never tasted anything like them.”

Mrs. Carver grinned and Levi spoke up. “Her secret ingredient is love.”

“Levi!” Zeb made a face at his brother. “That was supposed to be a secret!”

Ben tried to hide his laugh. “Love was the first ingredient I tasted, so the secret was out before Levi told me.”

Levi looked relieved and the adults shared a smile.

“Do any of you play instruments?” Mrs. Carver asked the group.

“I play piano,” Emmy offered.

“And I have a mouth organ, though I’m not very good.” Ben took a bite of the tender chicken trying to concentrate on the conversation as his taste buds demanded attention.

“Maybe we can have us a little music this evening,” Mrs. Carver said, tucking a napkin into her lap. “My Stan used to play the fiddle after supper and it was my favorite time of the day.”

Emmy’s soft gaze turned to Ben. “Would you play for us?”

“I suppose I could try—though I warn you, it’s been a while since I played.”

Mrs. Carver clapped and Emmy smiled. The boys cheered, though Ben suspected that they did it because the ladies seemed pleased, not because they were particularly excited to hear Ben play. But he didn’t blame them for their joy. It felt good to bring a smile to Emmy’s face and a fond memory to Mrs. Carver’s mind.

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