ten

Samantha was glad to have Ben’s company on the way home from work on Friday. He’d come in for pie and coffee midafternoon and visited with several townspeople he knew before going off to do a few errands and then coming back to pick her up.

She was pleased that Darrell saw her leave the restaurant with Ben. Maybe he’d think she and Ben were courting and realize that his attentions truly were unwelcome.

Ben pulled her hand through his arm and looked down at her. “I saw that Magee person. Did he give you any trouble today?”

“No. Actually, he apologized to me for what happened. I accepted his apology, but when he asked once more if he could come calling, I told him no, in no uncertain terms.”

“I’m glad to hear it.”

His words gave her courage to say, “I’ve been told that some of the men think you are courting me.”

“Do they?” He smiled and raised an eyebrow.

“That’s what I’ve heard.” There, she’d said it. She held her breath, waiting to see Ben’s reaction.

“Does it bother you that they do?” His steps slowed.

“Not at all, I—” Samantha clamped down on her tongue. Here she was about to let him know how she felt about him when her whole purpose for bringing up the subject was to find out how he felt about her.

“I’m glad it doesn’t bother you. I know you said you weren’t looking for a man, and I fully believe you. But, Sam?”

“Yes?” Had she said all that? Oh, yes. . .that day at the law office. Was that why—

“If you ever decide you might be ready to have someone court you, do you think you could consider letting it be me?”

Her heart seemed to expand to near bursting. “I believe I could.”

Ben pulled her hand a little farther through his arm. “Will you let me know when that time comes?”

“Yes Ben, I will.” She wanted to tell him that now was the time, but she didn’t want to say so until she was absolutely sure she could be the kind of wife Ben needed—and that she could accept that she might never measure up to his Molly.

For now, she let herself bask in knowing that he wanted to court her. Thank You, Lord. Please help me to know if this is Your will for us.

After that, they talked about the upcoming Independence Day celebrations. The Fourth was on a Friday this year, and that made it easier for Ben to come into town for the day. They were all going to picnic at Cottonwood Creek. The restaurant would be closed, and everyone was looking forward to the celebrations.

They’d no more than walked in the front door when Faith came hurrying out of the kitchen. “Oh, I thought you’d never get home. I have news.”

“What kind of news?” Samantha asked as she and Ben followed his sister back to the kitchen.

Faith’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “I found out for sure that there is a teaching position open. And they want it filled as soon as possible.”

“Really?” Samantha grinned and dropped into a chair at the table while Ben took a seat next to her.

“What is this about?” he asked. “Samantha, were you a teacher back in Kansas?”

“Yes I was. I’m sorry I didn’t mention it before. As I told Faith, with the school year in progress, I saw no need to apply.”

“Well, no wonder you’ve been such a big help to Hope. We should have realized—”

“I had my suspicions,” Faith said. “And when Hope’s grades began to go up, I finally asked her.”

“Then Faith said she’d heard a position would be open for the fall,” Samantha added.

“But one is open now for the summer session. That’s my news. Remember I told you one of the teachers was getting married?”

“Yes, but now?”

“She eloped last night. Seems she’s. . .well. . .she’s expecting a child, and she won’t be able to hide the fact much longer.”

“Oh!”

“Anyway, they need someone right away. Gabe built the principal’s house, and he said that he’d like to come by and talk to you this evening, if that is all right with you.”

“Why, of course.” But now with Ben saying he’d like to court her, Samantha was wondering what she should do. He lived on a farm, after all. But they weren’t courting yet. And what if he decided not to court her—decided that she wasn’t the wife for him? She’d need to continue to make a living.

“Good. Because I asked Mr. Connors and his wife to join us for dinner.”

“Oh!”

“Faith, maybe you should have waited to talk to Samantha—”

Samantha reached out and patted his forearm. “It’s all right, Ben.”

He looked down at Samantha with the sweetest expression. She was tempted to tell him he could start courting her at any time.

“As long as you are all right with it. This is wonderful news, though. You won’t have to carry those heavy trays any longer.”

“Oh, but I do hate to disappoint Mrs. Miller.”

“She’ll be happy for you, too, Samantha,” Ben said. “She’s come to care for you like a daughter.”

“I know.” She’d come to think of the older woman as a mother, too. And she loved talking to her. But she could still do that. And she could continue working on Saturdays for a while if Mrs. Miller needed help.

“I suppose I should go freshen up. Then I’ll come back down and help.”

“Don’t worry about helping. You go get ready. I know he’ll hire you right away. None of the teachers want to double up their classes, and he’s certainly not going to want to teach. He’s in more need than Mrs. Miller is right now.”

“It’ll be a lot easier on you,” Ben said. “And me, too,” he whispered when Faith turned to stir something on the stove. “I won’t have to worry quite so much about all those single men asking to court you.”

His smile had her heart doing double flips in her chest. It appeared Mrs. Miller was right. Her heart singing, Samantha smiled back before she hurried upstairs to get ready.

❧

Ben wasn’t sure how he felt about the fact that Samantha had never told them she’d been a teacher. He wondered why she hadn’t mentioned it, but it really wasn’t any of their business. What was important was that they knew now, and she stood a good chance of getting a much better job.

“Something’s different between you and Samantha today,” Faith said. “What happened? Did you finally let her know how you feel about her?”

“And how might that be, sister of mine?” Ben decided to see what it was Faith believed she knew.

“Well, how about that you’re in love with her?” Faith never was one to beat about the bush.

“So you are as observant as ever.”

“I am. Have you told her?”

“Well, I haven’t gone so far as to say the words. I’m not sure she’s ready to hear them. But what tipped you off?”

“Ben, I’ve been your sister a long time. I know you. I can see the love in your eyes when you look at Samantha.”

“Do you think she knows how much I care?”

“No.” Faith shook her head. “At least not yet. But with men coming to the house, you might want to give her a hint.”

“I have. I’ve told her that when she thinks she might want to start courting, I’d like to—”

“Oh Ben!” His sister’s arms surrounded him. “I am so glad. She said yes, of course.”

“Why ‘of course’?”

“Because you are a wonderful man and she couldn’t find a better one. And she’s a wonderful woman. Hope and Matt love her, and well, she fits right into this family.”

“I know. Say a prayer that it all works out, sis. She seems a little hesitant.”

“You know I’ll pray about it, Ben.” Faith went back to the stove and stirred her pot before turning back to him. “Maybe she’s afraid she can’t live up to Molly’s memory.”

“She doesn’t have to.”

“I know that and you know that, but you may have to convince her.”

“Thanks, sis. I’ll keep that in mind.” Ben hadn’t thought that Samantha might feel that way, might be afraid that he’d compare her to Molly. But they were two different women. His love for Molly had been part of him since he’d been a child. It was a warm and comforting love, and he thanked the good Lord that he’d had her.

But Samantha was—she made him feel things he’d never experienced before. With Molly, there’d been no reason to feel jealous of other men trying to court her because everyone knew they belonged together and no one tried to come between them. But Samantha was new in a town that had an abundance of men looking for a wife.

He’d never felt such anticipation in seeing Molly because he’d never gone a day without seeing her. But he couldn’t wait to see Samantha after being away from her for days at a time.

He’d loved Molly with all his heart, and he’d never believed that their relationship lacked anything. But what he felt for Samantha was different—and maybe that was a good thing. They were two very different, very special women, and there would be no need to compare them. If that was something Samantha worried about, he would have to find a way to put her mind at rest.

❧

Samantha hurried back downstairs, hoping that she would make a good impression on the principal and his wife. And she hoped that she’d see a happy couple so that she didn’t have to worry about unwanted attention from another supervisor.

Her fears were set to rest as soon as she met Mr. Connors and his wife, Elaine. They were a younger couple and seemed to dote on each other. Both acted very excited that she would be able to start teaching the next week.

She showed Mr. Connors her teacher’s certificate, thankful that it had been in the saddlebag she had been able to retrieve from the tent the day of the fire. He looked it over, and that seemed to be all he needed. He didn’t ask where she’d taught before or for names of anyone to contact about previous employment.

“I can’t believe how fortunate I am to be able to find a teacher at this late date,” Mr. Connors said. “I was truly hoping that I wouldn’t have to take the class over from now until the fall break. Thanks to you, Miss Carter, I won’t have to. I’ll contact the board and superintendent this weekend, but I am sure they will hire you on my recommendation. If you want the position, be ready to start on Monday morning. You’ll be teaching the first- through third-grade classes.”

“Thank you. I love that age group, and I look forward to teaching them.”

Samantha kept expecting him to ask for references, but he didn’t, and she breathed an inward sigh of relief when they left. Now that it was all settled, she was a little nervous.

“Oh, I hope I live up to his expectations,” she said as the family gathered in the kitchen.

“And why wouldn’t you?” Faith asked. “I’ve seen you help Hope. I have no doubt that you are a great teacher.”

“And my grades have improved a lot,” Hope added, turning from the sink. “I wish you were teaching my class. Anyone would be very lucky to have you for a teacher, Miss Samantha. I’m glad you live here so I can still ask for your help.” She paused, and a small frown furrowed her brow. “I can still do that, can’t I?”

“Of course you can, Hope. And thank you for your encouragement. It’s always a little nerve-racking to start a new job.”

“You’ll do fine,” Ben said from where he leaned against the doorway leading into the dining room.

“Thank you, Ben. . .everyone. Now the really hard part comes. I have to tell Mrs. Miller I’m quitting tomorrow. I’m really not looking forward to that.” She hoped that the woman who meant so much to her would understand and still be available to talk to.

“She’ll be as happy for you as we are, Samantha,” Faith said.

“And remember, if you don’t like it or decide there’s some-thing else you want to do, you can always give your notice,” Ben said. His eyes glittered as he looked at her, and Samantha wondered if he had something else in mind for her to do down the road. She hoped so.

❧

Ben walked to work with Sam the next morning to give her moral support when she told Mrs. Miller that she was quitting.

As he’d known she would, Mrs. Miller congratulated Sam on her new position.

“Samantha, dear, I am so happy for you. Had I known you were a teacher, I would have been working to get you hired myself. Guthrie needs all the good educators it can get, and I am thrilled you’ll be teaching our children. But I’m not going to lie. I’m going to miss you.”

Samantha looked as if she might cry, but then she regained her composure and hugged the older woman. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Miller. I’m going to miss you, too. But I’m not leaving Guthrie, and I will visit with you as often as I can. You’ve become very special to me and—”

“As have you to me. You’re like a daughter to me, Samantha. You’d better come by often, or I’ll be coming to find you.”

“Oh, I will. I promise.”

“Good. Now get on with you. You have a good day and celebrate your new teaching position.”

“But I didn’t mean to quit today. I’ll work my regular hours. And if you need me on Saturdays for a while, I’ll be glad to help.”

“You don’t need to do that, Samantha.”

“I know. But I want to.” She turned to Ben. “Thank you for coming with me. Will you see me home around two?”

“I’ll be happy to.” He’d be happy to do about anything for this woman. Seeing the admiring looks she got from nearly every man in the place, he was more than a little thankful that this was her last day working at the restaurant. Much as he hated the thought of leaving on Monday without finding out how Samantha’s first day of teaching went, at least he could leave knowing she wouldn’t be working here next week. That was a true blessing.