Chapter Twelve

They stopped the wagon at the imposing school. Hattie could hear children’s voices from the field behind the building. It brought back memories of her own school days, when she was insecure, looking for approval from anyone who would assure her.

Now she knew better than to rely on a man for her worth. She had her art to prove her accomplishments, but that door would close if she didn’t get a painting into the exhibit. Jack might insist on her staying for a while, but she had to be painting. She was running out of time.

Jack tossed the reins over the brake handle and turned to look at her. “These children can be rambunctious. Just last May, one of the older boys pulled a knife on Superintendent Seger, but he was brought to the guardhouse immediately. They aren’t going to try to stab you—I don’t think—so try to treat them just as you would any other group of children.” He offered his arm.

She hesitated, but remembering the comment about the knife, she relented and took his arm as they entered the double doors.

The high ceiling towered above them, and the black-and-white tile floor made the room feel colder than it should have, with the giant iron stove puffing out heat. Jack walked briskly to the plainly built front desk, nearly dragging Hattie behind him.

“Good morning, Mrs. Lehrman. How are you?”

Despite the woman’s tightly coiled hair and somber dress, her smile was as extravagant as a Rococo painting. “Lieutenant Hennessey, how nice to see you.” When she grinned, her chin melted into her thick neck, but her eyes sparkled playfully. She turned her attention to Hattie, and Hattie didn’t know whether to be flattered or afraid. “I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure,” she said. “I’m Maria Lehrman, the headmistress here at Darlington.”

Hattie managed to smile. “Nice to meet you, Mrs. Lehrman. I’m Hattie”—she felt Jack tense next to her—“Hennessey,” she choked out.

“Mrs. Hennessey?” Her eyes darted to Jack and back to Hattie. Hattie felt guilty for causing such joy by dishonesty. “Congratulations, Lieutenant! I’d heard a rumor, but I didn’t credit it. If you’ve been spoken for all this time, you should’ve told someone. Certain teachers here have wasted many lonely hours planning how to get your attention.”

Hattie took another look at the man next to her. When he had first walked into the Arapaho tepee, she’d thought him dashing. That was before she knew he was Jack. Before he accidentally married her.

Still, she couldn’t be too surprised that the ladies here had taken a shine to him. The headmistress certainly wasn’t.

“I can’t believe you’ve kept this to yourself, Lieutenant Hennessey,” Mrs. Lehrman said. “Was it a long engagement?”

“No, ma’am. It was quite sudden.”

“I was looking for you after Major Adams’s wedding, but they told me you were headed out to look for some stagecoach robbers. Was it a secret elopement?”

“You know me better than that, Mrs. Lehrman. I wouldn’t mislead Major Adams.”

Her eyebrow rose as she swayed back and forth. “And yet I don’t feel like you are being forthcoming with your story at this minute.”

Jack’s neck turned pink above his blue collar. Was it wrong that Hattie was amused by his discomfort? “I beg your pardon, ma’am. Your curiosity will have to remain unfulfilled.”

Hattie gripped her skirt and half turned, certain that Jack’s refusal signaled an unpleasant end to a sticky conversation, but to her surprise, he didn’t move.

“Not yet, dear,” he said. “You’ll want to hear about the Christmas plans.”

Christmas? Hattie had already prepared herself for being away from home on Christmas, but she hadn’t counted on celebrating it in Indian Territory.

“Christmas in Darlington is spectacular.” Mrs. Lehrman gestured wide. “Most of our students have never celebrated Christmas before, and it’s a joy to see their excitement as we begin to assemble the decorations and the materials for the Christmas performance. Sometimes I forget the wonder of Christmas and what it means. It’s special to experience it with people who have never heard the story before.”

Maybe that was something to consider. Hattie couldn’t think of a time she didn’t know about Christmas. She tried to imagine what kids who had never heard the story might think about God sending His Son as a baby to earth. With her parents, siblings, and cousins gathered around the tree at her grandparents’ big farmhouse by the river, it seemed so traditional, but how strange it must feel to the students.

“I hope you feel safe during the celebrations,” Hattie said. “But I guess you have the troopers to guard you when the children are together.”

“Guard us?” Mrs. Lehrman’s brow wrinkled as she looked at Jack. “Why would we need to be guarded from the children?”

Hattie pulled her arm away from Jack’s. “Just something Lieutenant Hennessey said that gave me that impression.”

His mouth quirked up at one corner. “Let us know if you need some help with the pageant. There’s not much to do in this cold weather besides sit around the house.”

“Seems like that’s exactly what a newlywed would want to do,” Mrs. Lehrman said.

Jack’s hand slipped around Hattie to rest at her waist. The familiarity shocked her. Who did he think he was? Her husband? Before she could shrug him off, he pulled her against his side.

“I’m trying to spare my blushing bride from any embarrassment,” he said.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about.” Mrs. Lehrman beamed. “God ordained marriage. Nothing would please me more than knowing that you are happily wed.”

“I’m happy,” he said. The flash of teeth was probably supposed to be a smile. He kept the carnivorous grin as he turned to her. “Aren’t you happy, dear?”

He’d said silence was all he required, so that was all he got. Hattie returned his endearments with a blank stare as she tried to comprehend why she felt so right against him.

Nonplussed, he squeezed her waist and laughed. “Capital! Then, without further ado, let’s go see the children at work.” Releasing her, he marched to the interior doors and held one open wide for her to pass through as he waved good-bye to Mrs. Lehrman.

For a while, the only sound down the long corridor was the clopping of their heels against the black-and-white tile floor. Finally, Jack’s chuckle broke the impasse. “It’s surprising how easily people believe that we’re a couple. Mrs. Lehrman saw nothing unusual about us being together.”

It was times like this that Hattie had a hard time remembering this was the same boy from back home. She didn’t quite know how to handle this man, and it was a troubling realization.

“You lied about the knife,” she said. “Mrs. Lehrman didn’t act like there was any danger at all.”

“I didn’t lie. A student did pull a knife on the superintendent. It was even in the Cheyenne Transporter newspaper. And I told you that you weren’t likely to get stabbed.”

“But the way you said it made me think that I’d be in danger if I didn’t take your arm.”

“You would be in danger. In danger of missing the opportunity to be escorted by your charming husband.”

She grunted. “My husband? The last thing in the world I was looking for on this trip.”

“Happiness often catches us unaware.” He’d always been ready with a smart remark, but they were more effective coming from this grown man than a spindly boy.

A woman’s voice could be heard ahead. Light filtered into the shaded hallway from an open door. “R says errrr. . . . S says sssss. . . . T says tuh.” Then a chorus of children’s voices dutifully repeated the information.

Hattie slowed as she approached the door. Peeking around the corner, she could see the Indian students at their desks. Although the class sounded like a primary level, there were children of all ages sitting in the rows. Boys with stern brows and freshly cut hair, girls with high cheekbones and almond-shaped eyes. Perched with the same posture that Tom Broken Arrow had on horseback, they carefully enunciated their lesson, but their quick eyes darted about as if trying to find some meaning in the nonsensical cadence.

Instead of waiting at the door, Jack strode inside. He tipped his hat at the flustered young teacher holding a yardstick and pointing at the letters on the chalkboard. She only had time to wet her lips and brush back an errant strand of blond hair before her eyes fell on Hattie. Her knuckles went white around the yardstick she was holding, but by the time Jack had closed the door behind them, she’d covered her shock and looked as sweet as a confectioner’s mixing bowl.

“Why, Lieutenant Hennessey, how nice to see you today. Class, let’s greet Lieutenant Hennessey.” She cleared her throat. “How are you doing today, Lieutenant Hennessey?”

The students got the words right when they repeated them, and even did a fair imitation of her high-pitched, flirtatious tone. Hattie bit her lip to keep from laughing. If Jack had missed her simpering the first time, he could hardly ignore it when it was amplified by two dozen students.

“I am doing fine,” he said clearly and slowly while facing the class. This time his smile was genuine. “Koonííni’ííni?” he asked.

“Lieutenant Hennessey.” The teacher put her hand on her hip. She had an easy, natural grace. Then again, one had to be confident to take a teaching assignment in Indian Territory. “We speak English in this classroom. It’s the only way they’re going to learn.”

Jack’s smile grew as the class shouted out various answers in their native tongue, causing Hattie to wonder again exactly how much of the Arapaho language he understood. And how could he carry on a conversation and not realize that he was being married off to her?

Finally, he ducked his head and held up a hand. With some carefully spoken words from him, the class settled down. “I apologize, Miss Richert. I didn’t mean to distract your class. Please continue.”

Miss Richert’s jaw scrunched to the side as Jack directed Hattie toward the last row of desks. Obviously, not being able to place Hattie was eating away at Miss Richert, but for some reason Jack didn’t feel obligated to introduce her. Could it be that this was one of the teachers who had set her cap for Jack? Could it be that he wanted to keep his marriage a secret from at least one person?

Hattie chewed that thought over throughout the rest of the alphabet. Maybe the marriage had thwarted Jack’s plans, as well. What if he was in love with this woman? What if Hattie’s appearance would ruin their chances of being together? Was he as devastated by the arrangements as she was, or was he a tiny bit hopeful? He seemed to have been surprised, but it would be helpful to know whether there was a shade of acceptance on his part.

It would also be helpful to know if her so-called husband was going to allow the spunky schoolteacher to continue her attempts to gain his attention. Even a pretend wife didn’t appreciate a husband who allowed women to fawn over him.

“Very good, class,” Miss Richert said. “You are making Miss Richert so proud of you. No wonder it’s such a blessing to work with you children. You all are so clever.”

Heads turned toward Jack in confusion, eyes questioning if they were supposed to do something. Had Miss Richert already forgotten that they didn’t speak English? Jack nodded at the students, and it seemed to reassure them.

A little girl braved a wave at Hattie. She was missing a few of her baby teeth, but her smile was prettier than anything Hattie had ever painted. Hattie wiggled a finger in her direction. The approval in Jack’s eyes embarrassed her. What was he smiling at? All she’d done was wave at a child. Nothing remarkable there.

“You may be excused for recess,” Miss Richert said, but no one moved. Forgetting the students glued to their chairs, she approached Jack and Hattie again.

Jack spoke a few words to the class. There was a mad scramble as the students jumped out of their chairs and raced out the door. A shrill whoop sent shivers down Hattie’s spine. Jack stepped closer to her, hands clasped behind his back but giving her the security of his nearness just the same.

Even Miss Richert noticed. “So, Jack, are you pleased at the progress they’ve made?”

She called him Jack, and Hattie already guessed that he wouldn’t correct her.

“You’re doing a fine job with them,” he said. He gave a quick salute as Tom Broken Arrow paused before him. Some words were exchanged between them, and then Tom left, looking ill at ease in his school uniform. “Where’s Cold Rain?” Jack asked as he scanned the remaining students.

“She’s in detention,” Miss Richert said. “She stole the blanket that was on her bed. We hope she’ll confess and tell us what she did with it. Until then . . .”

Tom had stopped and was listening intently. Did he understand the conversation? He must have felt he had something to contribute, for he spoke to Jack in Arapaho again, repeating the words slowly for Jack’s benefit. Jack asked another question of Tom. When the boy answered, he cut his eyes toward Miss Richert.

Jack patted him on the back and sent him with the rest of the class.

It was past time that Hattie be introduced, but Jack was clueless. In fact, he didn’t seem to notice how badly Miss Richert was trying to get his attention, either. Instead he continued to greet each child by name. The longer he waited, the more this teacher fretted over Hattie’s presence, and there was nothing Hattie could say to ease her anxiety.

Stiffening her spine, Hattie flashed Jack a smile. “I’m sure you and Miss Richert have a lot to talk about. Would you like me to wait in the hallway?”

His forehead wrinkled. “Why would you do that?”

Miss Richert cleared her throat. “Jack, I’m so happy to meet your . . . sister?” Her eyebrows rose with hope.

“This isn’t my sister,” he said. “This is my wife, Hattie.”

“Your—what?” The end of the yardstick bounced against the ground. “What an unexpected . . . When? Who is she?”

“Mrs. Hennessey is from Van Buren. She’s a childhood friend.”

“You’ve known her all along? The whole time you’ve been here, and you already knew her?”

Hattie feared for Jack’s safety. Miss Richert might be lean, but she looked capable of wielding the yardstick as a weapon.

Jack looked back and forth between the two women as if not sure what was happening. How could he be so naïve? Hattie decided right then and there that if Jack managed to get her out of this mess, she’d do what she could to help him with Miss Richert. Jack married to a schoolteacher? What could be more perfect?

“We won’t take any more of your time,” he said, “but you’ll be seeing more of me in your classroom. I promised the chief I’d keep an eye on his nephew.”

Jack seemed confused when Miss Richert didn’t answer. Hattie pinched the sleeve of his uniform and led him out of the room. Again, they made their silent way through the corridor, Hattie looking at the man at her side with more puzzlement than ever. It was no wonder that Miss Richert had her heart set on him. The way he cared about the children at the school was endearing. And then there were his looks. His deep, intelligent eyes now belonged to a strapping man, capable and rugged. But one thing remained unchanged—he couldn’t figure out what a woman wanted.

It wasn’t until they were in the wagon and passing the open window of the classroom that Hattie heard the sharp snap of a yardstick being broken in two.