Nine

“Looks like we’re not the only ones who thought a fall picnic was a good idea.”

Tarah glanced up at the sound of Pa’s voice. Dread engulfed her as she recognized the pair seated on a blanket a few yards from the river. She inwardly groaned at the sight.

“Unless my eyes are playing tricks on me,” Pa said, thick amusement coloring his words, “I’d say that’s Anthony and Louisa up ahead.”

“And Josie,” Luke piped in, excitement edging his voice. “Hi, Jo!”

From her spot at the riverbank, Josie grinned and waved. Luke hopped from the still-rolling wagon and sprinted to join her, leaving Cassidy to call after him to stay close by.

Tarah felt a low ember of indignation quickly give rise to an inferno of temper as Anthony’s beseeching gaze reached out to her. With a jerk of her chin, she averted her gaze, letting him know just what she thought of the situation.

Nearly choked with tears, Tarah felt his betrayal to her toes. After all they had been through just two days ago, she had caught the two-timer having a chummy picnic with Louisa Thomas. And he called himself a preacher!

Seated next to his girl, Camilla, on the wagon flap, Sam gave Tarah an understanding smile. His compassionate gaze searched her face, sending a rush of heat to her cheeks. What did Sam know about unrequited love? He and Camilla had been in love since they were both fifteen years old. And now, seated together with a twin on each lap, they made a picture of domesticity.

Cringing, Tarah realized Pa’s comment a few weeks ago about Sam getting married first might actually come true. She gave Sam what she hoped to be a reassuring smile, then looked away to hide her humiliation.

Anthony rose from the blanket and stepped forward, waving in friendly greeting.

To Tarah’s way of thinking, he looked just about as guilty as a dog caught with a Christmas ham.

Obviously thinking the same thing, Pa gave a low chuckle.

“Dell. . . ,” Cassidy lightly admonished.

Louisa rose and took her place next to Anthony. Her willowy hand slipped through his arm, and she challenged Tarah with a lift of one delicate eyebrow.

“What’s she doin’ here?” Laney asked, her perky nose wrinkling into a scowl. “That preacher’s not too smart. I told him he outta send her packing.”

Pa laughed outright.

“Dell!” Cassidy turned to the outspoken little girl. “Laney, Honey, please don’t be rude.”

“But that lady ain’t nothin’ but a—” She broke off the flow of words, apparently thinking better of what she’d been about to say, and ducked her head in submission. “Yes, Ma’am.”

Resisting the urge to bolt, thus giving Louisa the pleasure of knowing she was upset, Tarah plastered a smile on her face and reined in Abby. She dismounted and tied the horse to the wagon.

“Looks like we’re sharing a picnic spot,” Pa said, extending a hand to Anthony. “That okay with you?”

“Of course.” Anthony accepted the proffered hand and gave a short, dry cough.

“This is just wonderful,” Louisa gushed, taking Hope from Sam’s arms. Tarah scowled as the little girl went to Louisa without so much as a hint of protest. Her chubby hands grabbed onto a strawberry-blond ringlet. “Pwetty.”

The little traitor!

Releasing an annoying giggle, Louisa planted a kiss on the little girl’s cheek. “Look,” she called to Anthony, who had joined Dell and Sam to help unload the food from the wagon. “She loves me.”

“Aw, don’t think yer nothin’ special,” Laney said, reaching up a hand to tickle Hope’s belly. “She loves everybody. Don’t ya, Hopey Wopey?” Hope laughed outright and threw her body toward Laney. “See?” With a smug grin, Laney took the toddler and headed toward the blanket Cassidy had spread onto the ground.

With a great sense of satisfaction, Tarah watched Louisa’s cheeks grow red. She silently blessed Laney for putting the bothersome woman in her place. But her guilt got the better of her, and she gave Louisa a genuine hint of a smile. “You three might as well eat with us,” she offered to take away the sting of Laney’s rudeness.

“I don’t suppose we have a choice,” Louisa hissed, “although we’d much rather be alone. It was bad enough we had to bring Anthony’s horror of a niece along with us.”

A gasp escaped Tarah’s lips, and she felt her eyes growing wide. “We certainly didn’t interrupt your little outing just to inconvenience you. My family has been coming to this picnic spot twice a year for the last three years. And Anthony doesn’t seem at all bothered by our presence.”

Louisa’s nostrils flared in anger. “Don’t think I can’t figure out what you’re up to.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Pursing her lips, Louisa narrowed her eyes. “Come, now, don’t act innocent with me. We’re both women and we both know what we want. Or rather whom we want. The difference is I already have him. And you never will.” She spun on her heel and flounced away to join the others.

Tarah stared after her, fuming and wishing she could refute the other girl’s words. Though it grated on her to admit it, Louisa had spoken truthfully. She had staked her claim on Anthony, and it appeared he had no desire to be rescued from her clutches. That was his misfortune, Tarah thought stubbornly. Louisa would make him miserable in the long run, and it served him right for being so ignorant of the ways of women.

“Teacher?”

“What?” she asked in a clipped voice, turning to find Ben standing next to her looking as if he’d been slapped. “Oh, Ben, I’m sorry. It’s not you.”

“I heard them things she said to you.”

Chafed from the knowledge that this child had witnessed her humiliation, Tarah planted her hands on her hips and frowned. “It’s not nice to eavesdrop.”

“I wasn’t. Just heard it, that’s all. Anyways,” he murmured, “I wanted to tell ya not to believe what she said. It ain’t true.”

He started to limp away, but Tarah placed a restraining hand on his arm. “Wait. What do you mean?”

A shrug lifted his bony shoulders. “Preacher ain’t gonna ask her to marry him. Near as I can tell, he don’t care too much for her.”

Tarah’s heart soared, then plummeted. What did a fourteen-year-old boy know about love? “Thank you for trying to make me feel better, but you needn’t worry. Reverend Greene is perfectly free to court whomever he pleases, and it’s immaterial to me.”

The look of disbelief covering his face brought a fresh rush of heat to Tarah’s cheeks, but she stood her ground. “Anthony and I have known each other for several years,” she insisted. “There’s nothing but friendship between us.”

The boy’s gaze darted over her shoulder, and his eyes widened.

“Really, Ben. It’s not very polite to look past someone when they’re speaking to you.”

“Sorry, Teacher.”

“Oh, it’s all right. I just hope you understand that whatever Louisa said to me doesn’t matter because I’m not interested in Anthony as a beau. You see? He’s just a good friend.”

Tarah released an impatient sigh as the boy’s gaze drifted past her once again. “Honestly, Ben.” She twisted to see what he found so interesting.

A knot formed in the pit of her stomach as she realized why Ben had been so antsy. With a sinking feeling, she wondered just how long Anthony had been standing less than five feet behind her.

❧

Anthony tried to concentrate on his food but found his stomach recoiling at the sight of the meal Louisa had prepared. The talking and laughter from the merry group of picnickers buzzed around him unintelligibly, and he wished for a quick end to the day so he could salvage his wounded pride in private. How could he have been so mistaken about Tarah’s feelings for him?

If Dell hadn’t interrupted two nights ago, he would have taken Tarah into his arms, and he had the feeling—or had had at the time—that she would have allowed a small kiss before all was said and done. He glanced at her now, observing the fact that she struggled with her appetite just as he did.

As if sensing his eyes studying her, she lifted her head, a question written on her lovely face.

Dear Father in heaven, he prayed, the shock of revelation shooting down his spine. I’m in love.

Sorrow, combined with question, filled her eyes. Anthony wanted to look away but found that he couldn’t escape the violet depths of her gaze. Surely, she knew how he felt. He could shoulder her anger, swallow her disdain, or accept her love, but her pity he could not and would not abide.

Just as he was about to excuse himself from the company, he heard Josie speak up. “Ma says we’re going back East as soon as the school term is up. Isn’t that right, Uncle Anthony?”

Dragging his gaze from Tarah’s, Anthony nodded. “Ma’s doing much better. Ella is anxious to get home before the baby arrives, but she wants to let the children finish out the term, first.”

“Tarah, I imagine you’re relieved the school term will be over soon,” Louisa piped in. “I hear things haven’t gone well.”

Tarah flushed and glared at Anthony. Indignation swelled his chest at the accusation in her eyes. Did she really think he had betrayed her confidence about his unruly niece and her brother?

Louisa pressed on before Tarah could answer. “Perhaps the town council will give someone else a chance to teach the children since you apparently aren’t enjoying the position.” She cast a hopeful, sidelong glance at Dell.

“Tarah’s the best teacher alive,” Laney declared hotly.

“How would you know?” Josie’s voice rang with challenge. “You didn’t stay at school long enough to sit down, much less see her teach.”

Laney’s eyes narrowed dangerously, her lips pushing out from her face. “Tarah’s a sight better’n anybody could be in a million years. And I ain’t gotta go to no school to figure that out. And iffen anyone’s callin’ me a liar I’ll knock ’em flat.”

“That won’t be necessary, little lightning bolt.” Dell cleared his throat and eyed Louisa with a stern glance. “I reckon the job for next term will be Tarah’s if she wants to accept it. The council has heard no complaints about her teaching.”

Color flooded Louisa’s cheeks, and she ducked her head.

“Oh, honestly. I probably won’t be here to teach another term, anyway.” Tarah shot to her feet. “I had planned to discuss this with Ma and Pa privately, but since you all feel so comfortable speaking about my life, I guess I’ll just go ahead and tell you.”

Dread filled Anthony at her words, and he waited impatiently while she paused to take a breath.

“Tell us what, Tarah?” Cassidy asked, her brow furrowing.

“I received a letter Friday from Mr. Halston—”

“Clyde Halston? From Starling?” Dell asked. “Why would he write to you?”

Anthony wanted to know the same thing. A surge of jealousy shot through him at the thought of another man courting Tarah.

“It seems Starling has come into some funds to build a small school and hire a teacher. And he suggested me.”

“But that’s nearly twenty miles away!” Cassidy’s frown deepened. “I don’t think it’s such a good idea.”

“Darling,” Dell said gently, placing a hand on her arm. “Our little girl is old enough to make this decision on her own.”

“Now, hold on!” Laney hopped to her feet and stood facing Tarah, her features twisted into a scowl. “Ya just cain’t get a body to goin’ to school and then up and leave ’em. I ain’t goin’ if she’s teachin’.” She tossed her head toward Louisa without moving her gaze from Tarah.

Tarah’s face softened considerably as she stared down at the little ball of fire. “I will finish out my term in Harper.” She glanced back up, her eyes shifting between Dell and Cassidy. “They’re building the schoolhouse now and would want me to start teaching a winter term. Mr. Halston said the town has the funds to pay a teacher for five months.” Tarah glanced around the circle of family and friends, and her voice faltered. “Th–they want me to come right after the new year.”

“But Tarah, you can’t go.” Emily’s lips trembled, her wide green eyes regarding Tarah sorrowfully. “We’d miss you something awful if you left home.”

“Oh, Honey. I’d miss you, too. But—”

“Well, I think it would be a wonderful opportunity for Tarah,” Louisa said brightly.

“Yer just sayin’ that ’cuz you wanna steal her job out from under her.” The look of disdain on Laney’s face could have melted the strongest of men, but Louisa opened her mouth as though ready to take on the tiny creature.

“Laney,” Cassidy said before Louisa could voice her retort. “You owe Miss Thomas an apology.”

The child stamped her foot and glared at Louisa.

Anthony thought he detected a note of triumph in Louisa’s returning gaze. Laney must have detected the same thing, for she jerked her chin and planted her hands firmly on her tiny hips. “Ain’t no way I’m gonna ’pologize to her. I stand by what I said, and ain’t nobody gonna make me say nothin’ else!” With that she dashed off toward the river, leaving the group around the blanket to stare in disbelief.

“I’ll go after her,” Tarah offered.

“Well, I certainly hope you give her a good talking to,” Louisa said indignantly. “What a spoiled child!”

Anthony shook his head as his anger surged. “Laney is the least spoiled child I’ve ever known. It’s ridiculous to even say such a thing.” Louisa’s mouth dropped as Anthony continued. “And I don’t believe I’d be remiss in pointing out that she has a wisdom about human nature that many of us lack.”

He caught Tarah’s wide-eyed gaze. “Would you mind if I go after Laney and have a talk with her?” he asked.

“I–I guess not.”

“I’m goin’, too.” Ben stood beside Anthony. “She can get awfully stubborn.”

With a nod, Anthony set off toward the river, with Ben close on his heels. He found Laney seated on the bank, tossing stray twigs into the rippling water.

She dashed a tear from her cheek and didn’t bother to glance up as Anthony dropped to the ground beside her. Ben took the space on her other side. “I stand by what I said, and I ain’t ’pologizin’ to that hoity-toit even if she is yer girl. So you can fergit it, Preacher. And you ain’t talkin’ me into it, Ben. I don’t care if Tarah’s folks kick us out, neither.”

Anthony chuckled. “I didn’t come here to try and get you to apologize. You don’t need to worry about Tarah’s folks kicking you out. And how many times do I have to tell you Louisa’s not my girl?”

Laney snorted. “Then yer the only one who don’t think so.” She tossed a twig into the water. “I even heard that Josie say you’ll most likely marry up with her.”

“Well, my niece is wrong.”

“I wouldn’t bet on it if I was you.”

Ben kept silent through the exchange. He met Anthony’s gaze over Laney’s head and held on as though trying to read into the depths of his soul. Anthony looked away from the wizened perusal and released a frustrated sigh. “I didn’t come over here to discuss me, anyway.”

“Then what’d you want to talk about?”

Suddenly, Anthony didn’t know. He wanted to reassure her. To gather her in his lap and give her the kind of love a child deserved. Reaching into his heart, he asked the first question that came to mind. “You two haven’t been to church much, have you?”

“Ain’t never been b’fore today.”

“What did you think of the service?”

Laney shrugged. “Don’t rightly know. My b’hind got sore sittin’ there so long. Ya yelled real good, though. Just like Pa when he’s all liquored up.”

Anthony felt the heat creep up his neck. He turned toward Ben, suddenly caring what the child thought.

Ben frowned.

With a sinking heart, Anthony gave him a wry smile. “You didn’t care for the service either, I take it?”

“Reckon I did,” he said quietly.

“You enjoyed the sermon?”

“Can’t rightly say I understood a lot of it. But the part about bein’ sinners and how we need God—that part I understood. ’Course I reckon Laney and me was the only ones in the whole church that didn’t already know it.”

“What do you mean?”

“You talkin’ ’bout that fella that kept talkin’ in front of us, Ben?”

Ben nodded.

Anthony waited for someone to elaborate and was just about to suggest it when Laney obliged. “Kept sayin’ how there weren’t no real sinners in the whole place and how you was spittin’ in the wind.”

Embarrassment swept over Anthony. Did the whole town believe he was preaching in vain? Didn’t Paul say, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God”? Or was it Peter? Anthony’s muddled brain couldn’t conjure up a single verse of Scripture he could quote with certainty. He raked his fingers through his hair. “I just don’t know what to do.” Realizing he’d spoken aloud, his gaze darted to the two children. They stared back at him, curiosity on Laney’s face, understanding on Ben’s. The boy gave a hesitant frown and looked away.

“It’s all right, Ben. You can speak your mind.”

“Naw.”

Curiosity piqued, Anthony felt compelled to hear what the boy had to say. “Go ahead,” he urged. “I won’t be angry.”

Ben took a long breath, then released it with a whoosh. “Seems to me,” he began earnestly, “that tryin’ to tell folks who already go to church that they need God is sorta like trying to talk a hound dog into eatin’ a rabbit. He already knows a rabbit’s good eatin’.”

Defenses raised, Anthony stared at Ben. What did this kid know about anything? The strongest lesson Reverend Cahill had taught Anthony was to hammer the salvation message into his congregation. “Many church folks think their lives are just fine,” Anthony’s mentor had said, “when in reality, they’re closer to the gates of hell than they know. As ministers of the gospel, it’s our responsibility not to let even the smallest opportunity pass without sharing the truth. And that will more than likely make you unpopular.”

Well, it had certainly made Anthony unpopular. His three-month trial period was half over, and he worried he might not have his position extended to a permanent status—despite the fact that he’d visited each of the remaining families this week.

He took comfort from the memory of Reverend Cahill’s words. “Always preach the truth, no matter the cost. It’s better to lose man’s favor than to stand before God and answer why you took the easy road.”

With his arms behind him, he leaned on his palms and stared reflectively into the water.

“Sorry, Preacher. I shoulda kept my mouth shut.”

“No, Ben,” he said. “You pretty much summed up the reason my congregation has been getting smaller and smaller each week. But you have to understand. Not everyone attends church services for the right reasons. There are many people sitting on benches week after week who don’t know the Lord.”

“And you figure some of them are sittin’ in yer church?”

Anthony shrugged. “I can’t see the hearts of men. I only have to preach what I feel God is telling me to preach.”

“So yer not mad?”

Anthony smiled. “Not a bit. I think you’re a very bright boy with a lot of insight.”

Ben flushed with pleasure.

“Anthony?” Louisa’s soft voice behind him drew Anthony’s attention from his newfound revelation.

“I’m leavin’.” Laney shot to her feet and stomped away.

“The boys are planning to play baseball, if you’d like to join them,” Louisa offered to Ben as he stood.

“I cain’t.” He limped away, leaving a red-faced Louisa to stare after him.

“I hoped perhaps we could take a walk while the children are playing,” she said, her voice more subdued than Anthony had ever observed.

“Let’s sit here for a while instead.”

She eyed the ground dubiously, then nodded. “If that’s what you prefer.” Carefully, she lowered herself until she sat beside him. “I know you didn’t mean to speak to me the way you did earlier,” she said, a hint of her usual cheerfulness returning. “So I’ve decided to forgive you.”

“That’s good of you,” Anthony drawled. He had intended to apologize for admonishing her in front of the St. Johns, but apparently an apology wasn’t necessary.

“Hey, Anthony!”

Anthony turned at the sound of Luke’s voice.

“Come play baseball with us. We need a pitcher.”

“Oh, Anthony.” Louisa’s countenance took on a pretty pout. “You’re not going to play with the children, are you?”

Relieved at the chance to make a graceful exit, Anthony stood and grinned down at her. “You heard Luke. They need a pitcher.”

He heard her huff as he strode toward the players. A niggling of unease swept over him at the thought of the entire town believing they were courting. He wasn’t sure how to go about it, but he had to find a way to let Louisa know she had to look elsewhere for a husband. Of course, if she had her heart set on marrying him, as Laney seemed to think she did, he would probably have an easier time trying to convince a rattlesnake not to strike.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Anthony tried to push away his troublesome thoughts. Between Louisa’s relentless pursuit, his congregation’s lack of response, and Tarah’s disinterest, his life wasn’t going at all as he had planned.