Chapter 1 
Chapter 1 Helen’s hand paused as she read the fine print. “You’re asking me not to court or marry during the entire school year?”
“Yes, Miss Jones,” the head of the school board, a tall man with a long, narrow gray beard answered, “that is our standard practice. Once you marry we would be obligated to replace you. A woman’s first duty is to her husband.”
“Would a male teacher be asked to refrain from courting?” A hesitant nod came from the oldest of the six men on the county school board. “Then I shall not sign the contract.”
All six jaws went slack.
“But you are our only candidate,” a balding gentleman said while wiping his brow with a handkerchief.
Helen suppressed a smile. She was aware. Which, she supposed, allowed her to be more brazen than normal. She understood culture, but she also understood the times were changing. It was 1899, and the world was about to enter a new century. Women were standing up for their rights. And while teaching came naturally to Helen, she didn’t want to be trapped in the role. She had no prospects for a husband, but she also had no intention of being restricted from courting. “If you wish,” she said, smiling politely, “I will rescind my acceptance.”
“But you would leave us with no teacher.”
They had her there. While some of her unorthodox teaching methods had rattled more than one professor as she was finishing her degree, she was their only candidate, and they all knew she would put the children’s needs first. “I do not want to put you or the children in such a terrible position. I am willing to teach without the contract until you can find a replacement.” Which she knew probably wouldn’t be until next fall. At least she hoped so.
The six men huddled together. The chairman cleared his throat. “We accept your offer, but we’ll lower the pay.”
Helen stood, picking up her valise as she did. “Good day, gentlemen. You shall have my prayers for a new teacher.”
“But you can’t expect us to pay your full salary without a guarantee—”
Helen cut him off. “You already pay women only a third of what you pay your male teachers. It is hard enough to survive as a single woman on such a meager salary. But for you to offer me even less … Well, I can see that the education of your children does not hold high regard in your community.”
“Miss Jones, I resent that accusation!” huffed the gentleman to the left of the chairman, who was perhaps the youngest of the grandfathers in the room. “I serve on the board of Irving College, and I can assure you we are quite concerned with the education of our community’s children.”
“Very well. I apologize for such a broad statement,” she replied. “Thank you for your time, gentlemen. I will be returning home on the next train.”
Helen left the room, walked out of the building, and headed toward the train station. She shouldn’t have lost her temper. But she was tired of people—men—telling her what she could and could not do. It was time for change in this country. She knew it, and so did most women.
Father, forgive me. I know I should sit and wait upon You. But those old men are living in the past!
She stomped her way past the storefronts at a brisk pace, heels clicking loudly on the sidewalk. She would have enjoyed living here. Friends from college had gone on to be doctors while she stayed focused on teaching. She felt it was more than a job; it was her calling.
“And who is it that needed to be taught just now?”
Helen sighed and closed her eyes. “I did, Lord. I’m sorry.”
Her eyes opened in time to see a man’s shoulder inches from her face, too late to avoid. “Uff!”
“Pardon me. Are you all right?” The kindest brown eyes she’d ever seen searched her own as the stranger held her steady by the shoulders.
“Yes, thank you. I’m sorry.”
“Forgive me as well. I bolted out of the store without looking. Fortunately, you hit me and not the door.” His eyes sparkled at her from a handsome face framed by a full head of brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard, unlike the modern young men in her home of Virginia who shaved daily.
“Yes, yes, I suppose that is true,” she stammered, and took a step back. “Thank you.” She looked down for her valise and slipped her hand through the leather handles. “Have a good day, sir.”
He tipped his hat and smiled. “And you as well, miss.”
Helen continued on to the train station, determined not to look back. She definitely would have loved living here, especially if it meant getting to meet the man with chocolate-brown eyes that pulled her in. She’d never been drawn to anyone like that before. She paused and turned around. He was walking away in the opposite direction. I wonder who he is?
Daniel brushed off his ruffled coat and watched the fiery woman head toward the train station. Wisps of reddish-brown hair escaped from beneath her hat as she walked away. But the green eyes that had met his in wide-open surprise—more vibrant than the greenest pastures in springtime—were forever etched in his memory.
He placed his hat upon his head and headed back toward the college. There was a late-afternoon class to teach before his day was done. Today’s lesson in biology was always the most difficult to teach. Young men would snicker, others would be red in the face, and a few could even be crude about the fertilization of plants and animals. A necessary topic, especially for those going on in their agriculture studies, but also a core requirement for graduation, which meant several students attended who didn’t really want to be there. However, there were always a few students who were serious about the science, and they were the reason he loved to teach.
He glanced back over his shoulder and watched the woman head toward the train station. Who was she, and why was she in such a hurry? Daniel shrugged and continued on to the campus.
An hour and a half later, class was done. The students streamed out of the classroom and Mr. Markle, a member of the school board, approached. “Mr. Moore, I’m wondering if you can take on a local teaching position for our elementary age children.”
Daniel cocked his head. Hadn’t they hired a teacher? The woman with red hair and green eyes who ran into him earlier flooded his mind. “I don’t understand. My schedule with the school—”
Mr. Markle raised his hand. “I have spoken with some of the school board members, who agreed that we can adjust your schedule.”
Daniel placed his hands on his hips. He’d been teaching at the college for two years now. He taught young adults, and some in their teens, but not little ones. “I am not the man for such a position. I am not good with young children. They tried my patience on more than one occasion when I was first entering my profession. My professors and I both agreed it was not the place for me.”
“Oh.” Mr. Markle sighed. “You were my last hope.”
“What happened with the woman you hired?”
“She refused to sign the contract. And then, when we agreed to her terms of working without a contract, she refused our pay reduction.”
“You reduced the pay more than you already had?”
Shock or possibly dread ran across Mr. Markle’s face.
No wonder she refused. “I’m curious,” he said. “What was in the contract that made her refuse to sign?”
Mr. Markle coughed to clear his throat. “We asked that she not engage in a courtship during the school year.”
“Does she have a suitor?”
Mr. Markle shrugged. “Not that I’m aware.” He paused. “It isn’t right for a woman to teach and be married.”
“Ah, but that is your mistake, is it not? You said she couldn’t court. How is a woman to get to know a man for possible marriage if she does not take the time to court?”
“That isn’t my concern.”
“Apparently, it is. You are left with no teacher for the children. And if I am your last hope, you are in a serious situation. You shall have my prayers.” Daniel placed his lecture notes and the students’ papers in his briefcase.
“Thank you for that.”
“Why don’t you teach?” Daniel asked. “Weren’t you a teacher in the past?”
“Yes, but, like you, I found I did not have patience for young ones.”
Daniel smiled.
The train whistled, signaling it was nearly six o’clock. “Perhaps you should reconsider the young woman’s offer. If she’s agreed to teach without a contract, the least you could do is offer her a reasonable salary. I understand you offered a third of what you offer male candidates, and she was still willing to come. That says something about her desire to teach. Not to mention what it says about her character, that she was not desperate enough to accept those terms. You might be missing a good opportunity for the children of this community.”
Mr. Markle rolled his shoulders back and nodded. “I shall speak with the board members.” He glanced up at the clock. “We have two hours before she departs on the eastbound train.” Mr. Markle headed out the classroom door.
Warren, Tennessee, was an interesting town, Daniel reflected. Besides the college, whose presence was good for the region, most of the town consisted of farmers who probably didn’t have as much use for education as those who were in the education field. However, several of the professors here at the college had young children of their own. If the community didn’t offer adequate education, they would move on to another teaching institution where their children’s education was treated as a priority. He understood the budget issue, but didn’t agree with the rationale that a woman should be paid less than a man simply because she wasn’t the head of a household. It was especially ridiculous to his way of thinking in the case of a single woman who was the head of her household and had to provide for all of her own needs. “Mr. Markle,” Daniel called after the departing board member. “You might want to reconsider her status as ‘head of the household.’ After all, who pays for her food, clothing, and other expenses without a husband to provide?”
“I can see you are of the more modern opinion.”
“Perhaps, or perhaps I’m simply being practical.” Daniel closed the classroom door with the parting assurance, “I shall be praying, Mr. Markle.”
Helen stood and stretched her legs, walking back and forth on the platform. She’d been sitting in the slatted wooden chair for the past three hours. The westbound train had stopped to allow a few passengers to exit, but only a few. She understood from the station manager that the eastbound train would be arriving in another forty-five minutes. Then it would be another eight hours of sitting before she arrived at her hometown in Virginia.
Her father would be happy for her return. He hadn’t been excited about the job offer she received from the school board in Warren. Nevertheless, he’d given her his blessing, making sure she understood she could always return home. Of course, that meant she would have to begin the process of finding a suitable husband. The prospect of gentlemen callers was limited back home, and most of those men weren’t interested in continuing their education. Michael, case in point, had put it bluntly. “I know how to farm, raise the crops and livestock. I don’t need no book learning. My pa taught me all I need.”
That put an end to her interest in him and his interest in her. He married Mary Jane Allen six months later, and the last Helen knew they had two children already and another one on the way. Personally, she was happy for Michael and Mary Jane, and would love to have children of her own someday. But she wanted more from life than what her hometown had to offer.
As Helen continued to pace, the air filled with the sweet fragrance of apple pie. She sniffed, closing her eyes to take in the fresh aroma. Her stomach gurgled, and she looked around, embarrassed, hoping no one had heard. She hadn’t eaten since early this morning. Lukewarm coffee and Danish didn’t last long.
She leaned out past the train station’s loading area to see where the delicious aroma was coming from. Was there enough time to venture out and possibly find a meal? She glanced up at the clock hanging over the loading area. If the eastbound train was on time, she had forty minutes. If it was early, she might risk staying in town overnight. And while she had the money, the idea of spending a night just for a bite to eat seemed foolish. She sighed in frustration and disappointment. The limited salary she’d been willing to accept could have been boosted by picking up some extra income tutoring college students. She shook her head. To think a college town would care so little for the children. Sure, the college was situated in an out-of-the-way farming community, but still … Enough! she warned herself. Don’t keep dwelling on what might have been.
Helen picked up her valise and followed her nose toward the enticing apple pie. She took her place in a line of men—both young and old—gathered outside a small cottage near the station. By the time Helen arrived at the door, she had learned that Mrs. Miller was a widow whose baked goods were a favorite of the students from the college. “Hello,” Mrs. Miller said.
“Hello! May I have a slice of apple pie and a couple of rolls for my trip on the train?”
“Of course.” Mrs. Miller cocked her head. “You wouldn’t be the new schoolmarm, would you?”
“Ahhh,” Helen stammered, “I came for that position, yes. But it didn’t work out.”
“Why?” Mrs. Miller placed her hand over her mouth. “Beg your pardon, miss. I don’t mean to pry. Well, I suppose I do, but it ain’t none of my concern.”
Helen liked Mrs. Miller immediately. “I couldn’t sign the contract. It stated I could not be courted. I understand not wanting me to marry, but to not court …” Helen shook her head. “They were already offering a lower wage than they would a man, and when I suggested a compromise, they wanted to lower the pay even more. I have a bit of a fiery side and, well, I simply walked out after I made the mistake of saying that they didn’t care for the education of their children.”
Mrs. Miller giggled. “You ruffled more than one gray hair, I imagine.”
Helen chuckled too. “I’m afraid so. I’ll be heading back home to Virginia on the eastbound train.”
“Nonsense. Spend the night in my spare room, no charge. You must be exhausted, riding in on the train today. I know my old bones get tired riding those iron horses. Although I’ll admit it is a lot more comfortable than riding a wagon for miles and miles.”
“True. But I couldn’t impose.”
“Nonsense. It’s no imposition, and I’d love the company. My Alfred has been gone going on six years, and the children are grown with children of their own now. I’d love the company. I have the room. Please stay. You can catch the train tomorrow.”
Helen wouldn’t mind a night in a comfortable bed. “Are you certain I would not be an imposition?”
“Positive. Come inside.” Mrs. Miller opened the door.
Helen stepped inside as Mrs. Miller leaned out to say, “I’ll be right with you gentlemen. Let me get this young lady settled in.”
“Yes’m,” rang out from the men.
“Thank you,” Helen said as she followed Mrs. Miller to the back of the cottage. The room was neat, with handmade quilts and pillows covering the bed and a large upholstered chair, and handmade curtains framing the windows. “Oh my, this is gorgeous.”
“Thank you. As I said, my Albert’s been gone for a while now. So I have a lot of time on my hands. Sewing and cooking help me pass the hours and support myself. Now, you settle in. The washroom is over there.” She pointed to the door down the hall. “I’ll finish serving the young men and we can have dinner together. How about some ham and eggs with a serving of hash brown potatoes?”
Helen’s stomach flipped. “Thank you. You are most kind.”
“Nonsense. It’s what any good Christian would do.” Mrs. Miller waved as she headed back to the front door. No question the woman had quite a business going. Who wouldn’t want Grandma’s sweets while away at college?
Helen plopped her valise on the floor then sat down on the overstuffed chair. Her heart went out to this community. She’d been praying for months about this position and had felt the Lord leading her here. Why had the interview gone so poorly? Granted, her attitude was partly to blame, but their attitudes …
She closed her eyes as if to shut off the train of thought. She couldn’t keep blaming others for her reactions. No one had forced her to apply for the job. There was no call for her condescending attitude toward the board members, even though they appeared to have a lack of compassion for their students. She wondered how many candidates they had approached and turned down. Even for a man, the salary was low. The salary they offered for a woman was downright ridiculous, and yet she had felt confident the Lord would provide. Why couldn’t she have kept her mouth shut and prayed before turning them down on their lower offer?
Because she was forever repeating the same fault of speaking before she thought. “Help me, Lord. I’m trying, but …” Helen sighed. She’d blown it again. “Forgive me, Lord.”
After a few minutes, she removed her hat and went to wash the day’s dirt and grime from her face. She brushed her hair and pinned it back into place. Smiling at her reflection, she said, “I’ll try to do better next time, Lord.”
Helen exited the washroom and joined Mrs. Miller at the doorway. A half dozen men were still lined up eagerly awaiting their treats. “I’m almost done, dear. Have a seat and get comfortable.”
The entrance to the home opened into the front parlor, so Helen took a seat in a thickly cushioned chair and looked around. The parlor wasn’t formal like her father’s parlor back home. It was cozy and comfortable, accented by still more quilted lap blankets draped neatly over some of the stuffed chairs. Mrs. Miller’s cheery interaction with her customers drifted in.
“Good evening, Mrs. Miller.”
“Good evening, Professor Moore. I was hoping you’d stop by today. How was your day—the usual?”
“Good, but one of your pies will make it sensational.”
Helen turned to see the strikingly handsome man she’d bumped into earlier. His chocolate-brown eyes sparkled, and their eyes met. He smiled. “I see you have a guest, Mrs. Miller.”
“Yes, yes, I do. This is … was to be our new schoolteacher.”
His eyebrows lifted and he stepped back half a pace. He gave a polite nod, pulled a coin from his pocket, and handed it to her. “Have a wonderful evening, Mrs. Miller.”
“You too, Professor.”
Helen’s mind spun as her heart pounded in her chest. Perhaps she should try to catch the train. No sense staying where you weren’t welcome.