Donovan's Daughter (The Californians, Book 4) by Lori Wick Read Free Book Online Page A

she told him gently,
"because if you do, I'm going to have to punish you
severely." The young boy nodded, and Marcail reached
to give him a hug. It was not the first time she'd hugged
him, but for the first time he reciprocated. His thin arms
clung to her, and Marcail's heart thundered with emotion.
    They were the only ones in the schoolhouse, and
Marcail, realizing that the children would be returning
from recess very soon, knew she had to quickly say what
was on her mind. Holding Sydney gently at arm's length,
she began.
    "I understand, Sydney, that people have days when
they feel upset, but no matter what you're feeling, you
must never deliberately hurt someone."
    "I understand, Miss Donovan." Again Sydney's lip
quivered, and Marcail believed he meant it. They talked
for a few moments more, Sydney apologizing for the
third time and Marcail telling Sydney she forgave him.

    As he returned to his desk, Marcail realized that something special had happened between them. Sydney was
looking at her with new eyes, and as much as Marcail
regretted his action, she prayed that this incident would
make a difference in their future relationship. Some of
the shock over being struck was still there, but Sydney
was as precious to her as he'd always been.

    In the weeks to follow God sustained Marcail in a way
she would not have dreamed possible. She was growing
very close to her entire class and knew that some of the
students thought the world of her. The Austin girls had
even come after school one day to tell her they prayed for
her every night. Marcail had been so moved she had
nearly cried. She asked the girls to also pray for Sydney,
and for Marcail's relationship with him.
    The girls had readily agreed, and Marcail felt their
prayers. There were days when Sydney was a schoolteacher's dream and days when he was a nightmare, but
amid the ups and downs they grew closer. Marcail was
swiftly learning to take each day as it came.
    Sydney had not turned into a model student, but
neither had he shown any signs of aggression since the
day he'd thrown the rock. Marcail suspected this was
because he was becoming slightly infatuated with her.
    They were able to talk with ease, but Marcail's prayers
were many on Sydney's behalf. She hadn't mentioned
her fears to anyone else, but she recognized the fact that
he was a child who was prone to acts of violence when
angered. It frightened her a little that she had no idea
what had set him off the last time, but she kept an eye on
him, and Mr. Flynn was making his visits as promised.
    Teaching school was harder work than Marcail had anticipated. Her sister had made it look so easy. This made
the weekends a time of relaxation and recuperation. She
liked to work on her lessons and bake Saturday morning.
Often she would walk into town in the afternoon.

    One Saturday, when the weather was beginning to
turn cold, Marcail ran into Kay Austin in the general
store.
    "Miss Donovan," Kay greeted her warmly, "did the
girls give you my message about tomorrow?"
    "Yes, Mrs. Austin, they did, but tomorrow is-"
    "The pie auction," she finished for her. "That's no
problem because I want you to bring the young man who
buys your pie."
    "Oh," Marcail said with genuine pleasure, "that sounds
wonderful. I'll plan on it."
    Kay squeezed her arm and smiled before telling her
she would see her on the morrow. Marcail thought that
Mrs. Austin would never know what a relief the invitation was. Rowie Kilmer had seen Marcail just the weekend before and made it quite clear that he was going to
bid on her pie. Marcail had been gracious, but in her
heart she sighed and wished that he would turn his
attention elsewhere.
    She had crossed his path from time to time, and although he made no move to press her, he questioned her
very carefully as to whether or not she'd been seeing
anyone else. Her comments on the privacy of her own
business seemed to roll off him like boulders on a