Not Quite A Mail Order Bride (Mail Order Brides) by Susan Leigh Carlton Read Free Book Online Page B

Cody Jenkins and Mason Parker. They would like to talk to you. Would you like me to stay?”
     
    “Yes, please do. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Cody and Mason, was it?” she said. “You wanted to talk to me?”
     
    “Mrs Sanders, the other parents asked us to speak for them too,” Cody said. We understand Luke told you about the meeting?”
     
    “Yes, he did, and please call me Martha.”
     
    “Yes’m. We just want to make sure you understand none of us support Jake in what he said. The war’s been over for years, but he’s still fighting it. His way does not represent the view of our little group. We want you to know we think you would be a wonderful teacher for our school. We think your qualifications speak for themselves. Having you for a teacher would be a big benefit for our children They’ve had no schooling since the last teacher moved away. We need you and would like to ask you to take the position, for our children’s sake.”
     
    “Gentlemen, I appreciate your coming over, and your kind words as well. Your visit will help me make my decision. I should have it made before the first of the week. Thank you for coming. Now, if you’ll excuse me?”
     
    They stood as she left the room. “Jed, what do you think she’ll do? Will she stay?” Mason asked.
     
    “I really don’t know. Sarah and I both want her to stay, they were always close.”
     
    “Will you talk to her?” Mason asked. “Tell her how much we need her.”
     
    “Sarah has made me promise not to push her. Besides, I think you did a good job of that yourselves.”
     
    * * *
     
    Martha and Sarah were talking to Luke. “Luke, will you tell your neighbors I will accept the teaching position. I would like to go to Laramie and talk with the teachers there and see what books they are using, and brush up on the way things are taught in Wyoming. I will ask Jed to get someone to drive me so I can do that.”
     
    “Martha, that’s wonderful.” He took her hands. “I am so pleased you decided to stay. It means a lot to me.” He couldn’t help but notice the softness of her skin and the warm feeling he felt flow over him. He looked down, and realized he was still holding them. He let them go and felt his face flush.
     
    “I liked the feeling I had from the touch of his hands,” Martha thought. “It gave me a warm rush at the intimate contact. I liked the reaction to my staying,”
     
    “It’s not necessary to apologize, Luke,” Martha said. “You did nothing wrong. Would you mind if Sarah and I went to the school house and looked at it more closely?”
     
    “Of course not. It’s your school, now. Just tell me what you need and I’ll see to it immediately. Also, let me know about the books. I think the ones there were used when Will and I went to school and they’re probably falling apart.”
     
    As they left, Martha said, “I could learn to like that man.”
     
    “There’s a lot to like. He can be a warm person when he lets himself.”
     
    After a trip to Laramie, where she met the teachers in the elementary school, Martha said to Luke, “None of the books at our school are being used in the Laramie school. This is a list of what they are using. This list is the supplies that would be nice to have.”
     
    “I’ll get on this right away. When are you going to begin?” he asked.
     
    “I would like to do it as soon as possible. While we are waiting for the books, we could be getting the classroom ready,” she said.
     
    “You haven’t been there in the past couple of days. I think you’ll find most of the cleaning up has been taken care of. The fireplace has been cleaned and all of the surfaces scrubbed,” he said.
     
    “I’ll come over tomorrow and if we can get the word out, we could hold our first class on Monday,” Martha said, “How many students do you think I’ll have?”
     
    Luke answered Her question, “Counting Will, I think there will be eleven. I’ll make a list for you and give you