One True Love by Lori Copeland Read Free Book Online

Schooldays .
    â€œOh, the young’uns love it.” This came from Lil, trying to control her young toddler. “Reba tries to school the children, but she’s not trained, not like Laura Fedderson. Laura was an educated teacher.”
    â€œWhy isn’t Miss Fedderson teaching the children now?”
    â€œThe Feddersons had to drop out of the train shortly afterwe pulled out. She had this awful cough, and it worsened. Her husband thought it best to take her back home until she fully recovered.” The woman shook her head. “Near broke Laura’s heart. She was looking forward to a new start, moving to a better climate. They lived with her husband’s folks, and Laura longed for a home of her own.”
    Copper’s gaze was drawn to the children’s studious faces, and she was reminded of her class. Little Mackey. Emily and Harold. What were they doing now? Would Beeder’s Cove resume school without her? Of course they would. They’d find a replacement until she was back. Being a cripple didn’t mean that she was a freak or couldn’t work. Once, when she was a child, she saw a man whose feet were so twisted that he had to be pushed in a chair with wheels on it. Copper remembered how she’d recoiled at the sight. Would people look at her with the same pity? She would have both feet, but how severe would her limp be? Would folks stare at her in pity? One of the ladies pitched the last of the coffee on the fire. “Miss Wilson? You’re a teacher, aren’t you?”
    Adele answered before Copper could. “The finest! Why, that’s how she injured her ankle. Bravest thing I’d ever heard. Fire broke out in the schoolroom, and Copper got all the children out alive and well. Why, she even defied the inferno and went back into the building and pulled two of the youngest to safety.”
    Murmurs of approval circulated.
    â€œIt was nothing,” Copper said. “Any teacher would have done the same.”
    â€œStill,” Sadie praised, “it was a heroic thing you did. And now with that injury—”
    Copper broke in before Sadie could make a prediction that she didn’t want to hear. “My, the wind is brisk today.”
    â€œJosh says it’s gonna be a bad winter this year. The geese are flying ahead of time, and the tree bark is awfully thick. We could be in for an ugly one.”
    The women started breaking camp. “Praise the good Lord we should be in Colorado in another few weeks. Maybe the heaviest snows will stay well to the north of us.”
    Copper insisted on making the short trek back to Adele’s wagon alone, though her ankle screamed with misery. After two tries, she managed to negotiate the step into the wagon and drop to the pallet, staring at the canvas top, which strangely didn’t look as tedious at it had half an hour earlier.
    While the travelers checked rigging and axles, Copper considered the children on the wagon train. How many were gathered beneath the tree? Ten? Twelve? She thought the young lady reading the book was quite articulate, and the interest shining in the children’s eyes inspiring. She missed seeing young, fresh faces eager for knowledge, at least most of them. But in time, even the reluctant ones could be introduced to a subject that would grab their attention, and the world would open to them.
    The call of “Wagons roll” sounded from the head of the train, and rig by rig the command went down the line. Sadie gave a whistle and the wagon lurched. Copper clamped her jaw in pain, but willed her thoughts back to the children. She could teach. She could lie here day after day or she could work past the ache and offer to give a simple lesson at noon hour. She didn’t have books, or rulers, or chalk, or a board, but she had a sound mind the Lord had given her, and a good education Papa had provided.
    So what will it be, Copper? Lie here and wallow in self-pity? Or do