Chapter Three
Rachel couldn’t move. She could hardly breathe.
Her stepfather’s anger was a sight to behold. His face was even redder than usual, and his fists were balled up by his sides. He looked from her to the suitcase on the ground to the handsome stranger.
He would have realized at once what she was doing.
She didn’t look at the suitcase, but of course he had seen it, and he would know that she was trying to leave the house at last. She wondered whether it had ever occurred to him that she would actually do it.
He must have felt secure in the idea that she had nowhere else to go.
Until now, that had always been enough to stop her.
It wasn’t enough anymore.
This all would have been bad enough, but the presence of the stranger made it so much worse.
He really was handsome. Rachel had noticed that about him right away, even as she had tried to push past him and run from the house.
She didn’t know who he was—she had never seen him before—but he was riveting to look at with his dark hair neatly combed and his bright blue eyes that pierced her soul.
It was like he was the only person who had ever looked at her.
There was an intellect in those eyes. He was assessing her. Studying. Figuring something out.
She didn’t like it.
What was this stranger making of the way her stepfather was sneering at her as if she was a common criminal?
For that matter, what was he doing here? Why had he tried to prevent her from leaving? What could he possibly want?
“She was running.” The voice came from Jennifer, who had just climbed down out of the carriage.
She pointed at the suitcase that had fallen on its side in the grass.
“She was running away, Father. That’s why she left the fair in such a hurry.
She wanted to pack up her things and run away before we could get back here so that she wouldn’t be punished for her behavior. ”
Finally, Rachel found her voice. She stepped forward and focused her attention on Jennifer.
It was easier to argue with Jennifer than it was to try to argue with Nathan.
Jennifer had never been remotely intimidating.
“I left the fair because you got lemonade all over me,” she told her stepsister firmly.
“And what on earth would I be punished for? I haven’t done anything wrong. ”
“Never mind that for now,” Nathan cut in.
“But, Father—”
For once, Nathan ignored Jennifer. He turned his attention to the stranger instead. “Who are you, sir? What are you doing on my property?”
“I’m here to see…” The man frowned, looking from Rachel to Jennifer. He seemed confused by something. “I came to see Jennifer Foster.”
Jennifer’s whole demeanor shifted. She stepped forward, smiling what Rachel knew she believed was a winning smile. Rachel thought there was something simpering about it. It was too big, and it never quite reached her eyes. It was insincere.
“I’m Jennifer,” she said. “Why did you come to see me, sir?”
“And who are you?” Nathan asked, narrowing his eyes.
“True, I haven’t yet introduced myself,” the man said.
“I’m sorry for the oversight. My name is Adam Summers, and I’m a member of the town committee.
I’ve been tasked with finding a new teacher for the elementary school.
” He looked from Jennifer to Nathan. “I’m told that this young lady is a teacher. ”
“Oh, I am!” Jennifer sparkled. “I’ve just finished my formal education and everything. Are you here to offer me a job?”
Was it Rachel’s imagination, or did Adam Summers seem as though he wanted to take the whole thing back? His eyebrows drew together, and for several moments, he didn’t answer the question.
Finally, he spoke. “Yes,” he said slowly, hesitantly. “That’s why I’m here. I’m wondering if you’d like to take the teaching post.”
“Well, I’d love to!” Jennifer enthused. “Oh, Father, can you believe it? I’m going to be a teacher at last!”
“Well, I always knew you would,” Nathan told her with a smile. “Thank you for making the offer, Mr. Summers. I know you won’t be disappointed in my Jennifer.”
“You can come down to the schoolhouse tomorrow morning.” Mr. Summers pursed his lips. “Someone from the committee will be there to show you around.”
“All right,” Jennifer said, her voice pitched up in excitement. “I’d better go see what I have to wear! Thank you, Mr. Summers!”
Tossing a smug smile in Rachel’s direction, she ran into the house.
“You’ll have to forgive her for that,” Nathan said. “She’s young, and she’s excitable. She’ll be a good teacher, though. You’ll be glad you picked her, I promise you that.”
“I’m sure I will be,” Mr. Summers agreed, though there was a heaviness to his voice that made Rachel think he wasn’t sure at all.
“Is that all you came for?” Nathan asked. “I’m not trying to rush you away, but…” He looked Rachel up and down and an ugly scowl crossed his face. “It seems that I have a situation I need to deal with.”
The carriage door opened for a third time. Rachel’s mother climbed out.
Her eyes fixed on Rachel, and then on the suitcase that lay on the ground.
Rachel’s stomach lurched. She knew her mother was putting it together, recognizing that Rachel was leaving at last. Would this be the moment? Would her mother finally find the courage to stand up and say something about the way Rachel had always been treated?
Sandra looked away.
Something in Rachel shriveled up and died.
She’d known that she couldn’t rely on her mother, but seeing it was different. Having it really proved to her that her mother would never be there for her…it was a knife to her gut.
There was Edith, of course. No doubt she was watching all this from the window. But Rachel had told her not to come outside, no matter what happened. She would only be in trouble if Nathan thought she had helped Rachel with what she was doing now.
Adam Summers didn’t leave. He rested a hand on his hip and regarded Nathan carefully. For a moment, his gaze darted to Rachel, but he looked away quickly.
“What’s the situation?” he asked, his tone mild. “Anything I can help out with? After all, your family is doing me a favor, what with your daughter coming to teach. I’d like to repay you if I can.”
“No, no, nothing you can help with,” Nathan countered. “My stepdaughter caused some trouble today at the fair, that’s all, and I need to have a word with her.” His eyes narrowed. “Rachel, go back into the house.”
If she went back into the house, she’d never get away.
Nathan would spend hours shouting at her, and then he would likely lock her in her room.
And she had seen him notice the suitcase.
He knew now that she was trying to leave, and he would never give her a moment’s peace.
He would make sure she had no opportunity to walk out that door again.
She looked at Adam Summers. Once he left, everything would fall apart. She was sure Nathan was only keeping himself composed out of a desire not to make a scene in front of this stranger.
“Oh, yes,” Mr. Summers said, eyebrows lifting. “I saw you at the fair, Miss. Some lemonade was spilled on you. An unfortunate accident.”
“Oh, she shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Nathan assured him smoothly. “She wasn’t meant to be out of the house without having finished her chores, but she can be mighty disobedient at times.”
“My chores are finished,” Rachel interjected, planting her hands on her hips.
It was true. When she had come home from the fair, she had run inside, angry and distraught, where she had found Edith putting the finishing touches on sweeping out the study.
Edith had assured her that everything else had been finished too, but Rachel hadn’t taken the time to look around.
She had rushed to her room and started packing, throwing all her most essential possessions into the suitcase that now lay on the ground.
“Pick that up, Rachel, and take it back inside,” Nathan snapped, pointing at the case.
“I don’t know what you think you’re doing—where you think you’re going—but you’re making a scene, and I’ve had more than enough.
” To Mr. Summers, he added, “I’m sorry you had to see this.
I have trouble keeping her in line sometimes, but you may rest assured that Jennifer is perfectly well behaved. ”
Mr. Summers pressed his lips together in a thin line. “Actually,” he said, “I was speaking with Miss Rachel here before you returned home, Mr. Foster.”
“Were you bothering Mr. Summers, Rachel?” Nathan crossed the yard and took Rachel by the arm. His grip wasn’t painful, but it was firm enough that she knew she wouldn’t be able to break it.
She looked at her mother.
Sandra was looking away, pretending that none of it was happening. And as Rachel watched, she walked from their carriage across the lawn and up to the house. She didn’t look back. She didn’t so much as glance over her shoulder to see if Rachel was all right. Nothing.
Rachel had known that would happen, but even so, it hurt. It was painful every time her mother ignored her like that, every time she didn’t step in and say something when she saw Rachel being mistreated.
I was going to run away and leave her behind today, though. After all this time, after everything I’ve been through, I was finally ready to put myself first and leave Mother to the life she’s chosen. I suppose I can’t expect anything from her anymore. We’ve picked our sides.
“Take your hand off of her,” Mr. Summers said, moving toward Nathan.
Nathan stared at him. “Excuse me?”
“She hasn’t done anything wrong,” Mr. Summers clarified. “She wasn’t bothering me at all. She spoke to me because I asked her to.”
That hadn’t happened. What was he talking about?
Rachel didn’t dare look at him. He didn’t understand the way things worked here—was he about to make matters worse for her?
Her heart pounded, and she wished she could tell him to stop talking, but there was no way to do that without calling her stepfather’s attention to the fact that she was trying to quiet him.
“You see, I own a ranch just outside of town,” Mr. Summers said. “I’m always looking to hire on new hands. And when I saw Miss Rachel here, I asked her whether she was looking for work. And…” He hesitated. “And she told me that she was.”
He was making things up entirely. What was he doing? Rachel forced herself to breathe, trying to relax. Should she speak up right now and tell Nathan none of this had happened?
Or should she play along?
“That’s why she has a suitcase,” Mr. Summers explained, picking it up. “She was coming with me.”
“Without even asking me?” Nathan growled. “Neither of you thought I ought to be consulted? This woman works for me, Summers.”
“And if she wants to stay here, I’ll bow out,” Mr. Summers said peaceably. “I just thought she might be interested in the rancher’s life, and that it couldn’t hurt to make the offer. But have you changed your mind? Would you prefer to remain here?” The last question was addressed to Rachel.
Nathan was so taken aback by the turn of events that he had forgotten to hold on to Rachel’s arm. She took advantage of that and stepped quickly away from him. The move put her closer to Adam, and she reached out for the suitcase. After a moment’s pause, he passed it to her.
“Mr. Summers is telling the truth,” she managed, her heart pounding. She could hardly believe she was lying to her stepfather in order to go away with a man she didn’t know at all.
But he can’t be that bad, can he? He said he was on the Town Committee.
He’s helping with the school. He has to be a decent man.
And he’s offering me a job—somewhere to go other than here.
That’s all I’ve wanted for the longest time.
She closed her eyes. God, please help me make the right decision here.
Besides, she didn’t have to stay with him just because she left with him.
“But I don’t understand,” Nathan said. “You must realize Rachel has no experience on ranches. She wouldn’t know the first thing to do to be of help to you.
I can understand why you want to take on Jennifer—she has real expertise in teaching.
She’ll be good in that position. But Rachel isn’t a fit for ranch work.
Frankly, she’s not a fit for ranch life, either.
I don’t know what lies she’s told you to make you believe she would be a good choice, but believe me when I tell you she is not what you’re looking for.
” He took hold of the handle of Rachel’s suitcase and pulled it toward himself, breaking Rachel’s grip.
“I can make some recommendations if you’re looking for people to help you on your ranch.
I know plenty of good men who are looking for work. ”
“Well, I’m not looking for a man,” Adam said, lifting his eyebrows and folding his arms across his chest. “I’m looking for someone to help me bring up my ward.”
“And you want to take my maid from me? You can’t find your own?”
“I suppose it’s up to her where she’d like to go, isn’t it?” Mr. Summers said. He turned to face Rachel. “Whatever you’re being paid here, I’m willing to match it.”
Why was he doing all this? Why was he willing to go to such lengths for her? He didn’t even know her.
She looked over at Nathan. His hands were fisted at his sides, his jaw clenched, and it occurred to her that he was likely thinking the same thing she was.
Nathan didn’t pay her at all. Any amount Mr. Summers could come up with would be an improvement. And her stepfather knew it.
There was nothing he could say or do to compel her to stay.