Chapter 10
CHAPTER 10
M onday morning, Levi walked Madeline to her class, something he hadn’t done since her first day of school. He had wanted to discuss the encounter with Rachel and the principal in the corn maze, but yesterday at church Rachel had confided in him that she would discuss the matter with the principal. Just as quickly, she smiled at Madeline and told her she’d see her at the children’s service, then stepped to another group of friends to chat.
Levi would respect her wishes. She was an adult. She knew how to defend herself. She had taught at an inner-city school. What she’d encountered there had to have been more challenging than explaining a chance encounter with a man in a corn maze.
At the doorway to the classroom, he rested a hand on Madeline’s shoulder. “I’ll see you this afternoon when I pick you up from school.”
“I can’t wait to tell Miss Bonneville I’m writing my letters better.” Madeline lifted her gaze to his.
Yesterday afternoon, he had worked with her again on her writing to make sure she remembered what Rachel had taught her. She had.
“You are, which should please Miss Bonneville.” He glanced through the doorway .
The classroom was filled with laughing and talking children.
Rachel stood near her desk and talked to a couple of students. She looked fresh in a button-down shirt and loose-fitting slacks. Her hair was caught in a ponytail. She looked exactly as she had in high school. Despite her simple appearance, she looked elegant. He had thought that about her when they were kids growing up. She could make a pair of jeans look like formal wear.
As if Rachel felt Levi look at her, she lifted her gaze to the doorway. Their eyes met, and she stilled.
The children she had been talking to looked at the door, too.
Rachel said something to the students. They nodded their heads, then moved to their seats at the horseshoe table. Rachel waited until they sat, then stepped to the classroom door.
“Is there something I can help you with?” Her teacher persona had returned. Gone was the carefree girl who had turned backflips in the corn maze.
“I just wanted to confirm Madeline’s tutoring session this afternoon.” Levi tried to ignore the lift in his chest when he looked into her eyes so soft and warm.
“Absolutely,” Rachel said with a soft laugh. She smiled down at Madeline, who beamed. “She’s doing very well. We’ll meet for thirty minutes. We’ll finish at four o’clock so you can pick her up then.”
“I practiced writing my letters yesterday.” Excitement ran through Madeline, and she gave a little bounce. “Daddy Levi said I did well.”
“You did do well.” Levi smiled down at her. He wanted to look at Rachel. For now, he’d hold in his mind the image of her and the casual style of her hair.
Madeline’s eyes shone.
“And you’ll do well in class today,” Levi said. “I’ll see you at four o’clock.”
Madeline nodded and skipped into the classroom. Levi watched for a moment.
“Mrs. Whitaker and I had a conversation this morning.” Rachel’s voice was low .
He understood her direct gaze. Enough had been said about the matter in the maze.
His nod slight, he smiled at her and withdrew.
Rachel stepped to her desk. She glanced at the clock, then picked up a spiral notebook and announced the start of class. There was a rustle as the students opened their workbooks.
Rachel was poised and confident as she spoke to the class and wrote on the board.
Levi turned away. He’d see her at four o’clock. He’d leave the matter of talking to Mrs. Whitaker to Rachel. She was strong. She knew how to face confrontation. For now, he’d return to the ranch, where he’d focus on business and ranch matters before he returned to pick up Madeline. It wouldn’t keep his mind off Rachel, but it was a start.
Rachel threw herself into teaching her class. It was the only way to get her mind off the powerfully built man who stood in her classroom doorway and cared for the little girl who had captured Rachel’s heart. She had hoped teaching would make her forget the unwanted feelings that rushed in whenever she saw Levi or thought about him. It didn’t work. Still, she persevered. Her students deserved the best. She would give them more than that.
That afternoon, Rachel worked with Madeline on her writing. The child caught on quickly and wrote a perfect paper.
“Look what you did,” Rachel said excitedly and held up the paper so Madeline could look at the sheet. “You wrote every letter correctly.”
Stunned at first, Madeline grinned. “I did.”
“Yes, you did.” Rachel set the paper on Madeline’s desk. “Now you have another wonderful success to share with your daddy Levi.”
“Did I hear my name?” Levi’s deep voice sounded from the doorway. The smile that had taken Rachel’s heart when they were kids pressed a dimple into his jaw .
Rachel rose slowly, her smile in place.
“Daddy Levi.” Madeline jumped to her feet. Dashing to him, she wrapped her arms around his legs. “I did everything right today.” She lifted her gaze to his.
“Why am I not surprised?” He looked at Rachel who fought to release the words stuck in her throat.
“Madeline.” At last, she could speak. Thankfully, she didn’t sound like a frog. “Show him what you did.”
“Oh, yeah.” Madeline clasped a hand to her mouth and giggled, then raced back to her seat. Picking up the paper, she ran back to him and held it out for Levi to see.
“You did this?” Levi’s brows arched as he studied the paper.
“By myself.” Madeline bounced on her toes.
“I believe she can work on her own now,” Rachel said, the excitement in Madeline’s face warming her heart.
“What?” Madeline turned to her, lips parted in disappointment. “Does that mean I won’t see you anymore?”
“Of course, you’ll see me.” Rachel’s heart filled with compassion. “But because you have done such a good job learning how to write your letters correctly, you can now work on your own. You won’t have to work with me anymore because you can do better without me.” Rachel took a breath. She hadn’t expected this reaction from the little girl. “Think of how well you did yesterday when you wrote your letters. I wasn’t there. You wrote perfect letters by yourself. Now do you understand?”
“I think so.” Madeline looked thoughtful as if she mulled the praise.
“Let me help you get your things.” Rachel turned to the cubbies where Madeline had stored her papers and to keep from staring at Levi. She hoped what she had said quelled the child’s disappointment.
“Let’s help Miss Bonneville.” Levi walked Madeline to the cubbies.
Rachel tightened her jaw wishing his deep voice didn’t stir these unwanted emotions inside her. He’d kept his distance. She thanked God for giving her the strength to do the same .
“Can you get your papers?” Levi asked Madeline. He reached past Rachel and lifted Madeline’s backpack from the hook.
“I got pluses on all my papers today.” Madeline lifted the stack from the cubby and held them up for Levi to see. “Look.”
“Good job.” He grinned. “When we get home, we’ll sort through them and show them to Grandma Naomi and Grandpa Felix.”
Madeline giggled with excitement, her disappointment from earlier seemingly forgotten. Once she zipped her coat and slipped her arms into the straps of her backpack, she looked up at Rachel.
“Now I won’t see you anymore.” A wariness clouded her eyes.
“Yes, you will.” Rachel had to keep from hugging her. She wanted to console her. “I’ll be here tomorrow.”
“Let’s tell Miss Bonneville goodbye so she can go home.” Levi rested a hand on Madeline’s shoulder. He didn’t look at Rachel.
She controlled the sigh she wanted to release. Why couldn’t they be like they had been before she began her substitute teaching position—when she could be with him and not worry about school rules warning teachers to refrain from close relationships with their students and their families?
Her jaw tight, she berated herself. The position had been an answer to prayer. She would be grateful.
“Good night, Miss Bonneville.” Madeline’s sweet voice broke through the turmoil spinning in Rachel’s head.
“Good night.” She looked from Madeline to Levi.
His smile sincere, he guided Madeline from the classroom.
From the hallway came the clicking sound of high heels.
Levi lifted his gaze. “Hello, Mrs. Whitaker.”
“Mr. McSweeney.” Mrs. Whitaker’s voice floated into the classroom. “Hello, Madeline.”
“Hello, Mrs. Whitaker.” The little girl looked surprised.
“We were just leaving. Have a good night.” Levi smiled at the principal, whom Rachel still couldn’t see. He disappeared from the doorway.
Rachel’s stomach jumped. Had Mrs. Whitaker come to talk to her? She stepped to the doorway. Mrs. Whitaker stood in front of her, but didn’t enter the classroom.
“I had just finished tutoring Madeline with her writing.” Rachel smiled despite her curiosity as to why the principal was there.
“Yes, I know.” Mrs. Whitaker returned the smile. “I have news for you. I wanted to share it in person rather than message you through the school portal.”
“Yes?” Rached raised her brows.
“I heard from Mrs. Campbell,” Mrs. Whitaker said. “She’ll return to class on Monday.”
“That’s wonderful,” Rachel said on a soft exhale.
She was relieved everything had gone well for Mrs. Campbell. At the same time, she was sad the substitute position would end, but God would show her the place where He wanted her.
Would it still be in Sweet Mountain?
“She was grateful for the notes the children wrote and for the pictures they drew.” Mrs. Whitaker’s approving lift of her brow made Rachel’s heart soar. “And I’ve heard good things about your teaching from the other teachers and the parents.”
Rachel tried to control her surprise. Did that mean she would be considered for another substitute teaching position? Silently, she thanked God for keeping His hand on her and saving her from her corn maze faux pas. When she taught, she gave her best. That was all she could hope for.
“We’d like to keep you on as a permanent substitute teacher,” Mrs. Whitaker said. “If we have an opening, we’ll definitely consider you.”
“Thank you,” Rachel said calmly, though she wanted to collapse.
“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about our encounter in the corn maze and our discussion this morning,” Mrs. Whitaker said, though her face remained unreadable. “But I remember what it’s like to be young.”
“I don’t know that I’m young,” Rachel said, embarrassed.
She’d behaved like a kid. Her backflip had slammed her straight into Levi. Normally, she would have been thrilled with the encounter. Instead, she was mortified .
“Trust me. Twenty-eight is young,” Mrs. Whitaker snorted. “When you get on this side of forty, everyone is young.”
“Thank you for understanding,” Rachel murmured.
“As long as we understand each other,” Mrs. Whitaker’s voice was light despite her direct look. “After Friday, you won’t be teaching here until we need a substitute teacher.”
“I won’t do anything that raises doubt about my standards,” Rachel said quickly.
“I know you won’t.” Mrs. Whitaker smiled. “I’ve kept you long enough. Have a good evening, Miss Bonneville.”
“You as well,” Rachel said as Mrs. Whitaker moved down the hallway.
She stepped into the classroom and collapsed into the desk chair. For two weeks, God gave her the gift of doing what she liked most—teaching. At least, she would be considered for future substitute openings.
Until she received word of an opening, she’d apply at the local restaurants and wait tables. There were plenty of those. She’d also contact the gymnasium and see if they had an opening.
And she’d keep her distance from Levi McSweeney.