Chapter 24
Orville had run fast to get Mr. Garrison, Cooper Thatcher, and Doctor Flynn.
All three men had returned with him. Marta had kept Alex with her and the boy named David, too.
She had them tell how he had the handprint on his face.
While they took care of the poor boy’s face, Marta took Cooper aside and told him what Derek had told her in little more than a whisper.
To Cooper, it made perfect sense. It also told him who was after Grady and Marta and why.
He also knew that Derek would deny everything that he had told Marta.
It would be his word against hers. George was furious about the slap to the student.
He marched into Derek’s classroom and demanded an explanation.
“What did I do wrong? I simply corrected a student. Teachers do it all the time.” Derek told him and stood up to him. “Show me in my contract where what I did was against school policy.”
George did. He also told Derek that he was on probation.
If he did anything else that was against school policy, he would be fired on the spot.
Derek responded with who will you get at this late date to come to this small school to teach here?
You would do best to keep the teacher you have.
George didn’t like being threatened and fired him then and there.
Derek didn’t like having his bluff called.
He was shocked and the students in his class cheered at his dismissal.
They were all fearful that they would be the next one slapped or end up worse.
Derek stomped out of the school screaming curse words at what he was going to do to the school, the Harper’s, the general store, and the town of Sheridan!
Cooper didn’t hesitate to go and arrest him for his threats.
He felt it was better to be safe than sorry if he carried out any of his threats.
George was glad that anyone that volatile was gone from the school but he was left without a teacher for his seventh and eighth grade students.
For the time being, Lynn, Darcy, and Marta split up his students into their own three classrooms and spent some time each day teaching them some Algebra, history, and English.
They finally made it, so they went to Lynn for English, Darcy for history, and Marta for Algebra.
The students loved moving from classroom to classroom and from teacher to teacher. Marta loved teaching Algebra to them.
George was thrilled that they were managing without Derek, but he still contacted the Teacher College for another teacher.
And he wanted them to arrive as soon as possible.
They gave him the name of an older student, Lucy Chambers.
She was available and would leave on the next train if he would hire her.
George told them that he would. He sure hoped she was suitable.
He did go and talk to Marta, Lynn, and Darcy about Lucy after school let out for the day.
“Lucy? I think Lucy will get along with the older students very well. She’s really very smart, and older than we are.
She had stayed at home to take care of her parents, so she didn’t come to school as soon as she came of age like we did.
But she is very calm and has a good head on her shoulders.
The one thing I can guarantee is that she is not like Derek at all.
” Marta told him as she made to leave for home.
She was anxious to get home to Grady. It had been four days, and Grady hadn’t woken up yet, both the doctor, Marley, and Marta were very worried about him.
“Thanks, Marta. I’ve got my fingers crossed that Lucy will work out very well for us. She’s coming in on the afternoon train.” Garrison told her and left to go back to the store. He felt he was at the school these past few days more than he was at the store.
Mattie loved school, he loved his teacher, and he loved making friends his own age.
He flew through his homework and always got his chores done and did Grady’s too.
His sister had enough to do with her work as a teacher, taking care of the house, washing clothes, making meals, and taking care of Grady, too.
Marley was great…but she was taking care of three babies and Grady when she was at the house each day.
Cooper brought over their laundry so she could wash it at Marta’s house while she watched Grady, she made bread for them and took it home with her, she did the mending as she took care of him, and she cooked.
Marta didn’t know what she would have done without her there.
She was torn between teaching and taking care of Grady each day.
She loved her job and she loved Grady so much.
With all the trouble with Derek, she felt washed out.
She was just glad they figured out who was doing everything to the school and Grady.
Cooper and Chris had him confess to shooting Grady for killing his brothers.
He also confessed that Derek Oelsen wasn’t his real name.
It was Geovanni Gambelli, he was the fifth brother, and he wanted revenge for the deaths of his family.
Avery Adams was charging him with attempted murder, vandalism of the school, threats against the general store, the Harper family, and the entire town of Sheridan.
He wouldn’t be getting out of prison anytime soon.
She came home to find that Grady had woken up. His head hurt, he was dizzy, and his shoulder was sore, but he was awake and knew who his attacker had been. He was puzzled why Derek Oelsen had tried to shoot him…wasn’t he a teacher at the school? Was he going to hurt Marta, too?
Marta flew into the room and covered his face with kisses.
“Oh, Grady, I’m so glad that you woke up.
I have so much to tell you and all that’s happened around here.
I don’t know what I would have done without Marley, Cooper, and Mattie to help me.
George Garrison has been very helpful and so have Orville and Wilber.
I’ve missed you so much. I’ve slept every night with my head on your good shoulder, but it’s not the same as you being awake and knowing that I’m there. Please don’t get hurt again!”
“Marta, I love you! I was so worried that Derek would come and harm you after trying to shoot me…Marley told me that he wasn’t who he said he was.
He was another Gambelli brother. We didn’t know there was another brother out there.
” He gathered her to him regardless to the pain in his head or the dizziness he felt.
She felt so good in his arms. “Just know that I’m not going anywhere for the next fifty years.
I love you, Marta Harper!” Grady told her.
Marta put her head on his shoulder. She was content to stay here forever.
Marley looked on. She was glad that Grady was better and that maybe things could go back to normal around here…maybe.
The End