Chapter Nine
The sun wasn’t up when Amelia rose from her narrow bed.
She blinked blearily a few times before whipping the thin quilt off her legs and swinging them to the floor.
She dressed automatically, her mind still half-asleep.
She didn’t bother to pin her hair up yet, as she’d have to get the kitchen range going before anything else in the house could happen.
She quickly stepped into her boots and put her corset on over her chemise, grateful for the support it gave her tired back, and threaded her arms into a light cotton corset cover.
She added a simple petticoat with cording at the hem to keep her skirt away from her boots as she walked, and a simple, well-worn cotton blouse over it.
She finished by adding a gathered walking skirt with the fullness draped toward the back in vague reference to the bustled fashions that were all the rage in the cities.
The very last thing she put on was a wide, sturdy leather belt cut into the fashionable shape of a cincher.
From this, she could hang any number of useful things, or even tuck her skirt up into it in case of mud or debris.
She felt, in a word, prepared for anything.
She’d given up all notions of fancy dresses and fine laces a long time ago.
As always, she crept down the stairs as quietly as possible.
The children would be up in an hour or so, in time to do their chores, and she wanted to let them sleep for as long as possible.
School was resuming today after a customary break during the spring calving season, and she wanted Ruby and Logan to have the best chance of success.
They’ll need a good lunch to keep them going through the day, Amelia thought to herself as she reached the lower floor of the house. Already, a list of possible foods was going through her mind: sandwiches, pickles, maybe a couple of boiled eggs, a glass bottle of milk…
When she reached the kitchen, Amelia nearly leaped out of her skin.
There was a figure of a man standing there, and her first instinct was to panic that it might be Dean.
She quickly realized that it was Cody, however, lingering in the kitchen.
He was obviously waiting for her, as he turned when he heard her approaching.
“Pack of wolves seen around town,” he announced in his gravelly voice. “You’ll need to drive the children into town for school.” He paused. “You know how to drive?”
“I do,” Amelia answered. “I’ll get them there safely.”
Cody grunted half-heartedly at that. Amelia tilted her head to see if he would say anything else, and when she did, her long braid slipped over her shoulder.
His brown eyes, black in the grey of pre-dawn, followed the motion.
He furrowed his brows and shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers.
“Chores,” he announced before ambling out the back door.
Amelia watched him go for a moment, feeling as perplexed about him as ever. She shook her head to herself and turned to the business of blacking the range before she could begin cooking on it.
That man, she sighed inwardly.
***
News of the wolves seen around town had apparently spread quickly, as Amelia wasn’t the only one to escort their children into the school on the edge of town. A good number of horses and carts were hitched up to the fence around the schoolyard or making a wide loop as they dropped off children.
The school was larger than Amelia anticipated; unlike many frontier schools, this one boasted more than one schoolroom, with the children roughly divided by age into three classes.
Ruby, at fourteen, was in the oldest and smallest class.
Most youngsters would have quit school by her age, needed on the family farm, or to find work on the railroad or in town.
Logan, at eight, was in the middle class and quickly found a group of boys his own age.
“Have a good day,” Amelia said as Ruby climbed down from the small trap that Amelia had driven.
“Why don’t you stay and meet the schoolmistress?” Ruby asked. “She’s quite kind—I think you’d like her.”
Amelia hesitated. She wasn’t large on socializing in the best of cases, as it led to a lot of questions about her past that she didn’t particularly want to answer. It was doubly awkward now, as she wasn’t entirely sure about her place.
“Well,” she hedged.
“Oh, come on,” Ruby encouraged her. “She really is ever so nice, and I think you two would get on.”
Amelia sighed and looped the reins up in one hand as she climbed down from the trap. She patted the horse absently as she placed the reins on one of the fence pickets and went to stand with Ruby, who promptly abandoned Amelia when a pair of girls that looked to be her own age waved her over.
Thank you, Ruby, Amelia thought dryly. She schooled her features into an open expression that she hoped passed for friendly enough but couldn’t keep from folding her arms over herself.
All around her, other parents were clustered up in pairs or groups, chatting lowly.
They couldn’t help but notice Amelia, and they kept shooting inquisitive, furtive looks her way.
Won’t be long until one of them starts asking questions, Amelia thought, exhaling heavily through her nose.
A woman who looked to be about Amelia’s age appeared at the door of the school, surveying the crowd.
Immediately, she was swarmed by parents, who began talking to her at once.
The woman, whom Amelia presumed was the schoolmistress, raised her hands and began to address the crowd. Curious, Amelia pressed closer as well.
“Please,” the schoolmistress said, “be assured that we have it all in hand. Mr. Miles has assured me that he and Mr. Jones will both be keeping a weather eye out on the schoolyard and have repeaters to hand should it be necessary. The children won’t be allowed outdoors unsupervised today, and I understand the older boys have volunteered to help keep an eye on the younger ones.
So please, be assured that your children will be quite safe today.
I applaud those of you who chose to attend today in spite of the concerns about… the local wildlife.”
This seemed to placate most of the parents, who nodded and began to drift away.
Those who were returning to their horses and wagons shot Amelia more assessing looks, some more hostile than others.
Refusing to be intimidated, Amelia thrust her shoulders back and lifted her chin, keeping her eyes on the schoolmistress.
The schoolmistress, meanwhile, was engaged in conversation with Ruby, who then waved Amelia over. With reluctance, Amelia came forward, fully aware of all the pairs of eyes on her.
“Good morning,” the schoolmistress said with a wide, friendly smile that Amelia couldn’t help but return ever so slightly. “Ruby tells me that you’re new in town.”
Amelia considered the schoolmistress. She had chosen her words carefully, giving Amelia time to explain the situation so that any unfortunate pitfalls could be avoided.
The schoolmistress was a diminutive woman but seemed to have some kind of inner fire that gave her barely contained energy.
Her hair was a sandy blonde and haphazardly pinned into place, and she had two almond-shaped blue eyes set over a tiny nose.
She wore a feminine blouse with a small amount of lace trim, a short, little blue jacket in the Spanish style, and a matching skirt.
“I am,” Amelia confirmed.
“Well, I’m glad you’ve made the trek out with the children. This time of year is always tricky with attendance at the best of times, and I’m afraid some of them will take any chance to stay at home,” she said.
Amelia shook her head. “School is too important—they’ll be here, come Hell or high water.” Amelia realized that she’d lightly cursed before it was too late. Her eyes widened, and she began to apologize, but the schoolmistress merely patted her on the arm and laughed lightly.
“Oh, don’t you fret,” she reassured Amelia. “I can assure you, there’s not much you don’t hear in a town like this. My sensibilities aren’t nearly so delicate as that. Oh! But where are my manners even,” she continued, extending a hand. “I’m Helen Monroe.”
“Amelia St—Walker,” she replied, catching herself quickly. Miss Monroe quirked an eyebrow at that but didn’t say anything.
Another mother walked past them, dressed in a polished cotton skirt with a grand bustle at the back. She regarded them both down her long nose, the feathers in her hat quivering judgmentally. Amelia stared back; she’d seen plenty of her type in her travels.
Miss Monroe, however, gave a merry little wave, which only seemed to incense the woman further. She let out a harrumph and strode away from them back toward the town proper, her bustle swaying as she went.
“I’m afraid that many of the town mothers are rather skeptical about me,” Miss Monroe confided in Amelia. “I’m young, single, and have the temerity to be given charge of the whole school. I also teach the oldest class, which I’m sure many think I’m far too modern to do.”
“Whatever gives them that impression?” Amelia asked, curious despite herself.
“I had the nerve to ride a bicycle around town,” Miss Monroe answered plainly, which made Amelia laugh.
“Oh, the horror,” she said.
“I’m afraid that they won’t be particularly kind about you, either,” Miss Monroe continued, her jolly smile turning sympathetic. “They’re an insular lot here, and you managed to snap up the most eligible man for miles around.”
“Indeed?” Amelia said, feeling a tiny swell of pride.
“Oh yes,” Miss Monroe said, gently turning them both toward the door of the school. “You didn’t know? Mr. Walker owns the largest ranch in the county. Well, at least, the largest that isn’t owned by some suit from back East.”
Above them, a moderately-sized brass bell began to ring from the tower of the schoolhouse, announcing the beginning of the school day.
“Would you care to stay and observe today?” Miss Monroe inquired.
“I’m sure Ruby and Logan would appreciate it, and I always like having an extra voice of authority about. ”
“Well—” Amelia hedged, considering. She was quickly cut off, however, by the arrival of one Mr. Carter in his own horse and trap.
He pulled the horse up sharply in front of the school, kicking up a cloud of dust that made Amelia and Miss Monroe cough and fan at the air.
He didn’t look the least bit sorry, his face lined into a scowl that only deepened when he saw Amelia.
A young boy who seemed to be about Logan’s age climbed down from the trap, wearing a short little suit.
“How good of you to join us, Robert,” Miss Monroe said to the boy, giving a last cough. “Cutting it rather fine, there, Mr. Carter,” she said to the old man. “I had nearly given up hope of your grandson.”
Mr. Carter pointed the quivering tip of his whip at Miss Monroe. “I’ll take none of your cheek, missy,” he said.
Amelia couldn’t help but widen her eyes at his audacity. This was a mistake, for it drew his attention.
“And you,” he said, his voice rising so that the few parents that still milled about couldn’t help but overhear, “I’ve heard a disturbing report from the pastor regarding you.”
“I find that difficult to believe, sir, as I’ve never even met the pastor,” Amelia responded coolly, matching his volume. Try to humiliate me, will you? she rejoined internally.
This proved to be a mistake, for Mr. Carter tossed his head in triumph.
He sat up as straight as his crooked back would allow him.
“Ah hah!” he crowed. He pinned Amelia with a steely-eyed gaze.
“That just proves it: Pastor says you’re all living out there in sin.
In sin!” he cried, gesturing with his whip toward Amelia.
“He says he never married the pair o’you! ”
The blood drained from Amelia’s face, and a stone settled in the pit of her stomach.
She adopted a haughty expression and tossed her head.
“Oh, that,” she said. “You had me worried for a moment. No, you silly man, of course our local pastor didn’t marry us.
What? Did you think I would come all this way unmarried?
Good gracious, I’d have had to spend time in Mr. Walker’s company as a single woman.
” Amelia tutted and shook her head slowly.
Mr. Carter stared at Amelia still, but something in his gaze shifted.
He seemed unsure of himself with Amelia’s confident reply.
She stared right back, unflinching, a forced, bemused expression on her face as if she found his interfering antics nothing more than an amusement.
Internally, she was sweating and railing against him.
Interfering old bat! she raged. I’d like to send you right through my laundry mangle!
“Well, as interesting as personal history is, I have a school to attend to,” Miss Monroe said, sweeping the rest of the children inside and summarily dismissing Mr. Carter.
“Mrs. Walker,” she said, pointedly emphasizing the title loud enough for all to hear, “do please stop by again. I find your company most congenial.”
“Likewise,” Amelia said, favoring Miss Monroe with a generous smile. She decided right then that she liked this Miss Monroe; it was a relief to have at least one ally in town.
With eyes still on her, Amelia turned and made her way back to the trap as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
She climbed up onto the driver’s seat and clucked to the horse, backing it away from the fence carefully.
She dipped her head to the others and turned the trap back up the lane and out onto the dirt road that led away from town.
It was only when she was fully away from the school that she let herself exhale fully.
While she was confident that she’d handled the situation—for now—it was clear that her status was more precarious than she’d originally thought.
While most frontier towns couldn’t care less what folks did in the privacy of their own homes, Gunnison was clearly different.
She’d known plenty of people who had common-law marriages, or simply claimed to be, and that was that.
Though he’d been fobbed off for now, Amelia couldn’t help but suspect that Mr. Carter would prove to be a thorn in her side.