Read Online An Old-Fashioned Education by Fiona Wilde - Free Book Online

but that didn’t mean they were close by.”
    “Your mama was right.” Polly whispered the reassurance as she pushed a strand of hair away from the little girl’s angelic face.
    Kerry was looking at Roscoe, which Polly just realized she’d carried to the door when she answered it.
    “Does he keep you safe from wolves?”
    “Hmm. I never thought about it?” Polly held Roscoe at face level and appraised him. “He kept me safe from cancer, and that’s worse than wolves. Or it seemed worse to me. So I’m thinking yes.”
    Polly gasped then as if having an epiphany. “You know what, Kerry? I bet Roscoe would make you feel safe, too. It’s been a long time since he’s had a job. Would you like to sleep with him tonight?”
    “Oh, Ms. Perkins…I couldn’t,” the little girl said politely, but her blue eyes were fixed on the stuffed dog with such longing that Polly knew she would have to insist.
    “Please,” she said. “Do it as a favor to me. Roscoe sometimes gets bored. Grownups aren’t scared of much. It’ll make him feel useful.” She held out the dog. “Please? I’d really appreciate it.”
    The little girl took the dog almost reverently.
    “OK,” she said. “I’ll give him lots to do. I’m scared a lot. And sad.” She paused. “But don’t tell Daddy. I don’t want him to know.”
    “My lips are sealed,” Polly said, and watched as the little girl trundled off to bed with her arms wrapped tight around Roscoe.
    Polly smiled through her tears, thinking that maybe being stuck at Walt’s might not be a bad thing after all. Maybe she could make a difference in Pepper’s Hollow, at least for two hurting children. And maybe, just maybe, she could help their father too. 
     

     
    Chapter Six
     
    Kerry brought Polly’s stuffed dog to the breakfast table the next morning.
    “How did you get that?” Aidan asked, shooting a look at Polly that suggested that he already knew. Polly bit her tongue; the little boy was already a lot like his father.
    “Your sister heard a wolf last night,” Polly said. “I told her she could borrow my little dog since he’s always made me feel safe.”
    “That’s stupid,” Aidan said. “The wolves are far away. They just sound close.”
    Polly looked at Walt Springer, hoping he might call his son down. When he didn’t she fixed the boy with a hard gaze.
    “The dog helped ease her concerns and she got a good night’s sleep. So it worked.” She paused. “Kerry is your little sister, Aidan. You should be kinder to her.”
    This got Walt’s attention. “The boy’s been through a lot.”
    Polly studied him for a moment. “Indulging his hostility isn’t going to help,” she said.
    Walt slammed his fork down. “My son’s not–” He caught himself and looked at Aidan, as if just remembering that his son was still in the room.
    “You’re the village teacher,” he said. “You are hired to teach, not to tell the parents how to raise their children.”
    Polly looked at Aidan, who glanced at her and grinned. It bothered her that what was so obvious to her, even as a stranger to these children, was lost on their father. Kerry was desperately sad over her mother’s departure. Her brother was desperately angry. As soon as she’d shown any kindness to the Kerry, she’d soaked it up like a thirsty sponge. Her brother—made hurt and fearful by abandonment—was distrustful and hostile to any maternal figure.
    But Polly knew this wasn’t the time or the place. She didn’t want to start the day by arguing with Walt, especially since she was already dreading her first day back in the classroom as the most hated woman in Pepper’s Hollow.
    She stood and helped Walt clear the breakfast dishes. As she did, she heard Walt scold his son, who was making it clear that he didn’t want to walk to school with Polly.
    “Nobody likes her,” he was saying sulkily.
    “I like her!” Kerry chimed in. “I’ll walk with her.”
    “You only like her because she babies