Read Online The Teacher's Mail Order Bride by Cindy Caldwell - Free Book Online

They hadn’t discussed a particular time, but she had decided that she would arrive at eight o’clock, only because it was the time that school had started when she attended. Thinking back to those days, she remembered how badly her stomach had grumbled when she’d been in such a hurry to get to school that she’d forgotten to take anything for lunch and she quickly headed to the kitchen, hoping that there was something from the fiesta the night before that she could take with her.
    “I was hoping you’d remember to have some breakfast before you went off to school.” Maria stood by the stove, stirring the large pot of porridge that was a breakfast staple.
    “I honestly did forget, Maria. I came to see if there was something I could take for lunch.” Rose opened the bread box, peering inside hoping to see a leftover empanada, the turnovers that Maria had made for the prior evening.
    Maria closed the door on the side of the stove and twisted the lever tightly. “Sit down for a moment and eat some porridge. I’ll pack you something to take.”
    Spoon and bowl in hand, Rose helped herself to some porridge and sat down at the table, twirling on her way from the stove to her chair.
    “I can’t remember you being this excited about anything since the last day of school. I think you did that very twirl every school day,” Maria said, her hand poised over a small cloth bag as she filled it for Rose.
    “But never on Saturday or Sunday. I remember, too, and I actually don’t think I have been this excited since. I loved school.” Rose tried to eat her porridge but her fluttering stomach made it impossible. She gave up and set her bowl by the sink, glancing apologetically at Maria.
    “Don’t worry. Pepper always has seconds and I’ll give her that. It won’t be wasted.” Maria tied up the bag and held it out to Rose. “This should do. There’s a little something in there for Mr. Tate, too. He seemed very nice, and certainly was handsome.”
    Rose reached for the bag, her head cocked to one side as she raised her eyebrow at Maria. “You think he’s handsome?”
    “I do—and I know you do, too. I saw the way you looked at him.” Maria winked at Rose as she reached out, grabbed her shoulders and turned Rose toward the door.
    “I don’t think I even looked at him at all, let alone in any way special,” Rose said, perplexed by the heated flushing of her cheeks. She hadn’t, had she?
    “Say what you like, but I know these things. Just don’t forget that you’re a grown woman, Rose. Meg is married now, so don’t forget you should be next.”
    “I have no interest in marrying, certainly not any time soon. I only want to help in the classroom. And besides, he’s sent for a mail order bride. I don’t even think of him in that way.” Rose pushed the swinging door open and looked back at Maria before it swung shut, sighing at Maria’s broad smile and another wink.
    Ben had brought the small buggy around for her and tied the horses up to the post. With one last glance at the grandfather clock, Rose untied the horses and pulled herself up into the buggy, her nose and cheeks tingling in the crisp morning air.
    “Hold up there, Miss Rose.”
    She turned to look behind her, and as Ben ran up to the buggy, she said, “What is it, Ben? Are the horses not ready to go?”
    Ben took off his hat, fiddling with the brim as he looked at his boots. “Ah, your pa asked me to drive you in to town. Said we might need the buggy while you were at the schoolhouse.”
    Rose narrowed her eyes at Ben, and looked over to the stables where three other buggies were tied to posts. She turned back to Ben, whose cheeks were now crimson and he gave her a weak smile as he shrugged his shoulders.
    “Oh, all right. I suppose it’s better than not being allowed to go at all.” She scooted over and handed the reins to Ben, who was almost like a brother to her. He’d worked at Archer Ranch for years as a ranch hand, doing just about