Page 48 of The School Mistress (Emerson Pass Historicals 1)

“Their evening duties would fall to someone else twice a week,” he said. “And what will the children do without Miss Cooper? Who will put them to bed?”

I studied him for a moment, trying not to laugh. Jasper did not care for change. “I’ll put the young ones to bed. Harley’s duties can be done before and after school.”

“And Merry’s?” One eyebrow went up as he tapped his middle finger on the side of his glass.

“Two evenings a week won’t cause the house to go into chaos,” I said. “This is important for them.”

He lifted both brows this time but didn’t say anything further. Long-suffering Jasper. My ways continued to scandalize him, even though he would never admit to it. I’d become too American for him.

Still, he was loyal to me. Even during the embattled years with Ida, his dedication never wavered. I believe he would have let someone chop off his hands rather than any harm come to me or the children.

I spotted the Higgins brothers as they came through the door and raised a hand in greeting.

“Come sit with us,” I called out. “I’d like to buy you a drink for saving our schoolteacher.”

They ambled over as Jasper rose to order the drinks from Mike.

“How is she?” Clive asked.

“Quite well,” I said.

They each took a chair as Jasper approached with four glasses of whiskey.

“We heard there’s a night school starting,” Clive said.

“You interested?” I asked. Neither brother had gone to school, having been born and raised on the prairies with nothing more than a lean-to on their father’s claim. Their mother had died giving birth to Clive and left them to grow up without an education or anything much to begin with. They’d come here, hoping for a chance, and they’d gotten it.

“Nah, probably not,” Wayne said.

“Why not?” I asked the Higgins brothers. “A few hours a week and you could learn to read.”

“I’d feel stupid sitting there in desks made for kids.” Wayne slapped his thigh. “Can you imagine these gangly legs in the classroom?” Wayne and Clive were strapping young men, broad-shouldered and tall with light hair bleached even blonder from the Colorado sun.

I chuckled but had no intention of letting him off that easily. I’d have to provide incentive to them in another way. “Are you ever bored during our long winter months? Wouldn’t you love to read an adventure story during those evenings when there’s nothing else to do?”

Clive straightened slightly and looked over at me with an inquisitive glint in his eyes. “I’d like that, yes.”

“I’ll make you a deal,” I said. “If and when you’re ready, you may borrow any book from my library anytime you want.”

Clive’s eyes narrowed. “Let me get this straight.” He gestured with his hand to indicate the patrons in the bar. “You’re willing to let any of these men here inside your home, handling your books, simply because you want us all to learn to read.”

I rubbed my chin. When he said it out loud, I sounded a bit daft. “That’s correct. It’s important to me that everyone in our town has access to books. What good are they collecting dust in my library?”

“Books improve lives,” Jasper said.

“How exactly?” Wayne asked.

“Let me count the ways,” I said, quoting Elizabeth Barrett Browning, then inwardly cringing at my pretentiousness. “Entertainment during long winter months, transportation to other worlds, learning about new subjects. Your life will expand through reading, I can promise you.”

“Why do you care about us expanding our lives?” Wayne asked.

“Yeah, what’s it to you?” Clive asked, not unkindly but sounding genuinely curious.

I blinked as I tried to form an answer that wouldn’t make me sound arrogant and condescending. “Because I care about the people in this community.”

The men still seemed unconvinced.

“You give away a lot of meat,” I said. “Why do you do that?”