Had he really changed? Or was he simply fooling himself?
Cole had none of the answers. All he knew was how much he cared for Marian—and how he’d never even considered marriage before meeting her. Perhaps all men felt this way.
Somewhat reassured, he stood again. What he most needed to worry about was her safety right now. And the sooner he found the man responsible for what had happened in the schoolhouse, the better.
He’d figure out the rest later.
Chapter Seventeen
The morning flew byas Marian worked with the children. Bonnie Denton proudly read three short sentences and didn’t miss a single word. Isaiah Collins worked a set of figures as if he’d been doing them all his life, and twins Faith and Hope Wendler shared the poems they’d been writing after taking home one of the poetry books Marian had borrowed from Mrs. Payne at the library.
Her heart full, Marian set to work straightening the desks as the children who lived in town departed for lunch. Those who lived on farms and ranches outside of town took their meals outside for the first time, since the sun was shining and the air was much warmer than it had been. Spring was on its way, and everyone seemed to be in a brighter mood because of it.
“Miss Scott?” a little boy’s voice sounded from a row over.
Marian looked up and smiled at Zachary Hardison. “Did you bring anything to eat today, Zachary?” Usually, the boy was able to find some bread and cheese, supplemented with a piece of fruit or some indulgent baked good that Jillian Weatherspoon slipped into his lunch pail. But Marian had taken to bringing a little something extra in her own wrapped lunch, just in case Zachary had nothing.
“I did, miss. I wanted to show you this.” He held out his slate, and Marian studied the neat rows of multiplication problems, all solved correctly.
Marian schooled her surprise into a smile as she looked back up at Zachary. “This is very good. But I haven’t taught you the multiplication tables yet. How did you learn?”
The little boy shrugged as he took the slate back. “I saw Henry and Jacob doing them, so I asked them. It wasn’t very hard.”
Marian forced her jaw not to drop. “Well, Zachary, I’d say you have a head for figures. Now, why don’t you get something to eat before it’s time to return to lessons?”
The boy set his slate down and scampered off to join the younger Wendler boys outside. Marian stood in the doorway a moment, watching the children chatting as they ate. Her heart swelled with pride. She never would have guessed that Zachary was so talented with numbers. There must be ways she could encourage him. She couldn’t keep him after school to work with herself or Jessilyn, or else she’d risk the wrath of his father. Perhaps she could move him into a group of the older children for mathematics, but she’d need to be careful not to encourage jealousy from the other children, or make them feel as if they were behind in any way.
A grin curved her lips upward as she thought of the boy’s future. He had such wonderful potential. When he was older, perhaps he could apprentice with a bookkeeper or a surveyor. If his father would allow it.
The sour thought made her cross her arms. Cole had informed her that Mr. Hardison couldn’t have been at fault for taking apart her classroom. That news had somehow been both reassuring and worrisome. If it hadn’t been him, then who despised her work so much that he felt the need to cause such destruction?
Sheriff Granger raised a hand in greeting as he strode down the opposite side of the road. Marian returned the gesture, grateful for both his and Cole’s frequent presence.
Cole. A warmth traveled up her spine as she pictured him. How she’d ever met a man so kind and seemingly taken with her, Marian didn’t understand. She’d never been any man’s first choice, not with her plain face and her taste for books and numbers. But that had been for the best, because it had allowed her to pursue what she truly wanted—teaching.
And yet, just as she’d achieved her dream, Cole had come along.
