[Canadian West 01] - When Calls the Heart (12 page)

"Oh, I'd love to go along, Mr. Laverly," I interjected quickly. "The weather is lovely, and the trees are so beautiful-I'm
sure that the trip to town will be an enjoyable one in spite of
the dust."

He relaxed some-even smiled.

"Would you care for a cup of coffee while I get my hat?" I
asked, and he nodded that he would.

I motioned him toward one of the green chairs and poured
coffee into the cup with the fewest chips, then cleared the table. When I had things tidied I went to the bedroom.

I did wish that I had another dress. The one that I had been
wearing when I arrived hung, dejected and torn, from a peg in
my bedroom. I had no sewing supplies with me to repair it.
The dress that I now wore was the only other one I had with
me. Besides appearing somewhat wrinkled and soiled, it was
not the gown that I would have chosen to wear on my first day
in a new town and did not go well with my hat.

Looking in some dismay at my reflection in the small
cracked mirror, I placed my hat on carefully and pinned it in
place. I smoothed out my skirt the best I could and picked up
my handbag, then went to inform Mr. Laverly that I was
ready when he was. He drained the last of the coffee from the
cup and rose to go.

Mr. Laverlv was not an eloquent man, I discovered, yet he
did tell me of the parents' desire to provide education for the
children of Pine Springs. I admired these people for working so
hard and long to get someone who would teach, and I felt honored to be that "someone."

At Lacombe, Mr. Laverly dropped me off at the general
store and went on to the train station to collect my trunks. I
did not dally but set to work filling my long shopping list as
quickly as I could. There seemed to be so many things that I
needed, but I held myself in check and purchased only essentials-with the exception of one extravagance. I had determined that I would drink my tea like a lady, even in a log
house; so I purchased a teapot and two cups and saucers of
fine china. I felt somehow Mama's mind would be much more
at ease about me if she knew that I was having my tea in the
proper fashion. After all, civilization could not be too far away
from Pine Springs if I had such amenities!

I had not finished my shopping when Mr. Laverly returned. He kindly assured me that I needn't rush. He suggested that we meet at one o'clock and perhaps I would like to get
myself some lunch at the hotel before we started our long journey back. I agreed, and he went off on some business of his own. I finally rounded up all the items that I needed in order
to keep house. I then bought a further supply of staple groceries and set out for the hotel.

While waiting for my meal to arrive, I wrote a short letter
to my family and also a note to Jon and his family. I assured
them that I would write more later, but I did want them to
know that I had arrived safely and was very pleased and excited about my living arrangements and my school. I omitted
telling Mama just exactly where my school was. She had sent
me west to Jonathan and expected me to stay within the
shelter of his protection. I shuddered to think how she would
feel if she knew that I was about one hundred and fifty long,
slow miles away from him.

My food arrived, and I placed my brief notes in the addressed envelopes. The waitress said I could post them right
there at the hotel.

Mr. Laverly, true to his word, appeared at one o'clock. We
returned to the store, and he and the clerk loaded my purchases. I looked longingly at the inviting little town, wishing
that I had time to explore it, but Mr. Laverly was now in a
hurry to be on his way.

The September afternoon sun rode hot and high in the sky.
The horses sauntered along, and the wagon bumped and jostled. With each mile, I came to realize more why Mr. Laverly
had been concerned about saving me this trip. My excitement
and the loveliness of the weather and scenery had gotten me to
town without too much discomfort, but I began to feel that the
trip home would never end.

By the time we arrived at the teacherage, I was hot, tired,
dirty and sore. Nothing would interest me more than a long
soak in a hot tub; and then I remembered-I had no such
thing, except for the round metal washtub I had just purchased that day for my laundry. Well, it would have to do.

Mr. Laverly unloaded all of my belongings. The trunks
were heavy for one person, and I insisted upon giving him a
hand. It was a difficult task to get all the things from the wagon into the teacherage, and my help, though freely offered,
was barely adequate.

When finally everything was in my house, and Mr. Laverty
had graciously refused my offer of a cup of tea, I remembered
to ask him about the schoolhouse door. He had the nails out in
a jiffy, and then his wagon rumbled out of the yard.

Gone were the thoughts of a bath in my excitement at getting settled. With a feverish eagerness I attacked the trunks
and the purchases and began to make myself a home in the
"wilderness." Dusk was approaching and I still had not
stopped for breath. I was weary, dusty, and hungry, and if I
didn't stop, I would be exhausted. Though tired, I gazed
around me with pleasure. It did look and feel much more like
home now, but darkness would come soon and if I wanted a
bath, I needed to haul the water for it.

I placed my new boiler on the stove and poured the water
from the pail into it. Then I ran for more water, pumping in
near panic. If the coyotes were to begin their howling right
now, I wasn't sure that I, as yet, would be strong enough to
face them alone. Fortunately, I was just entering the house
with my second pail of water when the first howl broke over
me. I really don't need more water anyway, I assured myself
and fastened the door behind me.

I started the fire in the stove beneath the boiler and also
made room on the stove top to put on the kettle for tea. I fixed
a simple meal, which I practically wolfed down in my hunger,
and then I drank my tea slowly from my new teacup, staring
at the other teacup as I drank. Would there ever be a second
person in my little teacherage to share my teatime? Suddenly
a wave of loneliness overtook me. I was happy here, but I was
alone. I longed for Julie, and then realized that even she would
not properly fill the void I was feeling. Julie would be bubbly
and chatty and light. I needed someone with serenity,
strength, purposefulness to share my thoughts and my days.
Someone like-and my mind involuntarily began to review
the men that I had known. Each face that appeared in my
mind's eye was readily dismissed. Then suddenly, without
warning, I saw again the face of Jon's friend. The intense eyes,
the slight smile, and the strength of character that was evident was attractive and yet made me stir uneasily. In spite of the fact that not another soul was anywhere near, I found myself blushing in embarrassment at my foolishness. Changing
my thoughts to safer things, I stood quickly, teacup in hand,
and proceeded to add wood to the fire. Oh, how I was anticipating that hot bath!

While I waited for the water to heat, I carried my small
washtub to my bedroom and placed it on the rug. Then I began the slow procedure of dipping and transporting the warm
water to fill it. By the time I had finally finished my preparations, the water had cooled considerably. Next time, I informed myself, I must begin with the water on the hot side.

I stepped into the small tub and experimented with ways
to curl myself into it. Why didn't I buy the larger one? I chided myself. I twisted and turned and curled and uncurled, but
there was no way that I could get all of me into the tub at one
time. Finally I hung my legs out over the edge in hopes of getting the warm water onto the aching parts of my body. It
wasn't very satisfactory. Still sore from the wagon's jostling, I
finally gave up the effort. Drying myself thoroughly, I slipped
into my warmest nightgown and snuggled under the quilts. I
would empty the tub of water in the morning.

Safe in bed, I listened to an occasional coyote howl. It
didn't sound so spine-chilling now. In fact, I imagined that,
with a little time, a person might even be able to get used to it.

When I awoke the next morning, I felt stiff all over. I was
tempted to stay under the covers, but my body would not allow me the privilege. I thought of the small structure marked
"Girls" way across the clearing and wondered if my legs would
be able to walk the distance. I did wish that they had thought
to build it nearer the teacherage.

I dressed clumsily and started walking slowly. The sun was
up and shining down on a picture-pretty world. By the time I
had traveled across to the building and back, some of the
kinks were loosening, and I decided that I would be able to
face the day after all, even emptying the tub of cold bath
water!

While I waited for the water to heat for my morning coffee,
I took my Bible and turned to the passage in Nehemiah where
I had been reading. Though Nehemiah was leading a whole
nation and rebuilding a city, I found some exciting parallels
between his story and my new life way out here in the Canadian frontier. The day suddenly seemed to hold great promise.
The kettle was singing merrily before I finished my prayer,
and I proceeded to fix my breakfast.

I spent the morning carrying books and classroom aids to
the little schoolhouse, then made a quick lunch and spent the
afternoon organizing things. The classroom soon looked inhabited and inviting. I even wrote a few simple adding exercises
on the blackboard. I hung the alphabet and number charts. put up some study pictures and maps, and the room began to
come alive.

Around five o'clock while I was still lingering in the classroom, choosing the Psalms that I would read for the opening
on Monday morning, I heard the jingle of harness. It was Mr.
Johnson delivering the tables and benches. He had a neargrown son with him who took one look at me and went red to
the very roots of his hair. I pretended not to notice, to save
him further embarrassment, and showed them where to place
the furniture. Mr. Johnson gazed around the now-furnished
classroom, and tears began to gather in his eyes and trickle
down his creased cheeks.

"Da Lord be praised!" he exclaimed. "It really be so. Ve do
haf school. Yah?"

His deep feelings touched me.

After they had gone, I surveyed the schoolroom again, my
feelings swinging between pride and apprehension. Walking
back and forth, touching each article, changing this or that,
rearranging something here or there, I was only too aware that
I had very few aids to assist me in teaching these children.
How I wished that I had more-but that was foolishness. I
would just have to do what I could with what I had.

After writing "My name is Miss Thatcher" in block letters
on the blackboard, I reluctantly turned to go home to prepare
my evening meal.

Monday, I thought, please come quickly-lest I burst.

As I walked toward the door, I noticed a printed list posted
beside it. I had not spotted it before, and I now stopped to read
it. It was captioned, "Rules for the Teacher," and my eyes ran
quickly down the page. They read as follows:

1. A teacher may not marry during the school year.

2. Lady teachers are not to keep company with men.

3. Lady teachers must be home between the hours of 8:00
p.m. and 6:00 a.m., unless attending a school function.

4. Man teachers must not chew tobacco.

5. There must be no loitering, by male or female, in
downtown stores or ice-cream parlors.

6. A teacher may not travel outside the district limits
without permission from the school-board chairman.

7. Neither male nor female may smoke.

8. Bright colors are not to be worn, either in or out of
school.

9. Under no circumstances may a lady teacher dye her
hair.

10. A lady teacher must wear at least two petticoats.

11. Dresses must not be shorter than touching the ankle.

12. To keep the schoolroom neat and tidy, the teacher
must sweep the floor and clean the chalkboard every
day.

13. The schoolroom floor must be scrubbed with hot,
soapy water at least once a week.

14. The teacher must start the fire, when needed, by 8:00
a.m. so that the room will be warm for the pupils by
9:00 a.m.

I didn't expect to have any trouble obeying the lengthy list;
still, it bothered me some to be dictated to in such a fashion.
At first I was going to blame the whole thing on Mr. Higgins;
but then I remembered other such lists that I had read and
realized this one wasn't so different after all. I decided to pretend that I hadn't seen it. I would have observed all of its
mandates anyway.

There wasn't any reason for my early rising on Sunday except perhaps habit. After I had carefully dressed and groomed
my hair, I fussed about my small kitchen, fixing myself a special breakfast, as had been our tradition at home on Sunday
mornings. It really didn't turn out to be very special, for I had
gained very little experience in cooking. I determined that I
would put time and effort into learning how to prepare tasty
dishes. No matter one's education or other abilities, a woman
should be able to hold her head up proudly in her own kitchen,
I decided.

After I had cleared away the mess I had managed to make,
I went outside for a walk. The sunshine felt good on my
shoulders and back where the stiffness from my wagon ride
still made me feel old and creaky. I wanted to lie down in the
grass and let the warm rays do for me what my inadequate tub
had not been able to do.

The morning hours seemed to lag. Eventually I returned to
the house, hoping that my clock would tell me it was now time
for me to prepare my noon meal. It was still plenty early, but I
started the preparations anyway.