[Canadian West 01] - When Calls the Heart (8 page)

Mr. Higgins, I thought, today you will tell me where I am
to teach-or so help you ...

I stepped onto the front porch where my caller was waiting,
gathered a light shawl from the porch swing, fastened my least
becoming hat in place, and reluctantly turned to the impatient Mr. Higgins who sighed loudly with relief.

His gaze then swept over me, both complimenting and
criticizing me.

"You won't need the hat. The sun will feel good-"

"A lady does not leave the house without her hat," I retorted.

"Here in the West-"

"I am of the East."

He howled as though I had made a hilarious joke. But he
quickly forgot about the hat as his eyes fell to my shoes.

"Those shoes-" he said next, "how will you ever walk in
them" They are much too-"

"Mr. Higgins," I cut in, "I am beginning to have doubts
about accompanying you. If these shoes will not do, then I
must question where you are about to take me."

He dropped the matter of my attire and offered me his
arm. I pretended not to notice and proceeded down the walk
on my own to a rather nice-looking buggy and horse.

Mr. Higgins made a great affair of pointing out to me the
fall colors, and I would have enjoyed them had I been with any
other company. I did miss the deep reds of the oak and maple I
had known at home, but my spirit drank in the gold of the
shivering poplar mixed with the green shades of pine and
spruce in the river valley. It truly was breathtaking.

Mr. Higgins drove west out of the city. A hill rose directly
ahead of us, and I knew that if we topped it, we'd see those
glorious mountains. But I did not want to see the mountains
with Mr. Higgins. I was deeply relieved when he stopped just
short of the brow of the hill.

He leaped from the buggy and came around the horse to
me, reaching a hand up to help me down. I could not refuse it
without being dreadfully rude, but I pulled away from him as
quickly as I was settled on the ground. He found a spot that
suited him and spread out a rug and then the picnic things.
Happily, the food was good. We talked about this and that;
but remembering his comment about withholding business
discussion until after one had eaten, 1 did not trv to steer the
conversation toward in,,, teaching position. But I was determined that as soon as the meal was cleared away, I would
broach the subject, if Mr. Higgins didn't bring it up himself.

As soon as he had finished eating, he stood up.

"Come, my dear," he said, holding out his hand.

I wished that he wouldn't use such a familiar term in addressing me. It unnerved me.

"Come," he said again. "I want to show you something."

I waved my hand toward the scattered remains of our
lunch. "But the-"

"That'll keep. We'll pack it up when we come back," he
said, unconcerned.

"By then the ants and flies-"

"Mv, my, you are a fussy thing. aren't you?" He sounded
near exasperation, so I turned my back on the rug and its contents. After all, it was his basket, and if he didn't mind taking
home a colony of ants, why should I?

We walked up the side of the grassy hill. I could see now
why he had been concerned about my shoes. There was no
path up the steep slope, and the walking was difficult. He offered his hand whenever I slowed a bit, so I hurried on ahead of
him. By the time he called a halt, I was out of breath and glad
to stop.

He reached out and turned me slowly so that I could look
back upon the autumn-painted valley. The river and the town
stretched out before us. From our vantage point the buildings
of Calgary looked sheltered and protected. I tried to pick out
Jon and Mary's house but couldn't find it.

"I've got something to say." There was excitement and a
note of confidence in Mr. Higgins' voice.

"My school-you've decided... ?"

He laughed that hearty, grating laugh of his. I turned to
look at him, uncharitably noticing the wrinkles in his suit.

"This property-right where we're standing-it's mine. I
just bought it."

I blinked, unable to comprehend any connection between
what Mr. Higgins had just said and any possible interest of
mine. Then, remembering my manners, I offered, "Why,
that's very nice. I'm happy for you. You certainly have picked
a nice view. What do you plan-?"

"I'm going to build my house-right here-with a full,
clear look at the valley."

I looked back down the valley. "Very nice," I commented
rather absentmindedly.

"Do you really like it?"

"Why, yes. Yes, of course. It's lovely." I hoped that I hadn't
tried to overdo it. It was lovely, but I really didn't feel that
much enthusiasm.

"I knew that you would." The confidence was in his voice
again. "We'll put the house right here," he said, waving his
arm.

Noticing the "we," a sympathy for whoever the other
member was swept through me, along with a slight thankfulness that even a man like Mr. Higgins could find someone
with whom to share life.

"We'll face this way-the front entry, the living room ..."
he said, making grand gestures with his arm. "What do you
think?"

I couldn't imagine why he was asking me, but I mumbled
that I supposed that would be just fine.

"I think that we'll build of brick rather than lumber,
though lumber is easier to get. Four or five bedrooms, do you
think?"

"Mr. Higgins, I-"

"You don't need to call me Mr. Higgins, my dear Beth," he
said ingratiatingly. I was shocked at his liberty in using my
first name. "It's Thomas-Tom, if you like-" his eyes were
filled with feeling as he looked at me, "or anything else you'd
care to call me."

"Mr. Higgins," I stubbornly repeated his formal name. "I'm afraid that I don't understand. We came here to discuss
my school, and instead-"

"Ah, my dear. I see that I haven't made myself clear. You
won't need to take a teaching position. We can be married
soon and I-"

"Married?" My reply sounded almost like a shriek. "Married? What are you speaking of?"

"Don't be coy, my dear. I see no need for waiting. Some
may think it a bit hasty, but here in the West a man is given
the privilege of deciding quickly. There is no need to wait just
for convention's sake. The marriage-"

"But I came west to teach ! "

"Of course," he said knowingly, "until such time as a suitable-"

"Mr. Higgins, I don't think that you understand." I took a
deep breath to calm myself. "There were `suitable' men back
East. I have no intention of forsaking teaching to-to
marry-to marry you!"

It was several minutes before I convinced Mr. Higgins that
I meant what I said. He couldn't believe that any woman in
her right mind would actually reject his offer-so you can
readily see how he, henceforth, rated me. With disgust he
abruptly turned to descend the slope ahead of me, and 1 was
hard put to keep up with him. Without another word between
us, he jammed leftovers, dishes, ants and all into his picnic
basket, piled it all into the buggy, and we drove back to .Jon's
in awkward silence.

"Remember," he finally grated out as we neared in,,,
brother's place, "I am the school superintendent. I hire and I
fire."

"Perhaps you would rather I returned to the East. I'll just
tell Jonathan-"

"How absurd." he cut in. "We've plenty of schools where
teachers are needed. I'm sure that I'll be able to find a spot
suitable for you."

"Thank you," I said stiffly. "That is why I came."

The appointment came by letter. The note was short and
formal. After careful consideration, it stated, I was to be given the Pine Springs school. Enclosed was a train ticket which I
was to use the next Wednesday. The train would take me to
Lacombe where I would be met by Mr. Laverly, the local
school-board chairman. I would have the remaining days to
get settled before classes commenced on the following Monday.

"Lacombe," I said aloud. "Where is Lacombe?"

"North," said Jon from behind his paper. "Why?"

"That's where I'm to go."

The paper went down and Jon's face appeared.

"Go? For what?"

"My school."

"That can't be."

"It's right here-even a train ticket."

"But it's-it's more than a hundred miles from here. That
can't be."

"Over a hundred?"

"Right. There must be some mistake."

It hit me then. Mr. Higgins was seeing to it that I was a
long way removed from Calgary. His revenge? Perhaps he was
even hoping that I would refuse the placement and go whimpering back east. Well, I wouldn't.

"I'm sure that there's no mistake, Jon," I said evenly. "It
sounds delightful."

"You mean you'd consider-"

"Of course."

"Lacombe, eh?"

"No, actually it's called Pine Springs."

"It's way out in the country!"

"Sounds delightful," I said again.

"It's backwoods, barely opened up. I'm sure there's been a
mistake. I'll talk to Thomas."

"No, Jon, please," I said quickly. "I want to take it."

At the startled and hurt look in Jon's eyes I hurried to explain. "Oh, I'll hate to leave you, and Mary, and the children.
I've learned to love you all so, but really, it'll be good for me.
Can't you see? I've been so sheltered, so-so coddled. I'd like
to find out if I can care for myself, if I can stand on my own
two feet."

"You're sure?" Jon looked at my carefully groomed hair,
my soft hands and manicured nails, at my stylish clothes.

I understood his look. "I'm sure," I said emphatically.

"Well, I don't know what Mother will think. You were supposed to be under my protective wing."

"Mother won't need to know-yet."

"But-"

"She'll know that I am on my own, certainly, but as to the
distance between us, that would only worry her unnecessarily."

"I'm still not convinced, but if you think-"

"Oh, I do. I really want to try it, Jon."

Jon's newspaper went back up to indicate that he considered the issue closed. I sat very still and fingered the ticket to
Lacombe.

"Say, I just thought of something," said Jon, coming out
from behind his paper again. "Pine Springs-that's Wynn's
country."

"Who?"

"Wynn, the fellow that you saw me talking to the other day
when you did your shopping. Remember?"

Did I remember! I tried to sound very nonchalant. "Oh,
yes, I believe I recall the one you mean. He's not from Calgary"

"Not really. He comes and goes. He was in that day visiting his brother Phillip. Phillip's been in the hospital here."

"Oh, I see."

I could feel the excitement flowing through my veins,
warming my cheeks. I was glad that Jon was behind his paper
again.

I gathered up my short letter and my now-welcome train
ticket and muttered something about beginning my packing,
then headed for my room.

So Jon's friend Wynn was from Pine Springs. Perhaps
when I reached Pine Springs I would have the pleasure of
meeting him. Jon had not introduced me to him, even though
he had been given the perfect opportunity. If l understood my
brother's little code, this meant that Wynn was single. I
smiled softly.

You silly goose! I scolded myself'. You're acting in a manner
that even Julie would declare to be childish. Stop this nonsense this minute! I honestly don't know what has come over
you.

Still, I couldn't help but whisper as I fingered the train
ticket, "Thank you, Mr. Thomas Higgins."

The time drew near for my trip to Lacombe, and I felt both
excited and sad. I would miss my newly found family: =Ion and
Mary had become very dear to me, and the children were all
so special. William hovered nearby to see how he might help,
and Sarah looked ready to cry the entire time that she
watched me pack. Kathleen insisted upon helping me fold the
green emerald velvet as I returned it to its tissues; she expressed her sorrow that I hadn't even worn it during my stay.

I held Baby Elizabeth for the last time, and she gave me
the most endearing smile. I kissed her soft dimpled cheeks and
a tear or two trickled down my own.

Mary was forever reminding me that I would be welcome
in their home at any time. "Please," she begged. "come whenever you can, even if it's only for overnight."

I promised that I would try.

"And should you find-"

"Everything will be fine, I'm sure." I knew that she was
giving me an invitation to flee back to her if I found my situation unsuitable. I appreciated her concern, but I didn't want
to be a baby. I suppose, too, that I wanted to show Mr. Higgins
a thing or two!

"But you never know what kind of a family you will be
hoarding with," Mary suggested, her voice hesitant.

"I'm sure that they wouldn't place me in an objectional
home," I said, trying to sound confident. In truth, I had little faith in Mr. Higgins' concern for my well-being. I did not
know how far he might go in gaining revenge.

"But remember ..." Mary said, and I assured her that I
would.

Jon drove me to the train, and William, Sarah and Kathleen rode along. Kathleen, very serious, asked me, "Aunt
Beth, will you 'member me if I grow up while you're gone?"

"Of course I will, sweetheart," I assured her. "But I'm not
going to stay away nearly as long as that."

She seemed comforted by my reply.

"Wish you were gonna be my teacher," William pouted.

"Me, too," Sarah echoed with great feeling. She was to begin school the next Monday and, though she was looking forward to it, she had some fears also.

"So do I," I said, hugging them. "But I promise I'll write
and tell you all about Pine Springs and my pupils there, and
you can write me about your new teachers and friends."

They brightened at the thought of a letter.

After the final good-byes, I boarded the train and chose
what I hoped would be a comfortable seat. A cigar-puffing
man across the aisle made me realize that I had chosen unwisely, but I was reluctant to move for fear of appearing rude.
His wife finally demanded that he put out his cigar; she
couldn't stand the closeness of the "foul-smellin' stuff." I was
delivered.