Carol Ritten Smith (17 page)

But Saturday afternoon came and went, and the evening found Tom sitting at home staring at the flames in his fireplace. They danced green like the green in Beth’s eyes, and the embers flared gold and copper, the color of her hair.
Confound it,
Tom chafed. What did he have to do to get her out of his mind?

He rose, went to the stove, and lifted the coffeepot. Warm enough. He poured himself a cup, then returned to watch the flames. Lately Tom felt as though he was rattling about in his big empty house like a marble in a hatbox. Maybe he should get a new dog, a puppy. Wouldn’t Davy love that!

Tom smiled anticipating Davy’s reaction. He hoped that someday he could have a couple of kids who were as great as Davy. Of course, he’d have to get himself a wife first.

Piece of cake.
Not that he was bragging, but Tom knew he was a much sought after bachelor. Now, with Abby gone, he could have his pick of single women. If he wanted, he could be married within a week.
Okay, maybe that was bragging.

Tom leaned back in his chair. Methodically, he considered the single women available in the area. Beth came first to mind.
Forget her. She thinks you’re old, remember?
Besides, he wanted a wife, not someone he’d have to raise.
Think.
Nan Fuller,
how about her?
She was pleasant enough, but Tom didn’t know if he could get around those protruding buckteeth. How did one go about kissing someone when one lip was stretched out over the other one like an overhang on a roof?
Nope, better try another.
Okay, what about Beryl Mason.
Talks incessantly.
Miranda Parsons?
Are you nuts? Too many times around the track.
Tom assessed the other single women, but decided that they were either lacking or downright unappealing. He’d swear to a life of celibacy before he’d marry any of them, and right now celibacy wasn’t sitting comfortably with Tom.

The fire snapped and a large ember glowed brightly, reminding him once again of Beth’s hair.
Okay, aside from her thinking that you are as old as Methuselah, how about Beth Patterson?
Now that would be one fiery marriage! He sipped his coffee, rather amused at the thought of them together. With her temper, she’d likely snap his head off as soon as the nuptials were spoken. Tom chuckled, remembering how indignant she got when he tackled her in his barn, as if
he
were the one at fault.
She had nice breasts though. Two perfect handfuls.

Tom forced the charming memory from his head.
Concentrate!
One thing in Beth’s favor, she was a damn good cook, if the box social was any indication. Too bad her attitude was so distasteful. He had to laugh. Fate had tricked them both that day. Had it only been a couple of months ago? It seemed so much longer.

He put another log in the fireplace, adjusted the damper slightly and returned to his chair. His thoughts of Beth resumed. She had been pleasant Christmas Day. Of course, that could have been for Mary and Earl’s benefit. Regardless, he had enjoyed her company and when he escorted her and Davy home, she’d been amiable, at least until he made that moronic comment about his adolescent yearnings. Even he knew he was out of line with that remark.

Yup, put him and Beth in the same vicinity and trouble would soon arrive. Their turbulent relationship, if he could call their time together a relationship, reminded Tom of soda and vinegar mixed, lots of froth and fizzle. Still, he couldn’t deny that their little skirmishes were exhilarating. There was something about her that brought out the devil in him.

As he drank his barely tepid coffee, he thought about her station in life. A single schoolteacher usually had eager beaus knocking at her door, but oddly enough Tom hadn’t seen any men, other than Lars Anderstom, even mildly interested in Beth. He supposed Bill and Davy were the reason. Marry Beth and get two brothers in the package. Not many bachelors wanted a ready-made family.

But that didn’t really bother Tom. He already had a tender spot for Davy and he could learn to tolerate Bill
.
And he was already falling in love with Beth.

Tom nearly choked on his coffee.
Falling in love?

Before Christmas day, he hadn’t even thought of Beth as anything more than a pain-in-the-butt, more-trouble-than-she-was-worth schoolteacher. But when she went flying off the sled and was lying there still as death in the snow, his heart constricted. Thinking back, those frightening few seconds might have been the very turning point at which he started to feel more than just mild interest in Beth Patterson. As they lobbed snowballs at each other, he saw a different side of her. She was joyous and carefree. Could one, enjoyable day — Christmas Day — have turned his heart around? Maybe, maybe not. But coupled with New Year’s Eve and that kiss, Tom knew he was falling in love with Beth.

Maybe marriage to Beth Patterson was a possibility. At least they would never get bored with each other if the past few months were any indication.

Only one problem, Romeo. Beth isn’t interested in an old fart like you. Chew on that for a while!
He closed his eyes and smiled regardless. Lots of married couples overcame gaping age differences. There was no reason they couldn’t too. He’d just have to make her forget his age by distracting her with other things. Things like his charm and his kisses for starters.

• • •

Beth was grateful that Earl had given her the wooden crutch as she made her way across the yard to the school. Davy stomped ahead, breaking trail in the deep snow for her.

“Look,” he said, pointing ahead.

Smoke poured out the school chimney and she wondered if Bill had stopped on his way to the livery to light the fire for her. When she entered the school, she certainly didn’t expect to find Tom poking firewood into the heater.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

Tom glanced over his shoulder. “Baking bread. What do you think I’m doing? I’m getting the fire going. And good morning, by the way,” he added cheerfully. “Hi, Davy.” He gave the boy a light shoulder punch as he passed by. Davy presented a long face, clearly demonstrating he wasn’t at all pleased the holidays were over.

“But starting the fire is my job,” Beth objected, removing her coat and scarf.

Tom stood, closed the heater door, and then adjusted the grate openings and the damper. “I know, but with your bad ankle, I thought you could use the help. How’s it doing. anyway?”

Beth hobbled up the aisle, the crutch bearing most of her weight. “Better, thank you.”

“Good.” He strode over to the small cupboard behind her desk, retrieved the bottles of ink, frozen solid, and placed them around the heater’s edge to thaw. “You’ll have to keep an eye on these.”

“I haven’t forgotten yet.”

“I thought you might need some help putting away the decorations, but I see you’ve already done that.”

“The day after the concert.”

“I was kinda hoping maybe there was some mistletoe left hanging somewhere, but I don’t see any.”

Beth smiled slightly. “Sorry, but I never put any up.”

“I guess it might look like the schoolteacher was desperate for a beau.” There was a glint in his eye and a wide grin on his face.

Suddenly Beth’s emotions were all in a tizzy. Her heart began to patter erratically. Oh, but he had a wonderful smile and she couldn’t help recalling how delightful his lips felt on hers. She never knew his kiss would be so delicious and he was only her friend. Just imagine what it would be like with someone she loved. She was jolted out of her musings when she realized she had her eyes closed and her lips pursed. She gave a sideways glance at Tom, praying he hadn’t seen her.

Fortunately, Tom was speaking to Davy. “Hey, Bud, want to help with the water? I’ve got a surprise to tell you.”

“You do? What?”

Tom nodded his head toward the door. “I’ll tell you while we get the water.”

Beth used the moment alone to collect herself
. Quit acting like a foolish school girl.
She took a few deep breaths and deliberately reminded herself, good kisser or not, Tom Carver was a threat. She couldn’t let her guard down. For all she knew he might be using the pretense of starting the morning fire so he could garner more information about her past. If he were to discover the truth — she forced herself to concentrate on school preparations.

Minutes later Davy returned bouncing wildly. “Beth, guess what! In the spring, Tom’s going to get a puppy and I can help train him. Isn’t that great?”

“Hmm.” Was it? She couldn’t help worry Tom would use the time together to pump Davy for information.

Tom set the pails of water on the backbench, hanging the ladle from the lip of one. “I thought it was time I got another dog for company.”

Beth nodded. Maybe she was being unnecessarily suspicious. Maybe Tom
was
getting a puppy because he was lonely. And maybe he included Davy in his plans, not to interrogate him, but merely because he had a soft spot for her brother. No matter his motive, Beth knew without a doubt that Tom cared deeply for Davy. It was probably the only thing she and Tom had in common. She wondered, in light of his fondness for Davy, if Tom would turn her over to the authorities if he discovered the truth.

She dared not risk finding out.

“Is there anything else you need before I go?” Tom asked.

It surprised her she almost wished there was, but she could easily manage the rest of the morning preparations. She shook her head. “Thank you for starting the fire and hauling the water.”

“My pleasure,” he said, walking to the door. On his way out, he mentioned casually over his shoulder, “I’ll come by tomorrow morning.”

“If you like,” she answered indifferently. She didn’t want him to think she needed his help. Still, it was awfully convenient having someone take care of the more arduous morning chores.

As she transcribed the lessons onto the blackboard, she couldn’t help but smile. It was rather nice to have someone pamper her a little, even if it was because she had a sprained ankle. Hard to believe that night was over a week ago when everything was still so clear in her memory. His hands had been so gentle when he had tended her foot, his lips so tender when he kissed her. She remembered how their breath had joined in a single sigh and —

Boom! The loud report from a shotgun nearly deafened Beth. She dropped to her knees fearing a second shot might come through a window. She heard a high-pitched whistle and then, boom! Splatters of blue dappled her dress and the floor about her.

Oh no! The ink! She jumped up and, using the hem of her skirt to protect her fingers, quickly rescued the remaining bottles of ink from the stovetop. She looked about the room with dismay. Blue ink on the floor. Blue ink on the desks. Blue ink on her dress.
Why? Why? Why couldn’t she get though one day without a major mishap?

• • •

Tom came by the next morning, did the chores and left without one word or smart aleck remark about the ink splotches on the floor. Beth was pleasantly surprised. The students however were more than happy to poke fun at their teacher and Beth good- naturedly let them.

Tom returned the next morning and the next until Beth presumed he would do it regularly, or at least until her ankle completely healed. She began to look forward to seeing him each morning, enjoying his company far more than she ever thought possible. Still, she remained guarded.

The Thursday morning of the third week, Davy was outside making fox and goose tracks in the fresh snow, leaving Tom alone with Beth in the school. Beth stood on tiptoe before a makeshift bookcase, rearranging books.

“What are you doing?” Tom asked as he shut the door to the stove. It clanged into place.

“I’m just making room for the new readers.” She resumed her task of transferring the rarely used books to the top shelf. Her hand froze in mid-air, then slowly came down to her side as she became nervously aware of Tom’s presence behind her.

“Here, let me.” He stepped closer until his legs brushed the back of her skirt. “What other books do you want moved?”

Books?
“Uh, just this one.” There were more, but his intimate proximity made her jittery and anxious.

Tom popped the book onto the shelf and straightened them all, pulling them even with the front edge of the bookcase. All the while, his chest brushed against her hair, causing irrational thoughts to bounce inside her head. When he finished, his hands dropped to her shoulders, and his thumbs lightly rubbed the tight base of her neck.

“You’re tense, Beth. Do I make you nervous?”

Yes, very.
“No,” she replied rather shakily. “Why should you?”

“Well, because I’m a man and you’re a woman and we’re all alone.” His thumbs ran up the soft hairs of her neck, stopping at the base of her chignon. One by one, he pulled out the hair pins, freeing her hair.

“Tom, what are you doing? Don’t,” she whispered breathlessly, wondering why she couldn’t speak louder, wondering even more why she didn’t reach up to stop him. Instead, she closed her eyes, savoring the tingly feeling as his fingers drew through her tresses.

“Leave it long today, Beth, for me.” His voice was gravelly as if he, too, were having difficulty speaking.

“But I look older with it up,” she protested weakly.

Tom gently turned her by the shoulders to face him, and she couldn’t draw her eyes away from the half smile playing on his lips. “Now, why would you want to look older? For the children? In case you didn’t know, kids think their teachers are old no matter their age. And you can’t be trying to fool me because I already know. You’re nineteen. Far too young for an old man like me.” As he spoke, his hand caressed her nape, lowering his face to hers until his peppermint breath blew cool upon her blazing cheeks.

His mouth covered hers, gently at first until a quiet moan escaped between her lips.
Hmm, magic again,
she thought and she raised her head, seeking more. And more he gave. Each time his lips touched hers, he lingered longer. He ran his tongue along the seam of her lips. He gently nipped at her upper lip, her lower lip. His big hands gently cupped the sides of her head, tilting it this way and that as he covered her mouth with his. Soon his kisses intensified.