Noelle Marchand - The Texan's Inherited Family

A frown etched across the face of Mr. Johansen, whose youngest son was in the fifth grade. “I heard there has been fighting.”

Mr. Etheridge’s pacing steps in front of her desk seemed intended to slowly, deliberately sever any connection between her and the two other members of the school board. “My son, Jake, finds himself in constant need to defend himself from the aggressions of his fellow student Reece Tucker, who is treated with blatant partiality. While my Jake was sent home from school on Friday with a black eye and bloody nose, Reece was allowed to stay at school for the remainder of the day.”

Nathan Rutledge’s gaze locked on Helen’s. The final member of the three-person school board was Ellie’s brother-in-law and the father of a little boy in the same class as Reece Tucker. “Is it true that you only sent Jake Etheridge home, Miss McKenna?”

Helen forced herself to adopt a more pleasant look as she straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Yes, but—”

“You see?” Mr. Etheridge turned to face the other members. “I think it is quite obvious that Miss McKenna lets favoritism get in the way of good discipline. Despite her high recommendations, her inexperience is detrimental to the welfare of our students.”

The indignant flush rising in her cheeks from Mr. Etheridge’s interruptions and the urge to defend herself faded into confusion. “High recommendations?”

Mr. Johansen nodded, though he didn’t take his gaze from Mr. Etheridge. “He means the letter from the governor.”

Her hands tightened into fists. “The governor recommended me for this position?”

“Yes,” Nathan agreed. “It was the deciding factor that led us to choose you over the local candidate—Mr. Etheridge’s daughter.”

Everything suddenly became clear. No wonder she’d been placed at a school so quickly after taking the teaching exam despite having no former experience. She’d thought it was a sign from God that she’d made the right decision in giving up on the impossible to focus on the attainable. Instead, it was simply a sign that her loving, overprotective parents had asked a favor from the governor, who had been a friend of the family for years.

“My daughter was unable to find another position and would be willing to replace Miss McKenna should the need arise.”

She stared at Mr. Etheridge, finally able to understand the reason for his attitude toward her. No doubt he saw her as the interloping city girl who’d stolen the position that rightfully belonged to his daughter. Maybe that’s exactly who she was. Maybe she’d stolen some other girl’s dream. She had no right to do that just because she wasn’t woman enough achieve her own. She shook the thoughts away and forced herself to focus on the situation at hand. Nathan Rutledge was watching her with concern. “Is there anything you would like to say in your defense, Miss McKenna?”

She swallowed and tried to remember the charges Mr. Etheridge had laid against her. “I think any teacher would have been subjected to the same pranks I was at the beginning of the semester. They were harmless and I put an end to them as soon as I could. I can’t deny that Reece and Jake have been fighting. Jake seems to have a bit of an unrequited crush on Reece’s sister Clara and often teases her to the point where Reece feels compelled to defend her.”

“That isn’t true.” Mr. Etheridge interjected.

“I’m afraid it is, Mr. Etheridge.” Turning back to the other members of the school board, she continued, “I didn’t send Reece home on Friday because I thought he lived too far out of town to walk home alone in his condition. If that’s showing favoritism and poor discipline, then I suppose I’m guilty.”

Mr. Johansen gave a weary sigh. “Will you please step outside so that the board may talk privately?”

She nodded and stepped down from the platform. The rustle of her skirts was the only sound that filled the room until she stepped outside and closed the double doors behind her. Only then did she hear the muffled sound of men’s voice rise inside. She stared at the schoolhouse door. That had not gone at all the way she’d planned. She’d practically given up. What was wrong with her?

“Miss McKenna?”

Startled, she spun toward the deep voice. A steadying hand stilled her forward momentum in time to keep her from tumbling down the schoolhouse steps. Words of gratefulness stalled on her lips as she glanced up to the stranger who’d lunged up the stairs to catch her. Her gaze slid from the chiseled angles of his jaw to the thick golden-brown curls of his close-cropped hair before settling on his vibrant blue eyes. Everything else went blurry as a strange weakness filled her knees. He steadied her once more. She shook her head, blinked and refocused. “Mr. Tucker?”

He didn’t release his hold on her arm but stepped closer, his brow lowered in concern. “I’m real sorry, Miss McKenna. I sure didn’t mean to scare you like that. You didn’t hurt yourself, did you?”

“I’m fine.” She eased back slightly as she allowed her gaze to trace his features again. “You look...nice.”

A sheepish grin flashed across his lips, carving a shallow set of dimples into his cheeks. “Thank you. My own kin didn’t recognize me when they saw me like this, so I reckon you were right and I was overdue for a shave and a haircut. I picked up some new duds, too, but that isn’t important right now. What’s going on in there?”

“In where?”

He pointed to the sign hanging from the doorknob that read Private Meeting. “In the schoolhouse.”

Land sakes! How could she have forgotten about that? A sinking sensation filled her stomach so she sank along with it to sit on the top step. She rested her chin in her hand with a heavy sigh. “It’s possible that I might be getting fired.”

“Fired?” Quinn frowned at the door then sat one step below her. “Why would they want to fire you?”

“Apparently there are several reasons.”

“But you’re a great teacher.”

She gave a short laugh. “You still say that after your nephew went home with a black eye last week?”

His eyes narrowed. “Is that what this is about? I’ll go tell them it wasn’t your fault.”

He moved to stand but she placed a stilling hand on his shoulder then lowered her gaze to avoid his questioning look. “No. Don’t. Perhaps it’s for the best.”

“The best?” He stared at her then shook his head. “Why? Don’t you want to teach?”

She shrugged as the vague feeling of discontent she’d been ignoring welled up inside of her. “I certainly enjoy it. However, to be honest, it isn’t really what I want to do.”

He frowned. “Then what do you want to do?”

I want to have a family with a husband and children of my own. She sighed and leaned back against the stair railing thinking about how foolish she’d been. Of course, teaching school wasn’t anything like having children of her own. She’d been reminded of that at the end of each day when the students all rushed out the door, leaving her behind.

“Helen?” Quinn’s use of her Christian name for the first time drew her full attention. “Do you mind if I call you that?”

Surprised, she offered a quizzical smile. “I suppose you might as well. Many of the other students’ parents do.”

“I need to talk to you. I know this probably isn’t the right time, but I can’t hold it in much longer.”

“This sounds serious.” She crossed her arms on top of her knees and nodded. “Go ahead and tell me. We may have a few moments before they call me back in.”

He sent a speculative look toward the door. “My eldest nephew and niece are always going on about you and I’ve noticed that you seem to care a whole lot about them, too. That’s true, isn’t it?”