A Changed Agent by Tracey J. Lyons Page A

so. They’ve had a busy few days.” Now that they were alone, the reality of her decision to take on this job began to sink in. Biting her lower lip, she worked at quelling the flutter of nerves in her stomach.
    Her fingers still tingled from his touch. She found herself wondering what it might feel like to have his arms around her. Elsie knew she shouldn’t be having such feelings, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. William Benton wanted people to think him a hardened man. But she knew he wasn’t. A hardened man wouldn’t care about seeing to her comfort the way Mr. Benton just did. And a man like that would never let the children sleep with him when they were afraid.
    When she decided to take this position, it had been with the intention of helping to care for this man’s niece and nephew. She hadn’t given any thought to the fact that she might have to spend time alone with him, or that being this close to him would evoke these feelings in her. Never one to have regrets, Elsie began to wonder if perhaps she had been a bit rash in making this decision.
    Then her gaze fell to the pinafore drying on the chair back. Taking in a quick breath, she offered up a swift prayer for the continued strength to carry on this mission.
    When she looked up, it was to find Mr. Benton watching her in much the same unsettling way he had earlier at the meal.
    “What?”
    “Nothing.”
    “Mr. Benton, you clearly have something on your mind.”
    Turning away from her, he offered, “Should I put the kettle on for some tea?”
    Gathering up Harry’s and Minnie’s schoolwork, she replied, “Only if you’ll join me.”
    “I don’t drink tea.”
    “Thank you for remembering that I do.” Thinking his kind gesture meant he was warming to her, she said, “Perhaps you could just sit here. We could talk.”
    “About what?”
    “How our day went . . . about the children . . . about what you really expect from me.” The last words came out in a whisper, and for a minute Elsie thought perhaps he hadn’t heard her.
    “I expect you to care for the children and this household.”
    “I understand that. But what about us?”
    “I am the children’s uncle and you are their schoolteacher. There is no us beyond that.”
    Swallowing the lump in her throat, she refused to let him see how his icy words affected her. Brushing past him, she busied her shaking hands by preparing her tea. “Shouldn’t we try to be friends? I just meant to say it would be nice to talk at the end of each day. I could tell you how the children did at school, and you could talk to me about your work at the lumberyard.”
    Her parents always spent the end of the day doing this. Elsie took great comfort in listening to those conversations. She thought perhaps it would be nice to carry on the tradition here in this house.
    When the water in the kettle had come to a full boil, she turned the burner off and lifted it from the stove, pouring the steaming water over the tea leaves. Mr. Benton might not care to have this daily conversation, but she did. Surely he cared to know how his niece and nephew were faring. She would simply tell him whether he felt like reciprocating or not.
    “I think Harry is doing a fine job of adjusting to the school.” Pulling the lantern closer to her, she set about getting ready to do her schoolwork. His silence seemed to take up all the space in the room. Not to be deterred, she continued her one-sided conversation.
    “I’m quite sure Minnie will come along. I just wish she would speak.” She took a sip of tea. Gently, she sat the cup back in its place on the delicate saucer.
    “In case I’ve forgotten, I’d like to thank you for moving my belongings into my quarters and, of course, for bringing in the firewood and lighting my stove.”
    “Miss Mitchell! Do you always prattle on like this?”
    The question exploded from him, causing her to jump. “There’s no need to raise your voice, Mr. Benton. I’m sitting