Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Authors: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance, Historical, Love Stories, Religious, Christian, Widows, Young Women, Clergy, Teachers, Widowers, Gamblers
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somethin’.”
Ernie ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair and grimaced. “You’re right. I should find out who she is and why she’s talkin’ to my daughter.”
Before Jeb had a chance to comment, Ernie tromped across the wooden floor and stopped beside the blond-haired woman. He cleared his throat. “Ahem.”
She turned and offered him a tentative smile, then glanced down at his daughter. “Is this your papa, Grace?”
The child nodded and pointed to the woman. “This here’s Miss Judith King, Papa. She’s the new schoolteacher in Parryville. She says she ain’t married and don’t got no kids.”
“But I do like children, and that’s why I teach.” Judith extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr.—”
“Snyder. Ernie Snyder.” He shook the woman’s hand and then released it, feeling like an awkward schoolboy who didn’t know up from down.
“Your daughter tells me she’s never been to school before.”
“That’s right, but as soon as the canal’s drained, she’ll be goin’ with her brother.” Ernie motioned to Andy, who stood near the potbellied stove warming his hands as he held the sucker between his lips.
“That’s good to know, but don’t you think your children should be in school all year?” Judith questioned.
Ernie’s defenses rose, and he clenched his fingers while holding his hands at his sides. “I own my own boat, and my kids need to be with me when the canal’s up and runnin’.”
“What about your wife? Can’t she bring the children to school?”
His forehead wrinkled. “Anna’s dead. Died a few years ago from pneumonia.”
Judith blinked a couple of times, and he noticed that one of her eyes was blue and the other was brown. He’d never seen anyone with two different-colored eyes before, and it was hard not to stare.
“I’m sorry about your wife, Mr. Snyder,” she said in a sincere tone. “I’m sure you’re doing the best you can by your children.”
“Yep, he sure is. That’s why he hired me to cook, clean, and watch out for Grace,” Jeb declared. He stepped up beside Ernie and offered Judith a toothless grin.
“My kids don’t get the kind of learnin’ that some do,” Ernie said, “but I’ve taught’em a few Bible verses, and they can recite several by heart.”
“That’s right,” Grace chimed in.” ‘God has made everything beautiful in his time.’ Ecclesiastes 3:11.”
Judith touched the child on the shoulder. “Well done.”
“I know more. Want to hear ’em?”
Before the schoolteacher had a chance to reply, Ernie tapped Grace on the shoulder and said, “Not now, daughter. We need to pay for our things and get back to the boat.”
Judith leaned over so she was eye level with Grace. “I’d be happy to hear some other verses when you come to school.” She straightened again and looked directly at Ernie. “I’ll look forward to having your children in class … sometime next month?”
“Right. The weather’s gettin’ colder now, so most of the canal will probably be drained by then.” She’s tall. Really tall . Ernie chewed on that thought a few seconds. Never met a woman who could look me right in the eye .
He shook his head, hoping the action would get him thinking straight. Then, with a sudden need for some fresh air, he slapped some money on the counter in front of the storekeeper. “Give Jeb the change when he finishes his business.”
“Will do,” Lon said with a nod.
Ernie grabbed his daughter’s hand. “Me and Grace will be waitin’ on the boat, Jeb.”
“Okay, boss. Andy and me will be along just as soon as we gather up the supplies.”
Remembering what his mama used to say about good manners, Ernie called over his shoulder, “Nice meetin’ ya, Miss King!” Then he and Grace went out the door.
CHAPTER 3
A s Judith stood on the front porch of the schoolhouse,
Ernie ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair and grimaced. “You’re right. I should find out who she is and why she’s talkin’ to my daughter.”
Before Jeb had a chance to comment, Ernie tromped across the wooden floor and stopped beside the blond-haired woman. He cleared his throat. “Ahem.”
She turned and offered him a tentative smile, then glanced down at his daughter. “Is this your papa, Grace?”
The child nodded and pointed to the woman. “This here’s Miss Judith King, Papa. She’s the new schoolteacher in Parryville. She says she ain’t married and don’t got no kids.”
“But I do like children, and that’s why I teach.” Judith extended her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr.—”
“Snyder. Ernie Snyder.” He shook the woman’s hand and then released it, feeling like an awkward schoolboy who didn’t know up from down.
“Your daughter tells me she’s never been to school before.”
“That’s right, but as soon as the canal’s drained, she’ll be goin’ with her brother.” Ernie motioned to Andy, who stood near the potbellied stove warming his hands as he held the sucker between his lips.
“That’s good to know, but don’t you think your children should be in school all year?” Judith questioned.
Ernie’s defenses rose, and he clenched his fingers while holding his hands at his sides. “I own my own boat, and my kids need to be with me when the canal’s up and runnin’.”
“What about your wife? Can’t she bring the children to school?”
His forehead wrinkled. “Anna’s dead. Died a few years ago from pneumonia.”
Judith blinked a couple of times, and he noticed that one of her eyes was blue and the other was brown. He’d never seen anyone with two different-colored eyes before, and it was hard not to stare.
“I’m sorry about your wife, Mr. Snyder,” she said in a sincere tone. “I’m sure you’re doing the best you can by your children.”
“Yep, he sure is. That’s why he hired me to cook, clean, and watch out for Grace,” Jeb declared. He stepped up beside Ernie and offered Judith a toothless grin.
“My kids don’t get the kind of learnin’ that some do,” Ernie said, “but I’ve taught’em a few Bible verses, and they can recite several by heart.”
“That’s right,” Grace chimed in.” ‘God has made everything beautiful in his time.’ Ecclesiastes 3:11.”
Judith touched the child on the shoulder. “Well done.”
“I know more. Want to hear ’em?”
Before the schoolteacher had a chance to reply, Ernie tapped Grace on the shoulder and said, “Not now, daughter. We need to pay for our things and get back to the boat.”
Judith leaned over so she was eye level with Grace. “I’d be happy to hear some other verses when you come to school.” She straightened again and looked directly at Ernie. “I’ll look forward to having your children in class … sometime next month?”
“Right. The weather’s gettin’ colder now, so most of the canal will probably be drained by then.” She’s tall. Really tall . Ernie chewed on that thought a few seconds. Never met a woman who could look me right in the eye .
He shook his head, hoping the action would get him thinking straight. Then, with a sudden need for some fresh air, he slapped some money on the counter in front of the storekeeper. “Give Jeb the change when he finishes his business.”
“Will do,” Lon said with a nod.
Ernie grabbed his daughter’s hand. “Me and Grace will be waitin’ on the boat, Jeb.”
“Okay, boss. Andy and me will be along just as soon as we gather up the supplies.”
Remembering what his mama used to say about good manners, Ernie called over his shoulder, “Nice meetin’ ya, Miss King!” Then he and Grace went out the door.
CHAPTER 3
A s Judith stood on the front porch of the schoolhouse,
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