Love Finds a Home (Anthologies) by Wanda E. Brunstetter Page A

ringing her bell, she was pleased to see the Snyder children tromping up the path with their father. School had been in session a little over a month, and now that freezing weather was upon them, many of the canalers’ children would be coming to the new schoolteacher for some book learning.
     
    “Good morning, Mr. Snyder,” she said as Ernie and his children stepped onto the porch.
     
    He gave his navy-blue stocking cap a quick tug and offered her a crooked grin. “Aw, just call me Ernie. ‘Mr. Snyder’ sounds too formal-like.”
     
    Judith smiled in return. “Ernie it is, then.” She glanced at his daughter, noting several places where her jacket was torn. “Hello, Grace. I’ve been looking forward to having you in my class.”
     
    Grace stared at her rubber boots. “’Mornin’, Miss King.”
     
    Ernie gave his daughter’s arm a pat. “She’s feelin’ kind of nervous, what with this bein’ her first day of school and all.”
     
    Judith’s heart went out to the child. When she was a girl, she had been shy and self-conscious, rarely speaking unless she was spoken to and always worried about her appearance.
     
    “You’ll be fine once you get to know everyone,” Judith assured the child. She bent down, so she was eye level with Ernie’s son. “And what’s your name?”
     
    “Andy,” the boy mumbled. “Papa said I have to come to school, but I’d rather be helpin’ him cut ice all winter.”
     
    Judith glanced back at Ernie. “You’re an ice cutter?”
     
    He nodded. “Just durin’ the winter months. Gotta make a livin’ somehow when I can’t run the boat.”
     
    “Do you live on the boat all year?” she asked.
     
    “Naw. We have a little house on the far side of town. Like to hunker down there durin’ the colder months.”
     
    When Judith was about to comment, she heard a ruckus going on in the schoolhouse, and her attention was drawn inside. “Please come in and take off your coats,” she said, motioning to the door. “Apparently I’ve got some rowdy students who must be anxious for their day to begin.”
     
    As they stepped inside the schoolhouse, a wadded-up piece of paper sailed across the room, just missing Judith’s head. She hadn’t seen who had thrown it, but from the guilty look on Roger’s face, she suspected it was him.
     
    She bent to pick up the paper. “Everyone, please take your seats. We have two new students today—Andy and Grace Snyder.”
     
    Ernie shuffled his feet a few times. “I reckon I should be headin’ back to work. I’ll be by after school to pick up my kids.” He looked first at Andy, then at Grace. “You two behave yourselves, ya hear?”
     
    “Yes, Papa,” Grace said meekly.
     
    Andy only gave a brief nod.
     
    Judith motioned to an empty desk near the front of the room. “Why don’t the two of you sit there today?”
     
    As the Snyder children took their seats, she escorted Ernie to the door. “I’m sure they’ll be fine, Mr. Snyder—I mean, Ernie.”
     
    He grunted and reached up to rub his chin, which appeared to have recently been shaved. Judging from the spot of dried blood, Judith figured he’d probably nicked himself.
     
    With a quick “See ya later,” Ernie tromped out the door.
     
    That man needs a warmer coat , Judith thought when she noticed Ernie pull the collar of his threadbare jacket around his neck. And what a nice father for escorting his children to school .
     

     
    As Ernie headed for the icehouse on the other side of town, all he could think about was Judith King, with her haunting multicolored eyes and dimpled smile. It was dumb, just plain stupid, to think a woman as beautiful and smart as she was would ever give anyone like him a second glance.
     
    I only went through the fourth grade. If she knew that, she’d probably think I was a poor canaler who’s dumber than dirt . Ernie kicked a hefty stone with the toe of his boot, hoping the action would get him thinking about something