Maggie's Dad by Diana Palmer

bad as Maggie had felt when Miss Hayes looked at her on the playground and shuddered. She knew the teacher didn’t like her. She didn’t care. She didn’t like Miss Hayes, either.
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    Maggie was smug the next day. She didn’t have any more parting shots for Antonia, and she did her work in class. But she refused to do her homework, again, and dared Antonia to give her a zero. She even dared her to send a note home to her father.
    Antonia wanted to call her bluff, but she was feeling sicker by the day and it was increasingly hard for her to get up in the mornings and go to work at all. The illness was progressing much more quickly than she’d foreseen. And Maggie was making her life hell.
    For the rest of the week, Antonia thought about the possibility of getting Maggie moved out of her class. Surely she could approach the principal in confidence.
    And that was what she did, after school.
    Mrs. Jameson smiled ruefully when Antonia sat down beside her desk and hesitated.
    â€œYou’re here about Maggie Long again,” she said at once.
    Antonia’s eyes widened. “Why…yes.”
    â€œI was expecting you,” the older woman said withresignation. “Mrs. Donalds got along quite well with her, but she’s the only teacher in the past few years who hasn’t had trouble with Maggie. She’s a rebel, you see. Her father travels a good deal. Maggie is left with Julie’s family.” She grimaced. “We heard that he was thinking of marrying again, but once that rumor started, Maggie ran away from home. She, uh, isn’t keen on the widow Holton.”
    Antonia was wondering if anyone was keen about the widow Holton, from what she’d already heard from Barrie. It was a surprise to hear that Powell had considered marrying the woman—if it was true and not just gossip.
    The principal sighed, her attention returning to the task at hand. “You want Maggie moved, I suppose. I wish I could oblige you, but we only have one fourth-grade class, because this is such a small school, and you’re teaching it.” She lifted her hands helplessly. “There it is. I’m really sorry. Perhaps if you spoke with her father?”
    â€œI already have,” Antonia replied calmly.
    â€œAnd he said…?”
    â€œThat if I pushed him, he’d do his best to have me removed from my position here,” she said bluntly.
    The older woman pursed her lips. “Well, as we’ve already discussed, he wouldn’t have to work that hard to do it. It’s a rather ticklish situation. I’m sorry I can’t be more optimistic.”
    Antonia leaned back in her seat with a long sigh.“I shouldn’t have come back to Bighorn,” she said, almost to herself. “I don’t know why I did.”
    â€œPerhaps you were looking for something.”
    â€œSomething that no longer exists,” Antonia replied absently. “A lost part of my life that I won’t find here.”
    â€œYou are going to stay, aren’t you?” Mrs. Jameson asked. “After this school term, I mean. Your students say wonderful things about you. Especially Julie Ames,” she added with a grin.
    â€œI went to school with her father,” Antonia confessed. “To this school, as a matter of fact. She’s just like her dad.”
    â€œI’ve met him, and she is a lot like him. What a pity all our students can’t be as energetic and enthusiastic as our Julie.”
    â€œYes, indeed.”
    â€œWell, I’ll give you all the moral support I can,” Mrs. Jameson continued. “We do have a very good school counselor. We’ve sent Maggie to her several times, but she won’t say a word. We’ve had the counselor talk to Mr. Long, but he won’t say a word, either. It’s a difficult situation.”
    â€œPerhaps it will work itself out,” Antonia replied.
    â€œDo think about staying on,” the older