flower boxes in front of many of the storefronts. A large sign in the general-store window proclaimed a meeting the next night for a reading of Shakespeareâs Much Ado About Nothing . He would guess the âhamâ one of the men had complained about was Hamlet. Not many schoolteachers whoâd come to Titanville read Shakespeare. He would know. In the past eight years, heâd bedded most of them.
He turned left at the Titanville First Baptist Church, then headed out toward the two-room schoolhouse on the edge of town. When the original smaller building had burned down three years ago, heâd donated the money for the larger structure.
Two boys raced across the schoolyard, a kite flying above them. A few girls sat together, playing jacks. As he approached, a woman stepped out of the schoolhouse, glanced toward him, then shaded her eyes to watch his approach.
From what heâd heard, heâd expected the new schoolteacher to be tall, rail-thin and old. The woman in front of him barely came to his shoulder. She was young and pleasantly rounded with a full bosom. As he got closer, she dropped her hand. The scars someone had complained about were freckles. They went with her flame-red hair. And the cold eyes were, instead, the color of spring grass. Big and green and bright, framed by long lashes.
Her mouth was full and made for laughingâ¦or kissing. She was pretty enough, he thought, surprised that someone so feminine could bring all the men to their knees.
âMrs. Harbaugh? Iâm Zeke Titan.â He tipped his hat.
âHave you come to shoot me, Mr. Titan?â
âWhat?â
She pointed at the Winchester he still cradled in his arm. âI donât allow guns on school property. Or weapons of any kind.â
âWhat harm can a young boy do with a knife?â
âPlenty of harm, sir. If your reputation is anything to go by, you are well aware of the danger knives and guns can present.â
âMy reputation?â Excellent. âSo youâve heard of me.â
âOne can hardly live in Titanville and not hear of you and your reputation for wildness.â She frowned slightly. âIâll admit Iâd pictured someone older, however.â Her gaze dropped to his flat midsection. âSomeone of more girth, perhaps.â
He gave her a lazy smile. âDisappointed?â
Her green eyes narrowed. âDisappointment would imply your presence is of any consequence to me. I assure you, it is not.â
âAre you this prickly with all your visitors?â
âYou are confusing my unwillingness to waste time with my temperament, Mr. Titan. You are the one who walked to the schoolhouse. For what purpose?â
âWhy, to meet you, Mrs. Harbaugh.â
She frowned slightly, as if confused by the admission. âAnd now you have. I still have students here and they require my full attention.â
âThen I will leave you to them.â He tipped his hat again. âUntil this evening.â
âWhat happens this evening?â
âWe will dine together, Mrs. Harbaugh. Youâre staying at the hotel, are you not?â
He already knew the answer to that question. Teachers stayed at the hotel for a year. If they made it to their second yearâand so far no teacher hadâa house would be built for them. Zeke covered the cost of the room, easy enough, as he owned the hotel. Meals were taken in the small dining room in back.
âIâm staying there,â she began, ânot that it is any business of yours.â
âItâs my business now,â he said softly. âI will see you at six.â
âI will not be dining with you. It wouldnât be proper.â
âA public place, surrounded by other people in a well-respected establishment? What could be more proper? It will give you the chance to save my soul, Mrs. Harbaugh. What goal could be more worthy?â
Annoyance flared in her beautiful green
Stephen Arseneault
Lenox Hills
Walter Dean Myers
Frances and Richard Lockridge
Andrea Leininger, Bruce Leininger
Brenda Pandos
Josie Walker
Jen Kirkman
Roxy Wilson
Frank Galgay