Love's Story (37 page)

“You were right about Maria Lathrop last week, she's starting to show,” Mrs. Hopper said, her hands sewing rapidly.

“I told you, those Californios don't waste any time,” Mrs. Thorne added, a hint of disgust in her voice.

“We better see to it that she stays away from our pretty young schoolteacher. All that pretty little thing needs is a husband, and that's the end of Searsville education for a while,” Mrs. Irving offered.

Gretchen was very interested in the conversation, dropping her sewing to concentrate fully upon it. Suddenly she blurted, “I've heard it said that our Miss Phillips has a checkered past.” Gretchen's eyes were transfixed on her resumed sewing, her gaze never meeting any of the intrigued women's.

“Oh, really now, Gretchen. Miss Phillips is far too young to have such a past,” Mrs. Irving said, her tone begging for more details. Mrs. Hopper looked on in intrigued terror as they discussed her boarder.

“Well, if you don't believe
me,
I suggest one of you ask her about her baby
brother.
I think you'll find there's more to the story.” The women gasped, and Gretchen took apparent satisfaction in their reaction.

The rest of the evening was quiet at the sewing circle. The group was ruminating over such a juicy tidbit, thinking about who they would tell first and the reactions sure to be had. Thelma Hopper had a different reaction altogether; she appeared agitated and speculated aloud how best to evict her young friend who was no longer a suitable boarder. The women silently sympathized, but no one offered a suggestion.

Rachel woke feeling spry, although she had once again been up late into the night preparing for the day's lessons. A new teaching method had her anxious to get to school, and she selected a bright green dress with matching bonnet to match her mood.

Walking up Main Street, Rachel felt the townspeople's eyes boring through her.
Perhaps this dress is too much.
The young teacher was tempted to turn around to change her clothes, but reasoned by the town's reaction that might only be worse. Once inside the classroom, everything seemed normal. All of the children were happily playing outside, and Rachel sought refuge behind her large desk.
I'll just remain at my desk today, and tomorrow I'll wear my usual dark skirt and white shirt.

Miss Phillips called to Henry to come and ring the bell. The students were soon in their desks, with the exception of Veronica Thorne.

“Does anyone know where Miss Thorne is this morning?” All heads shook. “Very well, let's get started, shall we?”

“Miss Phillips, I'd like to have a word with you.” Mrs. Thorne stood in the doorway, her voice echoing loudly throughout the room.

“Very well, Mrs. Thorne.” Rachel was upset to have her lesson interrupted, but knew Mrs. Thorne would never impose unless it was important. “Children, please take out today's reading assignments and begin reading quietly to yourselves.” Rachel followed Mrs. Thorne outside, irritated that her selection of dress was probably to blame.

“Mrs. Thorne, if this is about my gown…”

“Miss Phillips, you know perfectly well this is
not
about your gown. I don't know how you thought you could keep such a secret, but it's out now. I cannot think of anything you have left to teach my daughter. I have decided to let her quit school and marry Jeremiah at once. He will provide a decent and respectable life for her, which is more than she will learn from you.”

“Mrs. Thorne, I beg your pardon, but I don't know what you're talking about.” Rachel was shocked by the intensity of the insinuations, and her hands went up in questioning protest.

“Look, Miss Phillips, save your excuses for someone else. The men in this town don't care what you've done; most of them are runaways from somewhere, anyway. You can find yourself a husband easily enough in one of them sawyers, so why don't you do so and quit this teaching business. Apparently, most of the mothers don't care about your past. That's why you have a schoolroom full of children. But my husband and I are decent folk and we will not have our daughter taught by such a… such a… No, I will not say it; I will do the Christian thing and rise above it.” Mrs. Thorne stormed away in a huff.

The young woman stood bewildered.
What on earth was that all about?
Rachel was upset, but not angry. Mrs. Thorne obviously had been led astray about something and Rachel actually felt sorry for her.
What could I have done that would cause Mrs. Thorne to allow her daughter marry at sixteen without finishing her education?
Rachel shrugged her shoulders and reentered her classroom, determined to clear up the situation after school. She was thrown by the encounter, and decided to save her special lesson plans for another time.

“Class, please take out your slates. We're going to work on our numbers.”

T
he overpowering smell of smoke from the fire forced Chase and Robert to hold their conversation outside the blacksmith shop. Robert had been shoeing a team of oxen before hearing the awful rumor, courtesy of a visit by Gretchen Steele. He had sent word to Chase immediately.

“A baby. That's ridiculous. Rachel couldn't be but eighteen, with a teaching certificate,” Chase replied indignantly.

“I know it, Chase. But that's what's going around town. They're saying her baby brother is not her brother at all, but her
own child.”
Mr. Lathrop's tone was serious.

“That's what's wrong with this town, Robert. They desperately need someone to teach them arithmetic, and then they run her out of town when she comes. You have a copy of her teaching papers, right?”

“Of course. She graduated in June of this year in San Francisco,” Mr. Lathrop announced. “I've got a copy of the credentials back at the house.”

“Well, according to Rachel, her baby brother is almost four months old, and if we count backward, then that puts his birthdate at about the same time, correct?”

“Correct.” Robert was smiling now, liking where Chase was headed.

“Then I'd say our Miss Phillips is more talented than we've given her credit for, Mr. Lathrop. She was able to finish her studies, graduate from teaching school, and have a child all in the same month. What a woman! We shouldn't be stoning her, we should be applauding her!” Chase's face was red with exasperation.

“Well, Chase. We do have a serious problem. The town's perception is more important than the truth right now, and I don't know if Rachel will ever get her good name back.”

“Does she know?” Chase asked.

“No. Apparently she had a run-in this morning with Mrs. Thorne, but she's ignorant of the reason.” Robert's chin dropped as he thought of the young schoolteacher.

“Do you want me to tell her?” Chase's voice was soft. How he wanted to hold her in his arms again and make her troubles disappear.

“No, Chase. I think that would only embarrass her further. Maria and I are going to sit down with her tonight. We thought it best that she get through the day.”

“Please let me know if there's anything I can do.” Chase knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to protect her from these awful words. He wanted to let her remain unaware of them forever.

“I will, Chase, and thank you.” Robert walked slowly back to the blacksmith shop.

“Miss Phillips, I think it would be best if you were to find other living arrangements. What a pity you weren't honest with me from the beginning; we might have worked something out.” Thelma's head shook back and forth. Gone was the grandmotherly concern she had always shown toward Rachel.

Things were beginning to get out of hand and Rachel was losing her patience. “Thelma, what is going on around here? All day I've been a leper, and now, with no notice, you're asking me to move out? What have I done? No one will say a word. Won't you at least tell me what I've done?”

“I'm sorry, my dear. You cannot deny your past any more. You must know I have no choice but to ask you to leave. I've worked long and hard to fix my reputation in Searsville and it just wouldn't be proper for you to remain here. I live here most of the year by myself, and I can't afford to lose my friends.”

Rachel, still stunned by the cryptic answer, finally accepted the eviction. “I'll be out by morning, Mrs. Hopper. Thank you for your hospitality.” The words were said with sincerity, and Thelma appeared momentarily wounded.

Rachel walked slowly up the wooden stairs and made her way to her beloved blue room. She would no longer wake up to the sun's reflection from the lake or sleep under the handmade, star-patterned quilt.
Moving again,
Rachel thought,
and this time I truly have nowhere to go. Oh heavenly Father! What are You trying to teach me in all this?
Rachel dropped to the bed and let her head sink deeply into her pillow.

The Davenport General Store buzzed with “customers” late Wednesday afternoon.

“Mrs. Steele, have you heard? Jeremiah and I are to be married next month. I've already ordered my wedding dress from the catalogue. The dress will be like nothing Searsville has ever seen, not even on you, Mrs. Steele.”

“Married?” Gretchen managed to reply, ignoring the remark. “You can't be serious. Surely your mother wouldn't let you
marry
over this simple scandal.”

“My mother says that woman has nothing left to teach me, so she said Jeremiah and I could be married right away. Have you ever heard anything more romantic?” Veronica asked.

The general store continued to hum around them with the latest developments, including rumors of twins and the severe financial burden placed upon Rachel's mother, left to care for the abandoned children.

“Pardon me, Veronica. I'm not feeling very well.” Gretchen excused herself.

“Hello, Gretchen. What brings you out this afternoon?” She was stopped by Chase's entrance. He eyed her wearily.

“Chase, I needed… you know, I… I needed some flour, but it seems Mr. and Mrs. Davenport are unusually busy today, so I'll just come back tomorrow.” Mrs. Steele ran into a large barrel displayed near the doorway as she tried to make a hasty exit. Chase looked back at the young widow before walking to the rear of the store. As he made his way to the counter, the buzzing conversation abruptly died down. He glanced about the room suspiciously.

“I've never seen Mrs. Steele quite so agitated. Do you think she's ill?” Chase inquired of Mrs. Davenport, who was displaying a new set of gold earrings in the glass case.

“I'm sure she's very well. She's just upset by the news. You know, her son is a student of Miss Phillips.” Mrs. Davenport whispered the last statement as though her comment should be understood perfectly.

“I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mrs. Davenport. I've heard Miss Phillips is an excellent teacher, sent with the highest qualifications and the best of recommendations.” Chase had increased his volume purposely. It was time the women of this town came clean.