The Teacher’s Star
The Belles of Wyoming #35
Marisa Masterson
The Teacher’s Star
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author's imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
The book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. All rights are reserved with the exceptions of quotes used in reviews. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage system without express written permission from the author.
The Teacher’s Star ©2020 Marisa Masterson
Cover Design by Virginia McKevitt
http://www.virginiamckevitt.com
Editing by Amy Petrowich
Formatting by Christine Sterling
1st Ed.
Table of Contents
Become Part of the Belles of Wyoming Family
The Belles of Wyoming
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Epilogue
Author’s Note
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Our beautiful covers were designed by Virginia McKevitt of Black Widow Books.
The Belles of Wyoming
Christmas 2018 (Theme: Holiday)
Book 1, Christine Sterling, Wynter’s Bride
Book 2, Marianne Spitzer, Holly's Christmas Wish
Book 3, Cyndi Raye, A Tin Star for Christmas
Book 4, P. Creeden, A Pony for Christmas
Book 5, Julia Ridgmont, Natalie's Surprise Engagement
Spring 2019 (Theme: Renewal/Redemption)
Book 6, Christine Sterling, The Homecoming
Book 7, Ginny Sterling, Blessings of Love
Book 8, Cyndi Raye, Mercy’s Gift
Book 9, P. Creeden, Moments of Grace
Book 10, Julia Ridgmont, Emeline's Redemption
Summer 2019 (Theme: Summer Love
/ Barn Raising)
Book 11, Ginny Sterling, Lightning Strikes Twice
Book 12, Julia Ridgmont, In the Nick of Time
Book 13, Jenna Brandt, June’s Remedy
Book 14, Lynn Donovan, The Wrong Bride
Book 15, Marisa Masterson, Grace for a Drifter
Book 16, Rose Castro, Lucy’s Luck
Book 17, P. Creeden, Steel Blue Bride
Book 18, Cyndi Raye, Stealing Her Heart
Book 19, Cheryl Wright, Eleanor’s Dilemma
Book 20, Jo Grafford, Wild Rose Summer
Book 21, Patricia PacJac Carroll, Summer’s Love
Book 22, Lisa M. Prysock, The Prairie Princess
Book 23, Marie Higgins, Whispers of Yesterday
Book 24, Amelia Adams, Butterfly Kisses
Book 25, Margaret Tanner, Flynn's Debt
Book 26, Mimi Milan, September’s Switch
Book 27, Julia Ridgmont, Daring to Love Again
Book 28, Christine Sterling, A Matter of Marriage
Book 29, Ginny Sterling, Change of Heart
Book 30, Christine Sterling, The Barn Raising
Winter 2020 (Theme: New Beginnings)
Book 31, Patricia PACJAC Carroll, Setting Things Straight
Book 32, Marianne Spitzer, Charity’s Promise
Book 33, Marie Higgins, Too Many Secrets
Book 34, Marlene Bierworth, From Mourning to Joy
Book 35, Marisa Masterson, The Teacher’s Star
Book 36, Lisa Prysock, Hazel’s Tribulation
Book 37, Lynn Donovan, Nellie’s New Attitude
Book 38, Julia Ridgmont, The Trouble with Lucy
Chapter 1
September 27, 1871
“Yes, Mother. I will use a bit of the money to send a telegram. But, a short one.”
“All I needs is that one word—Here! You sends it right quick or I’ll be on a train lickety-split.”
Her mother’s light brown eyes flashed a teasing glance in what many people believed to be a lightly tanned face, kept that way even in winter by the Missouri sunshine. That is, everyone except the good people of Evergreen who knew the truth.
The woman reached across the bag her daughter clutched and put a golden finger under her ivory chin. “Wouldn’t look good for the important teacher to have her mama chasing her, now would it?” Though her voice quivered, Delia knew her mother was determined to make this a happy parting. No matter that it seemed somehow, well, final.
Even during Delia’s college years, the two had seen each other often. Delia had been able to attend a normal school in Springfield. She’d lived there and worked, in her free time, as a sort of gardener and cleaner for families in the area. The same thing her washerwoman mother did in Evergreen. Even so, Delia made sure to head back to Evergreen as often as she could to be with her mother. To be with the person who was both father and mother to her.
She loved the outdoors. Raking, weeding, pruning—none of it was a hardship to her way of thinking. The jobs paid her to be outside. Many folks wanted to hire only men for such tasks. Thanks to the members of her church who worked in service for various wealthy families, she’d had the connections to gain enough jobs, paying her tuition at the college.
During winter months, she’d picked up jobs cleaning houses or helping in kitchens when the wealthy had parties. That had been the hardest part about being away from her mother. They each needed to work, in separate towns, at Christmas. Thank goodness for the train that brought them together.
Except, now it would move them farther apart. Her teacher, Miss Winkler who was now married, left a teaching position in Wyoming. After meeting the woman again in Evergreen, Miss Winkler had suggested that the job would be just the thing for a young woman who loved the outdoors and wanted excitement.
In months to come, those innocent and convincing words haunted Delia more than once.
But, on this day in late September 1871, Delia Perkins kissed her mother’s cheek and allowed the conductor to
