Out in the schoolyard, he looked around for some sign of Becca and Sam. He saw them some distance away, sitting on the banks of the creek that meandered past the bishop’s property. Hearing his voice, they stood and Becca held Sam’s hand as the two of them rejoined the group of students. Sam’s eyes were red from crying and he wouldn’t meet Jesse’s eyes. Instead, the boy stared at the ground. An overwhelming urge to take his little boy into his arms and comfort him swept over Jesse. In the past, he would have resisted. But not now. Not today. Becca had taught Jesse to have more compassion. He didn’t need to be as stern as his father had been with him.
Interrupting his lecture, he swept his son into his arms and hugged him tight, whispering in his ear for his hearing alone.
“It’s going to be okay, sohn. I love you,” Jesse said.
Hearing his words, Sam softened in his arms. Jesse set the boy back on his feet next to Becca. She nodded her approval as he returned to his lesson. His heart felt a bit lighter and he knew he’d done the right thing by showing some affection toward Sam. If nothing else, it showed the boy that he wasn’t angry with him.
“If there’s a fire in the schoolhouse, do you have an assigned place to gather outside so your teacher can count you and know that everyone got out safely?” he asked the group.
The children gazed at him with blank expressions.
“Ne, but we will assign a place right now,” Becca said. “What about right here where we are standing in the middle of the play area?”
Jesse shook his head, a feeling of gratitude filling his heart. Though he pretended to act normal, he was beyond grateful to Becca for helping him with Sam.
“This isn’t a gut place. It’s too close to the schoolhouse. I suggest you meet over here, far away from any potentially burning structures.” He walked over to the baseball diamond and stood on the home plate.
“Ja, I see what you mean. This is an open area, far away from any buildings, where we can easily be seen,” Becca said.
“Ach, so where will you meet outside if the school is ever on fire?” he asked the students in a booming voice.
“Here!” they responded in unison.
“Very gut. Now, one last lesson and then I’ll leave you for the day. I want to discuss the proper way to dispose of the ashes from your stove,” he said.
As they walked behind the schoolhouse to a safe fire circle that had been set up specifically for this task, he showed them how to stir the ashes around with a bit of water but not bury them since that would bank the heat inside and keep the fire alive. He taught them how to feel carefully with the back of their hands to ensure no warmth came from the ashes. And only then could they be assured that there were no live coals that could spring to life and be carried by the wind to start a wildfire burning. And by the time he had finished the training, he was no longer shaking. Sam was smiling again too.
“Scholars, what do you say to Mr. King?” Becca asked the students when Jesse had finished his lecture.
They all smiled and responded together. “Danke, Mr. King.”
He nodded, feeling relieved to have this chore finished. “Gaern gscheh.”
“Scholars, please return to the classroom and prepare for reading time. I’m going to have a private word with Mr. King and will come inside in just a few minutes,” she said.
A couple of snickers from the students accompanied her comment and she looked to see who it came from. But all the students looked completely innocent as they turned and walked back to the schoolhouse.
“Danke again for your very thorough lesson,” she said.
She accompanied him to his horse and buggy. He felt drained of emotion for some reason and thought it must be because he’d faced a fear that had been haunting him for months now.
“Do you think Sam will be all right?” she asked. “He wouldn’t tell me what was wrong.”
“Ja, he’ll be fine. I’ll spend extra time with him this evening. I... I better let you get back to your school,” he said. His emotions swirled around inside of him in a mass of confusion. He felt better but he also felt worse at the same time. He didn’t need to ask Sam what was wrong to understand what the boy was feeling.
“Ja, I better get back.” She stepped away, her lips and cheeks a pretty shade of pink.
“I’ll see you later this afternoon when you come to tutor Sam.” He spoke as he stepped into the buggy.
She didn’t speak but merely waved. Then, she took off at a slight jog toward the schoolhouse.
He watched her go, thinking today was completely unexpected. When he’d arrived here this morning, he hadn’t expected Sam’s actions or his own response to the fire safety class. His feelings were a riot of unease. Becca probably thought he was crazy. He wished he could open his heart and let her in. But there was still one glaring problem. She wasn’t Alice. And she never would be.
Chapter Twelve
The day of the box social arrived too soon. When Becca had first moved to Riverton, the school board had asked her to schedule the event as a fund-raiser so they could buy a teeter-totter and
