“I’m going to take my teacher’s exam,” Bella said. “I’m scheduled to take it tomorrow. If . . . when I pass it, I’ll be just as qualified as any student straight from the college, and I have more experience, to boot.”
Mrs. Longstreet’s eyebrows rose. She shot a sideways glance at the others. “You’re taking the test?” She spoke slowly, watching for the approval of her comrades. “That would be helpful. We don’t mean to leave you without a job, but we want what’s best for our children.”
Bella kept her chin up and her back straight. Adam had been right. That piece of paper didn’t change her teaching, but if it gave the community more faith in her, then it was worth it. All she had to do now was actually pass the test.
“Why would you listen to him anyway?” someone proclaimed from outside.
Bella cringed. The voice was her father’s. She scrambled out the door to see him and Dr. Paulson standing among the long tables. Unfortunately, they had everyone’s attention, and her father was making the most of it.
“This professor has made his living at a school. His time was spent in a classroom. If he has a theory that doesn’t pan out, he still collects a salary.” Her father turned and jabbed his chest with his thumb. “Me, on the other hand, I don’t get paid for coming up with theories. I only get paid when those theories work. I’ve raised a family on what I’ve brought up from the ground. There wasn’t anybody paying me money if I made a mistake. That’s why I don’t trust these theories from men with soft hands and proud ways. There’s a lot of arrogance available when you haven’t had to live on your theories. You can be sure about everything when it hasn’t been tested. That’s why I think I’ll winnow my own crop this year. I don’t have a year’s worth of work I can gamble on the advice of an academic.”
Bella wanted to grab Adam by the arm to stop him from getting involved, but she was too late.
“Mr. Eden, I respect your experience in farming,” Adam said. “Everyone respects you, and you’re right that you have more farming knowledge than we do. That’s true. You know what weather to plant in, you know what seed does best on your farm, you know when the crops are ready to cut. You have all that knowledge. But my knowledge is in machinery.” He paused to draw the eyes of the group. “I could learn a lot from all of you about farming, but mostly I wanted to find a machine that would help you so your farming wasn’t so much toil. We’re on the same side. We aren’t in competition.”
“Yes, you are,” Mr. Clovis called out. “You’re dueling it out tomorrow. Winner take all.”
His exaggeration was appreciated by the crowd, but Bella fumed. It wasn’t winner take all. No one was going to lose property, only their pride. But maybe that was worse than high-dollar stakes.
“I’ll meet you at my farm in the morning,” her father said. “And after that, I don’t reckon we’ll be seeing you in town again.”
Bella looked at the sky. One day, and either Adam would be banned, or her job would be in jeopardy.
ten
They hadn’t set any particular time for the contest, but Adam was raring to go. Before the sun was up, he’d heard Mrs. Doris greeting people in the kitchen of the boardinghouse. Evidently no one was waiting for him to appear at Eden’s farm. From the looks on their faces when he stepped into the crowded kitchen, they’d expected him to run away and miss the contest.
That was the last thing on Adam’s mind. He had to have the money he’d make from these farmers. Turning down Mrs. Doris’s offer of breakfast, he accepted a cup of coffee instead. No matter who won, there were going to be consequences. He only hoped Mr. Eden could lose with grace. He didn’t want to embarrass the father of the woman he loved. Why had he allowed himself to get dragged into this event in the first place?
Hooking his team to the machine to pull it up the hill gave Adam time for his fears to grow. What was Bella thinking as she prepared for her father to stand against him? What was the attitude around her kitchen table this morning? But there was nothing he could do. He couldn’t jeopardize his future success for her father’s pride.
The men standing in the dim morning light had a lot to say about his getup, even though they offered no help getting his team harnessed. Those who’d seen it at work gave off an air of superiority as they described how the different gears worked. It would seem that he already had some believers here, but if he lost, they might be content to work their fields themselves.
The trip to Eden’s farm was a parade. The womenfolk had had time to put away their breakfast dishes and had joined with their kids, who were boasting, speculating, and doubting with every breath.
Adam looked at Dr. Paulson, who gave him a tight nod.
“No fears, my boy. You know what this machine can do. Before dinnertime, this sleepy town will be thrust into the future. New machinery, a new teacher, and a new appreciation for progress. They will sing your praises for years.”
He didn’t want his praises sung. He wanted the money to pay for his thresher, and he wanted Bella to keep her job.
He’d thought that everyone in town was walking with him, but when he reached Eden’s farm, he realized that wasn’t the case. Just as many people were waiting at the edge of Eden’s pasture. Two wagons sat side by side with enough wheat that it could be seen over the edges. With shirtsleeves rolled up to their elbows, two men Adam hadn’t seen before stood nearby, looking buoyant and well rested. What had he expected?
