Max Bresden raised his hand over his head, his forearm stretching past his too-short sleeve. “Miss Eden, may I make use of the dictionary?”
The boy was set to graduate this year. He was her brightest student, and she’d be sorry to see him go, but she had no doubt that he’d be successful in passing his entrance exams for college. Unlike his teacher, Max excelled when tested.
“Certainly, Max. Although I can’t imagine what word you might need help with.”
He pried himself out from between the little desk and chair. “I probably got it right, but it looked funny when I saw it written on the page.”
A common enough occurrence. As Bella walked by Freda Longstreet, Freda covered the last page of her booklet with her hand. She still had a year before she would be finished with her schooling. By the time she was seventeen, she’d be doing work near or at Max’s level. What did she not want Bella to see? Bella nudged the girl’s arm over to find that the booklet was already full. She furrowed her forehead at Freda. If Freda was finished with her composition, why was she staying after class? Freda only shrugged in answer.
At first, Bella thought the shadow passing in front of the door was Max returning to his seat, but Max was already back at work, and it was school board member Hollis Woodward coming through the door.
“Miss Eden, I’ve got a question for you.”
That was just like Mr. Woodward. He hadn’t wasted any time making a name for himself in Oak Springs, and he wasted no time in conversation either.
“Mr. Woodward, how can I help you?”
“Have you passed your teaching exam?”
Bella’s throat tightened. Max and Freda looked up from their work. “Why would you ask me that?” she choked out.
“There’s been some discussion today that perhaps our community needs a better qualified teacher.” He held up a hand. “Not that I’m questioning your ability, but I wanted to make sure that you have the credentials to answer the naysayers.”
Credentials? She’d never needed credentials before. “The town begged me to replace Miss Hoyt. No one else wanted the job.”
“That’s not the answer I was looking for.” He smiled kindly. “I don’t mean to meddle, but if you have a chance, you might go ahead and take that exam before anyone finds out.”
Max’s desk creaked as he turned to watch Mr. Woodward depart. Bella was shaken. Why should she feel ashamed? She hadn’t tried to hide her lack of a certificate from anyone. She’d never planned to be a teacher. It was only after her dreams of being a seamstress were destroyed that she considered the job. And she’d definitely never planned to take the exam. Exams terrified her. No matter how well she knew her subject, her mind was wiped as clean as her blackboard when it came time for the test.
Mr. Woodward had already left the schoolyard before she could thank him for the warning.
What had brought about this concern? Was it because they’d reached the end of the school year? Were they looking at engaging a new schoolteacher for next year? Had she not done enough?
Max closed his composition notebook. Seeing him stand, Freda set hers aside also.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” Max handed Bella the notebook. He looked like he wanted to say something but didn’t quite have the courage.
Bella snapped the booklet out of his hand. She’d always thought he was sweet on her. Their ages weren’t too dissimilar, but as his teacher, the most responsible thing to do was pair him up with Freda. “Thank you, Max. See you tomorrow.” To Freda, she said, “And you’re finished too? Maybe Max can walk you home.”
Freda tossed her booklet on Bella’s desk with a delight that proved her reason for staying late as she hurried to join Max.
At least Bella had ended the school day with a charitable deed, even if Mr. Woodward’s visit had been unsettling. Part of her wanted to stay in town and see what Mr. Woodward had been talking about, but she was afraid. What if they insisted on her taking the exam? She would fail. Maybe the best course was to go home and ask her pa about it. Maybe he’d know something.
Bella had no more than stepped out of the schoolyard when Mrs. Clovis flagged her down by waving a pillowcase above her head. “Bella! Bella, dear, have you heard the news?” If anyone knew the town gossip, it would be Mrs. Clovis.
“I was hoping to see you.” Bella stuffed the exam booklets into her satchel and reached for the pillowcase. Without asking, she flipped it to the opening and ran her fingers along the edge. Mrs. Clovis couldn’t see well enough to do her own mending. Bella was grateful for the little jobs she offered.
“Lace here, I suppose,” Bella said.
“The same lace as the others. I left a pillowcase under the iron and burned it, so I need a replacement.”
“That should be easy enough.” Then Bella added before she lost the nerve, “Have you heard anything about me taking a teaching exam?”
Mrs. Clovis nodded. “There’s a wager going between the harvester and your pa. If your pa loses, we’ll get a new teacher.”
“What?” Bella’s head popped up. “What does Pa have to do with it?”
“They made a wager over who could thresh the crops faster. If your father wins, then that Adam Fisher will never come back to the area. If Adam wins, then he’ll provide us with a new teacher. You won’t have the job anymore.”
Bella couldn’t breathe. Why would he do that? What did Adam have against her? She cradled her wrist as if she’d just felt it crushed again. First he’d ruined her dreams of being a seamstress, and now he was trying to get her dismissed as the teacher. Unbelievable.
“And here he comes,” said Mrs. Clovis. “Doesn’t he look proud of himself?”
Bella had nothing to say to Adam. With her head down,
