The Teacher's Star

purpose in Belle, Delia wondered what would happen to them once Jubal and his gang were rounded up and jailed.
“Has your father always had horses?” The words slipped out as she handed a wet coffee cup to the girl.
Eenie folded a flour sack towel around the cup. As she wiped the dish, the girl shook her head. “I don’t think so. My grandpa did. I lived with him while Pa ran around.”
“He ran around?” The phrased seemed odd, coming from the little girl.
Standing on a chair, Eenie placed the cup in the cupboard before answering. “Grandpa said Pa ran around. I don’t know what he was doing.” Her face scrunched as she tried to remember. “There weren’t any horses, I think, cuz Pa took me with him when he got the horses.”
Wanting to erase the years of neglect by her father, Delia smiled and put a wet hand under the girl’s chin, raising her face so their gazes met. “I’m glad he did so we can be a family.”
Eenie’s arms tackled her mother’s legs and squeezed. “Don’t leave me. Not ever, Ma.”
The name warmed Delia. However, the girl’s easy acceptance still stunned her. At the girl’s intense emotion, a thought came to Delia.
“Why were you so bad in school? Did you want me to expel you so you could be here with your father all day?”
If possible, the girl buried her face more deeply into Delia’s skirts. Yet, Delia felt the nod. The sound of muffled sobs tore at her heart.
Pulling the girl slightly away from her, Delia squatted to be on the same level as Eenie. She put a tender hand on each of the girl’s shoulders. “Your father very much wants a family for you. He’s going to find a way to support us without being gone every day. And I will be here each morning when you wake up.”
“And each night at bedtime?” Hope sounded sweetly in Eenie’s words. The little girl was so different from the hellion in her schoolroom. Amazing to think that this precious child had been hidden in Eenie all this time.
“Yes, and to put you to bed.” She touched a playful finger to the girl’s nose as she said those words. “Let’s finish up so you can show me the horses.”
Though Delia regretted missing church, settling into her new home and learning about her family filled that Sunday completely. It was an intimate and satisfying day, hidden away from the rest of the world as they were on the ranch. She’d briefly met Mrs. Lucas, the foreman’s wife, but spent almost the entire day alone with her new family.
She and Rol had the night to themselves. Eenie easily fell asleep, exhausted from her full day of showing Delia everything on the ranch. Wrapping her in his arms, Rol asked about her childhood. In return, she learned about his. It was a start for them.
Monday came all too quickly. Delia finished buttoning her boots and put the button hook back on the top shelf of the armoire. Closing its doors, she thought about the tall boy dresser in her room behind the school.
Would the school board mind her moving it temporarily to this house? She could see a place for it on the wall, beside the door. She’d have to ask Rol if she should ask about moving it.
This Monday, as she readied for the trip into Belle and a new school day, she couldn’t help marveling at the feelings. Merely thinking about him sent a thrill of joy through her. Somehow, he’d gotten past her wall of reserve, convincing her he truly meant what he said.
Nevertheless, odd comments he occasionally made had her wondering about his first wife. When she asked how the woman died, he changed the subject. Once, as they lay entwined in the bed, he’d vowed, “I want to be a better husband for you than I’ve done in the past. I promise to find a way for us to be together.”
Had his job as a marshal been a problem for his first marriage? Somehow, she guessed that was true. She also had a feeling that his job connected in some way with his wife’s passing. But how?
The night before, she’d left a pan of oatmeal slowly cooking on the low heat at the back of the cookstove. Filled with raisins and spice like her mother always made it, the hot cereal and toasted bread provided a quick and satisfying breakfast for them.
Grabbing up her lunch and reticule, she stopped suddenly. She heard dread in her voice as she asked, “Am I going to have to ride that horse into town?”
He laughed at her obvious horror. Then he reassured her. “No, sweetheart. You were a good sort to ride it out here, but there’s a sleigh on the ranch. Lucas gave us permission to use it.”
She went out the door. Delight and relief filled her when she saw the horse and sleigh waiting for her outside. Turning to her husband who followed close behind her, she reached up and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you so much!”
In a husky voice that resembled a growl, he said, “If you want to thank me, do it right.” His lips settled over hers as he showed her what he thought a thank you kiss should be.
A giggle behind them had them flying apart. “That’s silly, Pa. Stop pestering Ma. We gotta get to school.”
Rol swooped his daughter up and placed a smacking kiss on her cheek. “Maybe I like to be silly with my girls.”
When he set her down again, Eenie ran for the sleigh as if she wanted to escape her father. Her giggle told Delia it was all a game. Since she never had a father, the interaction between these two fascinated her.
As he helped her into the sleigh, Delia told him, “Don’t