Sarah's Heart (31 page)

“It seems that
Horace’s grandfather stirred the town into
a frenzy
over Little Bear attending school. Everyone came for their children, and the
message was the same: they aren’t coming back as long as he’s here.”

Wolf hung his head
and massaged his brow. “I’m so sorry, Sarah. I didn’t mean to cause…”

“Don’t you dare
apologize for something that isn’t your
fault.
Let me
handle this. I plan to speak with Judge Lawson as soon as I can. My main
concern is Little Bear. I’m sure he feels like he did something wrong. You need
to make him understand he didn’t. Let’s go back inside.”

“Miss Collins?”

Sarah turned, nearly
blinded by the sun reflecting on a silver star. “Yes.”

“Judge Lawson asked
me to give you this.” The deputy handed her a note and strode away.

Sarah quickly
unfolded the piece of paper and read:

Miss Collins,

It has come to my
attention that a problem exists in your classroom. I must insist that you
address the school board at a meeting this evening at seven o’clock. It will be
held at Town Hall. Please be prompt.

Judge T. Lawson

Sarah’s jaw
tightened as she crumpled the missive in her palm. How dare he summon her like
she’d created the so-called
problem.
She gave Wolf a
weak smile. “Well, I did say I wanted to speak with the judge, didn’t I?”

Chapter Thirty

“No! It would be
best if you didn’t go.” Sarah poured coffee into the cup in front of Wolf, then
reached past him and refilled Maggie’s.

He looked up at
Sarah. “But, I started the problem by bringing Little Bear to school.” His
hazel eyes flashed those familiar flecks of gold.

After placing the
pot back on the stove, Sarah turned. “Maggie, help me talk some sense into this
man.”

What Sarah really
needed was someone to do that for her. Why, when things were so tense with her
future at the school, did she want to drown in the depth of his eyes, taste his
full lips? She shook her foolish romantic notions aside and slid into the chair
across from him.

“She’s right, Wolf.”
Maggie nodded. “If you show up at Town Hall, it will only make things worse.
You know how I feel about you, but not everyone shares my opinion. Best you let
Sarah handle this.” She took a sip of coffee then shook her head. “It just
rankles
me that people have to be so all-fired mean. What
harm is it if one little boy wants to learn?”

“I wish I knew the
answer to that.” Hoping to quell the headache she felt looming, Sarah massaged
her temple. “I’m not sure I can change anyone’s mind, but I aim to stand up for
my beliefs.”

The back door opened
and Jonathan walked in. Upon seeing the trio at the table, he paused in the
doorway, one brow arched. “From the frowns, it looks like I’ve walked in at a
bad time.” He pulled out a chair and sat next to Sarah. “What’s wrong? Can I
help?” He patted her hand.

Sarah saw Wolf’s
neck tense and wondered if it was jealousy or his strong dislike for the man
who tried to take his land. Her stomach churned at being caught in the middle
of the two.

 
She glanced back at Jonathan and shook her
head. “Thanks, but I highly doubt it. I’ve been summoned before the school
board this evening and I fear it won’t be pleasant.”

“What has happened?”

Sarah swallowed
hard, knowing how he felt about Wolf’s mixed heritage; sentiments best left
unspoken at the moment.
“Just a misunderstanding.
Nothing to concern you.”

Jonathan looked
taken aback. “Are you sure? I’ve become quite friendly with some of the big
wigs in town.”

Despite his desire
to help, Sarah found his haughty attitude off putting. “This has nothing to do
with who you know and don’t know. It has to do with equality and justice.
Thanks for offering to help, but I can handle my own affairs.”

He took a deep
breath and lowered his gaze. “I’m sure you can, Sarah. I didn’t mean to infer
otherwise.”

Maggie hopped up
from her seat. “Coffee, Jonathan? More for you, Sarah… Wolf? I think we need to
change the subject.”

Jonathan loosened
his collar. “It’s warm in here, but I’ll take a cup. This seems like a good
time to let you know that I’m leaving. My business here is concluded.” He
reached across the table and offered his hand. “Congratulations, Wolf.”

Wolf hesitated for a
moment. He shook hands but peered at Jonathan with a raised brow.

Standing, Jonathan
removed his jacket and dabbed at his perspiring forehead with his handkerchief.
“The bank tells me that you’ve successfully negotiated terms agreeable to both
sides for the completion of your land acquisition. I located and closed a deal
on another plot for my client, so there is no need for me to remain here any
longer.” He cast a woeful look at Sarah.

“You’ve been one of
my best boarders. I’ll be sorry to see you go,” Maggie said.

Sarah felt a pang of
sadness. “Yes, Jonathan. I’ll miss your good humor at the breakfast table, and
I did hope to be able to finish teaching you to square dance.” She chuckled,
trying to lighten the moment.

“Oh no, I’m not cut
out for anything that requires di-si-doin’.”

“Pity, I think you
could have developed a fondness for it.”

“We’ll never know,
will we?” He smiled then glanced at the watch he pulled from his pocket. “If
you’ll excuse me, I have one more stop to make before I pack my things. I’ll be
taking tomorrow’s early coach.”

“I’m sure I’ll be up
before you leave... although I may not have a job to go to.” Sarah’s thoughts
turned back to her own problem and she stared into her coffee cup, but not
before noticing Wolf’s smile.

 
“Well, I wish you luck at your meeting.”
Jonathan threw his jacket over his arm and walked out the same door he’d
entered.

For a moment there
was silence.

“I really will miss
Jonathan,” Maggie said. “Despite being a Yankee, he’s a nice man.”

“I almost felt bad
for disappointing him.” Wolf laughed. “He definitely had his eye set on my
land.”

Sarah sighed. “I
disappointed him, too.”

 
She ignored the questioning look on the faces
of Maggie and Wolf. If only she could have returned Jonathan’s feelings. But he
wasn’t the man she wanted.

* * *

Sarah and Maggie
entered Town Hall. Sarah’s heart pounded like a drum. Just days before she’d
passed through the same doorway to attend the dance with Jonathan. The room,
then barren of furniture except along the walls, now held rows of chairs before
the raised platform where the musicians had stood. Almost every seat was taken
near the front, so she gestured for Maggie to join her in the last row.

Maggie sat next to
her. She reached over and squeezed Sarah’s hand. “Don’t be nervous. You stick
to your guns.”

Sarah smiled. “I
intend to.”

“Good, just remember
I’m here if you need me.”

Necks craned and
whispers spread as people noticed Sarah. She sat straighter in her chair and
adjusted her posture, trying to ignore their stares. Strength came from knowing
that at least in some small way she’d be speaking on Wolf’s behalf. Just seeing
him
again brought forth all the longing she’d denied.
But no more.
She wanted him and somehow she meant to
convince him that they
did
have a future together. Whether she became
Mrs. Nathaniel Elder or Mrs. Gray Wolf didn’t matter. She aimed to be part of
his life.

“Quiet please. Let’s
get this meeting started.” Judge Lawson’s voice rang out, yanking Sarah from
her thoughts.

“Miss Collins?” The
judge called from the podium, his eyes scanning the room.

Her knees wobbled as
she stood. She raised her hand. “I’m here.” She felt like a student at roll
call.

“Very
well.
I’d like to state
the intent of this gathering, and that is to resolve the complaints brought
against you in your capacity as the town teacher. Are you aware of the nature
of these complaints?”

“I… I believe so.”
Despite her feigned bravery, her voice faltered.

“For clarification,
you’re accused of allowing an Indian child to attend your class.”

“It’s not an
accusation, sir. It’s the truth.” She met his gaze.

“I thought I made it
clear to you when I hired you that we aren’t tolerant of … of… those children.
Damn it, we don’t tolerate Indians in our school.”

“Even though I
picked up on your own prejudice when I mentioned I’d taught briefly at St. John’s, I suppose I
didn’t think your reaction translated to a hard and fast rule. Forgive me if I
don’t view people in colors.”

The judge, obviously
taken aback by her comment, scowled at her. “Well, I’m telling you now. The boy
will not be permitted to attend class with the town’s children. Do you
understand?”

Sarah sidestepped
from her row of chairs and approached the judge. “I understand your meaning,
your honor, but please help me grasp why I, who should bear the most hatred for
red skin, can find it in my heart to forgive? I saw the aftermath of a war
party raid against the wagon train I traveled on, but I’m smart enough to
realize that there are bad people in every race.”

“Are you insinuating
I’m not as smart as you are?”

Sarah felt the
piecing bore of the judge’s stare. Her palms dampened but she held her ground.

“Not at all, but
surely in your profession you’ve put away white criminals many times. Does that
mean that all who share that skin color are bad?
If so, that
would include you, your honor.”

A collective gasp
sounded throughout the room. The whispers started again.

“Quiet!” The judge
roared. “I should never have hired you after hearing that you arrived in town
with a half-breed.”

Sarah’s jaw
tightened. “That person saved my life. If he had disregarded me the way the
community does him, I would be dead.” She turned and glared into the audience,
her gaze spanning the room. “I can’t believe all of you are so small-minded
that you are threatened by a good man and the small boy to whom he’s given
shelter.”

“There’s no need to
defend me.” Wolf stood in the doorway.

Holding his head
high and keeping his eyes forward, he walked to the front and addressed stood
before the judge. “I came to take responsibility for this whole mess. I ask you
to not take this out on Sarah. She loves teaching, and I don’t want to be the
person who causes her to lose her job. You’d be foolish to let her go. From
what I’ve seen, the children love her.”

Sarah warmed at his
testimony. A lump that predicted tears, formed in her throat. She swallowed it
and tasted the saltiness of the moisture already welling in her eyes. If the
children loved her, why couldn’t he?

“Little Bear,” Wolf
continued, “won’t be coming back. As a matter of fact, I’ve decided he needs to
grow up in a place where he’s treated with respect and dignity. I’ll be taking
him to stay at St. John’s
Indian Mission, so there’s no need to dismiss Miss Collins.”

Visions of the day
Wolf returned to the mission from his wrongful incarceration spun through
Sarah’s mind. That was the very moment she realized she loved him. Now again he
needlessly defended himself. Anger heated Sarah’s blood and simmered in her
veins.

Judge Lawson pointed
at Wolf. “And you? What about you? Do you intend to….”

“If you’re concerned
that I’ll intrude on Miss Collins’ responsibility, don’t worry. We’ve already
decided we come from very different backgrounds and have no future together.
Besides, all my time will be spent either scouting for the army or building my
home.”

Sarah sensed a giant
fist closing around heart. Wolf sounded so certain. Did she stand a chance of
changing his mind? He was every bit as important as her teaching job. Though
she dared not speak, her gaze begged him to reconsider.

Judge Collins sat
straighter and smiled down at her. “Very well then, Miss Collins, if I have
your word that you will adhere to the rules in the future, we can consider this
case closed.”

Wolf left the room.
Tears threatened to choke her. Just as she’d earlier recalled the first moment
she loved him, she knew now she had to let him go. Numb, she turned and stared
at the judge through blurred eyes and simply nodded. She didn’t agree with the
decision but remembered her own advice about picking one’s battles.

The buzz in the room
grew as the Judge called an end to the meeting and people filed out the door.
Sarah gazed at the chairs, all empty now except for the one where Maggie sat.
The older woman’s mouth was pulled into a frown and she slowly shook her head.
She rose and came forward, putting her arm around Sarah’s shoulders. “C’mon
dear, let’s go home.”