To Want the School Teacher (5 page)

“Nothing
really. I just want to do more with my education. Any one can be a
teacher. Besides I don't think I could handle the stigma. A single
woman too long in the tooth. That kind of stuff and nosense. A
woman having no other way to support herself.”

Thomas literally took a
step back from her.

“A bit
condescending aren't you.” He snapped at her in
surprise.

“I don't
mean to be. Let me try to explain. Teachers must be educated to a
point, yes. But, anyone that knows how to read and write or do
simple arithmetic can teach some one else those skills. I do agree
those fortunate enough to go on with their education can teach
others more proficiently. There's more to life then being able to
read and write.”

“You're
almost there, sweetheart. I agree reading and writing are good
assets. However, an educated person like yourself understands the
thirst for knowledge. That is the difference between a teacher and
a great teacher. A great one instills in her students the same
thirst you had, the desire to learn, not everyone has that thirst
to learn more than how to write the his name. Think about
it.

A woman
who doesn't know how to read has a child if she never learns to
read has she harmed herself, not really because she'll never know
what she was cheated out of in her life. But what of her child
think of all she could have shared could have taught him if she
could only been able read to him as a child and created in him a
desire to know more than the house or town he grew up in. How much
a better person and mother she could be?”'

Victoria stood there
feeling odd and stared at the passionate man.

Apparently Thomas had more
to say. “It's a right of passage for someone who was able to
receive an education like you to share it. Children are a
community's future. What kind of future would the town have if all
the children thought reading and writing their name was all the
learning they ever needed.”

He shifted his weight. “You
have a gift. Gift that grows if you share it.”

Victoria was getting
uncomfortable and needed the conversation to take a new
direction.

“I see
your point.”

“I doubt
it.” He growled. He grabbed her and swept her tight against his
chest. He right hand forced her chin up to accept his
kiss.

This kiss was rough and
demanding. His tongue slid between her teeth and explored her mouth
deeply savory her taste. His hands held her body against the
hardness of his groin. Withdrawing from her mouth his lips trailed
sucking kisses down her throat. He growled again. One of his hands
seized one of her breasts. He squeezed. He pulled the orb up and
moved his lips to reign hot moist kisses on the exposed flesh. He
yanked the top few buttons free and nudged her out of the her
clothing's trappings.

He moaning at the sight.
There exposed before him were the objects of his desire. His mouth
latched on one and began to tease and titillate it. It wasn't until
that moment Thomas realized Victoria had been pushing against him
trying to free herself. Her resistance stopped. He fondled the
remaining breast until its dark center bud responded and tensed
hard against his fingers.

His free hand worked at
getting beneath her shirts and finally succeeded. Victoria's shirt
and petty coats now wrapped around her waist. Her legs free for his
view. They both heard the tear as he pushed her back against the
desk and her bloomers tore. He stroked her where no man ever had
before. He found her ready and with one hand released the buttons
of his britches freeing himself.

Returning to give that warm
moist spot between hers legs more attention he found her eager and
ready to received him. He kissed her mouth with hungry, lustful,
and out of control kisses.

Her head back and eyes
close she begged. “Thomas, I need.”

Instantly, the warmth of
his body withdrew from her. By the time Victoria regain possession
of her wits he re-buttoned his trousers.

“Forgive
me, I lost control for a bit. I won't do this to you. I won't
insult or sully your name. I offered you the honorable position of
wife, my name, my protection. I will not disgrace you again in such
a manner. We will not join together until the time we consummate
our marriage.”

If Thomas
was embarrassed there wasn't a word for what Victoria was feeling.
The ripest tomato paled in comparison to the blush on her face. The
same blush that cover her neck, chest, and bosom.

“Am I
interrupting?”

Victoria cried out and
jumped behind Thomas while trying to pull her clothing in
place.

“Go away,
Keith.”

“I see
that with the way you two behave it won't be hard for neither of
you to sacrifice yourselves on the marriage alter. Should I send
for the preacher now.”

“Go away
Keith.”

“Next time
close the door if you don't want an audience, brother.”

“Wait!”
Victoria said, “Explain yourself, Keith, what is this all about,
this great sacrifice.”

Thomas shook his head
signaling no to his brother. Which he brother chose to ignore.

“Dear,
dear brother, you haven't told her yet?” Keith walked up to the
couple. “Oh, where should I begin. Ah, the town charter. For the
good of the town your fiance here has agreed to take a wife and
sacrifice up his bachelorhood. Yours is to...”

“Enough,
Keith, she gets it.”

“I do and
thankfully so.” Victoria sank into the chair behind the desk and
began to laugh.

The two men watched as the
laughter continued to grow. She snorted. Thomas laughed at the
sound. Since, they both were giggling that left Keith only one
thing to do. He joined in.

Tears ran down Victoria's
face. Between the rounds of laughing she tried to explain.

“You don't
know.” – You don't know what I thought. – the sacrifice – me – oh
dear. – So relieved.”

Then she couldn't stop the
tears. Between sobbing and laughing she hiccuped. Thomas stopped.
He knelt at Victoria's feet. He understood. He took her hands in
his.

“Victoria,
my sweet, Victoria, what terrible nightmarish thoughts must have
run though your mind and tortured you so.”

He kissed each hand and
then wiped her tears from her cheek with his handkerchief.

Keith and Victoria ceased
their noises as well.

“You
should've asked me.” He voice was low as if for her ears
alone.

He turned to his brother
and said, “Go away.”

By the time Thomas pulled
Victoria into his protective arms Keith was gone. Realizing the
monster never really was and his honest sounding concern gave
Victoria pause.

Arriving back at the house
Thomas saw how emotionally drained the ordeal had been on her and
he insisted she rest He took her to the bedroom. Victoria tried to
disagree, but she allowed him to have his way. She closed her eyes
as he pulled the cover up over her. Sleep claimed her before he
reached the stairway.

***

Victoria discovered herself
alone when she woke. The sun announced it was a new day. There were
signs Thomas indeed shared the bed with her again last night. The
aroma of bacon quickly encouraged her to rise, dress, and head down
stairs to the kitchen in haste.

Upon entered the room
Victoria stopped short the man's back was toward her as he tended
to the food cooking. Strange emotions seem to fill her heart and
mind. She recalled the tender way he dealt with her panic
yesterday. How he kept insisting they will marry and yet yesterday
when she agreed he refused to acknowledge her statement.

She reached out to grab the
back of the closest chair as the question floated to the surface of
her mind. What would it like to actually be this man's wife? Before
she could acknowledge the question and before an answer formed
thankfully he turned.

He turned, “Good morning, I
hope you feel better. Breakfast is done sit. Sit.”

Two plates found their way
to the table. The silverware had already been put in place. Thomas
held two cups of fresh brewed coffee in his hands, and placed them
down, one before Victoria the other by his own plate. Finally, he
sat.

Victoria dragged the open
napkin across her lap. Looking up at Thomas she smiled.

“It's look
very good, and I'm starved.”

“Victoria.” He said her name in such a way she gave him her
full attention.

“Yes.”

“I want us
from now on begin our meals together by thanking the lord for our
blessings.” He held he hand out for her to take hold of.

Victoria stared at his
hand. To accept it, to touch it, would be a commitment. It was his
way to entrap her.

“I don't
want to be here. I want..” Her head bowed bit not in
prayer.

He cut her off.

“Are you
not thankful..”

She cut him off.

“That's
not what I meant and you know it.” She faced him.

He interrupted her from
saying any more.

“Take my
hand, Victoria.”

“NO”

Before she knew what he was
doing he covered her hand with his. She tried to jerk it freed to
no avail. He bowed his head. Leaving her feeling foolish, selfish,
and ungodly. The only face saving thing she could do was bow her
head in respect as well.

After the amen neither
spoke a word until Thomas stood.

“Will you
be kind enough to see to the clean-up here. I have a few necessary
items to attend to in the library.”

“Of
course.” Sounding subdued annoyed her feeling subdued infuriated
her.

“Good
you'll find some aprons in one of the drawers. Help
yourself.”

He left the room before she
could thank him. Victoria peaked through the drawers until she
found the aprons. She assumed they belonged to his mother. She
chose a blue one and slipped it over her head before tying the ties
around her waist. The apron had fancy lace stitching around the
front neckline of the bib portion. The pockets were also trimmed
with the same lace as well as several rows along the bottom. It was
pretty making made Victoria feel feminine and a bit special. She
hummed while she worked on her tasks.

The table was cleared and
clean the sink emptied. The pots and pans shined and back on the
stove since she didn't know where they truly belonged. The last
plate nearly slipped through her finger when she realize she'd been
had. That cagey man wanted her to feel what it was like doing
wifely chores in his kitchen.

In a rage she flew to the
library.

“Thomas,
why you piece of...” He wasn't alone.

“Look who
just dropped in, dear. I was on my way to inform you to make a
fresh pot of coffee. Mother brought her famous
coffeecake.”

The word mother caught her
attention. Another person she would have continued her tirade.
Shocked and subdued she turned on her heels and fled back to the
kitchen. Cabinet doors were slung open and slammed shut as Victoria
searched where the coffee was stored.

“May I
help you in any way, my dear?” His mother stood at the
doorway.

There was an unshed tear in
her eye and as if not finding the coffee would bring the world to
ruin, “The coffee, I don't know where he keeps the coffee.”

“Of
course, you don't.” She moved to the sidebar and opened the cabinet
door. I kept it here. Now, if Thomas hasn't moved it. Oh good, it's
here after all. May I be so overbearing as telling you to sit, and
let me see to this.” Thomas' mother didn't wait for an answer she
took control of the room.

Victoria sat. “I'm Victoria
Trent.” Then she stopped how do you tell a mother her son kidnapped
you and is holding you prisoner.

“I know
dear. Thomas told me your name. What he didn't tell me was that he
was in love with you.” Recognizing the girl was upset she rambled
on. “It took me by surprise. He's so changed. He's almost fit to be
in a room with. I know he's my son. But at times I wanted to...well
you know–you love them, but they're so thick headed.”

She wasn't stopping, “And
you...look at you pretty as a picture. I'm so glad he did think
he'd fall for some foolish young thing. At least when he did find
love it was with a level headed woman like yourself. You don't take
no dirt from my son. You hear me. You stand up for yourself. He
might be mad at first, but he'll get over and respect you more for
it.”

The coffee was almost
ready. Victoria still amazed at the whirlwind Thomas' mother
created and wordlessly she fetched the tray to carry the cups,
saucers, sugar bowl and creamer into the parlor.

Unsure where to begin
Victoria lingered over the table with her hands still on the tray
but not lifting it up. One deep breath later she said, “I'm not
marrying your son.”

“Oh piff,
of course you are. Any woman in her right mind would jump at the
chance. He stayed single by choice not because woman, and I can
tell you more than a few threw themselves at him. Some even tried
tricking him in to marrying them. None of them put the light in his
step and warmth in his eyes I see there today. And one look at you
watching him speak or move you my dear have the same look.” The
older woman moved to the door. “Come along child your future is out
there in the parlor not in here.”

“We just
met the other day you can love someone that fast.”

“Oh
fiddlesticks of course you can. Ever hear of love at first sight.”
Perls of laughter echo behind her as the woman strutted from the
room.