Romancing the Schoolteacher Read Online Free Page A

on the table, he took his table knife, put the edge under the lip of the lid and lifted, breaking the seal. Air sucked into the jar with a gasp, releasing the lid.
    After the large jar of applesauce had been consumed, he said, “We really must be going. I need to get Gabe and Dora to bed. Children, carry your plates over to the sink.”
    Gabe and Dora did as he bid them. Dora’s eyes were already drooping. She held out her arms, and he picked her up. Her head lolled onto his shoulder.
    At the door, he said, “Supper was delicious. We’ll reciprocate.”
    â€œYou don’t have to do that.”
    He supposed she thought he was like all the other miners and couldn’t afford it. He would prove her wrong. “I insist. It won’t be as tasty as your cooking, but we do all right. And you don’t have to worry about my children after school hours. I will make arrangements for them.” He couldn’t believe his earlier lack of judgment.
    â€œI’m sure they could walk home with the Bennetts’ children and stay there until you are off work.”
    He knew Gary Bennett, the one who had trained him today. He was a good man. “Thank you.”
    That had been a better meal than he’d ever cooked. After the fuss he’d made to his family about him being able to care for his children, they would say that this proved he couldn’t.
    But there was no shame in accepting help now and then.
    And Miss Greene had been very accommodating and generous.

Chapter 3
    T he next day, when Bridget welcomed her students, she was not surprised to see Dora Thompson among them. Bridget knew it had been too late by the time the Thompsons had left her house for Mr. Thompson to find someone to look after the girl.
    The four-year-old marched up to her desk as though she had always been in school. “Papa said I could come to school as long as I don’t cause no trouble and you say I can.”
    Bridget nodded to the girl. “Go sit with Aggie.”
    Dora twirled around and flounced over to where Aggie sat. Aggie broke into a big smile.
    Yesterday had actually been a little easier than usual with Dora and Aggie keeping each other occupied. She’d had to warn them only twice to keep their voices down. Whenever Bridget threatened to separate them, they fell into a hushed whisper. Until yesterday, she had never had a day where Aggie didn’t come up to her desk at least once to complain she was bored. And occasionally danced in the corner.
    But Bridget could see that now that the girls were friends, their play had become more animated throughout the day. And even though they were as quiet as church mice, they distracted not only the students but Bridget, as well.
    Bridget would have to find a solution if she was going to get any teaching done. She dismissed the students for morning recess and sat out on the stoop to watch them while reading the next hour’s lessons.
    She decided that she needed to give the two girls more structure in the school day. Where Aggie could be somber most of the day, content to draw and page through books she couldn’t actually read, as a pair, they were a little more active. Her other students had their subjects to occupy them. Reading, writing, ’rithmetic, spelling, history and geography.
    What “subjects” would four-year-olds be able to take on? She could start them on letter recognition and tracing letters. But that would not occupy them all day. She would have to come up with more things for them to do. But she couldn’t let it take too much time away from her other students.
    During the second morning session, the letter recognition and tracing adequately kept the two little girls busy. After lunch, she laid out a quilt in the corner and made them lie down. They both fell asleep within minutes. After the afternoon recess, she had them draw.
    That evening, she devised lesson plans for the whole day for the pair. She would need