Page 20 of Cowboy’s Christmas Baker

But he paused before he got to the house. The sun was rising in a gorgeous burst of pink-tinged flames over the snowy hillside. He watched it for a moment, then snapped a quick photo and sent it to Mallory before he could change his mind.

Me:

Thanks again for yesterday.

The message stayed unread, which probably meant she was elbow deep in bakery work already. He shoved the phone back in his pocket and headed for the house again.

Something stirred in the shadows under the porch as he headed up the steps, but the juvenile tabby didn’t show himself. The fact that he was here instead of in the barn said plenty though. He was waiting for Katie.

Harrison felt a smile tug up his mouth. Maybe it was only a half-feral cat, but if Katie was getting through to it, maybe it meant the walls around her heart were starting to crack.

He hurried through his shower and then dressed warmly but casually for his visit to the school. He wanted to make a good impression, but he wasn’t going to pretend to be something he wasn’t.

His thumbs drummed the steering wheel as he drove past the other fields and farms on his way to the village. He’d spoken with Principal Tucker by phone already and she seemed like a nice lady. But of course she was a busy woman with a whole school full of children to watch over.

She can spare a little extra attention for Katie, he told himself as he turned onto Sycamore Avenue and parked his truck. Once she knows the situation, she’ll want to help.

He’d bet everything on this town and this school. Hopefully, the investment would pay off.

He found himself missing the way he used to message Mallory in moments like this one, and feel better the second he saw her username pop up with a reply, no matter what it was.

But things had changed now that they had met. He felt weird about texting the pretty young woman about his worries.

When he reached the main entrance, he pressed the button and the secretary buzzed him in. The walls of the school lobby were hung with student work. Paintings of snowy scenes including plenty of barns and animals graced the walls, while cut-out snowflakes on practically invisible bits of fishing line hung from the high ceiling.

The admin offices were just past a glass door. He stepped inside and was greeted immediately by the secretary.

“Hi there, Mr. Law,” she said kindly. “Principal Tucker is waiting for you.”

She walked him back to a small but tidy office where an older lady in a pretty lavender suit stood to greet him.

“Hi there,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m Eleanor Tucker. You must be Katie’s father.”

“Good to meet you,” he said, taking it. “I’m Harrison Law.”

“Please have a seat, Mr. Law,” the principal said with a warm smile.

He lowered himself to the seat opposite her desk and she sat too. As he looked around, he couldn’t help feeling more at home. She had student artwork in here too, and a few photos. There was even a framed cross-stitch with a saying by Desmond Tutu, its colors faded by time.

“How is the move treating you?” Principal Tucker asked him when his eyes met hers again.

“I like it here,” he found himself telling her. “The town is a good place for kids, and the farm is going to work out just fine for us.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” she replied. “I’ve had an eye on Katie today and I had a quick chat with her teacher while her class was in the art room.”

Relief filled Harrison’s chest at the knowledge that his concerns were being taken seriously.

“She’s doing very well with her schoolwork,” the principal continued. “And her behavior is excellent.”

Harrison nodded. None of that was new. Though he was glad at the evidence that her old school hadn’t been too far behind this one academically.

“But she’s very quiet,” Principal Tucker went on. “Just like you told us. She’s not engaging with the other students yet.”

It wasn’t until he heard those words that Harrison realized how much he’d been hoping that a simple change of scenery was all Katie needed. He felt like someone had socked him hard in the stomach, stealing the air from his chest.

“Many new students are quiet on their first day,” the principal said. “But with Katie’s history, we have to pay attention. Miss Lovelace tells me that there’s another student who she’s going to ask to partner with Katie.”

“Okay,” Harrison said, knowing in his heart that it wouldn’t make much of a difference. “That sounds great. Definitely worth a try.”