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“Easier said than done. You do know you’re talking about the most bull-headed woman this side of the Mississippi, right?”
“She’s no more bull-headed than you are.”
“Maybe, but its a bit too late now to do anything about it. I’ve already told Holden I’d ride with his crew and I’m not going back on my word.”
Grace stared at him for long moments before shaking her head. “Then you may have just missed your chance. If you’re not here, you’ll have no way to change her mind if she decides to marry the only man who’s asked for her hand.”
Alex pacedthe length of the school, her laps quick, the steady click of her boot heels a constant echo in her head.
Hiding inside her little sanctuary for the past few days hadn’t changed anything. In the eyes of Hugh Jacobs—and those inside the hotel restaurant—she was an engaged woman. She groaned and stopped pacing, ran her hands over her face, and sighed when the answer out of her dilemmas still didn’t present itself.
Emily Harper would be there in a matter of days to take over her teaching position and she’d yet to tell her father she’d gone behind his back—behind the towns back—to hire a replacement teacher. Once her pa found out Hugh proposed, he’d insist she kept the teaching job. And a man like Hugh wouldn’t want his wife stomping through horse manure on a daily basis. He’d want a wife in dresses, with her hair pulled up in pretty curls while smiling and raising his babies.
She flopped down at one of the desks. “What am I going to do?”
A soft knock on the door tore her from her thoughts. She looked at the door as it opened, sunlight flooding the room. Betsy Atwater, one of her oldest friends stared at her for long moments before she shook her head and walked inside, shutting the door behind her. “So it’s true,” she said, crossing the room. “I can tell by the look on your face the rumors I’ve been hearing aren’t just idle gossip.”
Alex sighed. “Please tell me it isn’t all over town.”
Betsy shrugged. “I overheard it in the mercantile. Edna Pierce was whispering to Mrs. Jenkins about it and Miranda Talbert overheard and had Edna retell the whole story again. By the time I left there was a small group of women there listening. If I had to guess, I’d say it’ll be all over town by weeks end.”
“So much for keeping the news from my pa.”
“From what I heard, he already knows.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean he knows?”
“According to Edna, Hugh asked your pa for permission to marry you a few days ago and got his blessing.” Betsy shrugged. “You haven’t talked to your father yet?”
“No. I’ve been hiding out here hoping the whole mess will just go away.” She stood, pushed her hair away from her face and groaned in frustration. “Nothing is going as I planned. If pa would have just said yes to me going on that cattle drive, none of this would have happened. I already have a new teacher coming to replace me here and once I tell him that bit of news I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t blister my hide like he’s been threatening to do. “ She turned to face Betsy. “When he hears the town gossips going on about me saying yes, I’ll be stuck in this job forever.”
“Did you really say yes?”
“No. Yes.” She growled in frustration and told Betsy what really happened. “Everyone just misunderstood and assumed my answer was to the original question. I never meant to say I’d marry Hugh.”
“Hmmm.” Betsy pursed her lips. “Have you told your pa you want to work at the ranch?”
“Yes, but he didn’t want to hear it.”
Betsy gave her an apologetic smile. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.” She sat down on the bench closest to the door. “If I don't do something fast, I’m going to find myself married and getting fat while my hair turns gray from teaching.”
“You could always just quit your job and marry someone else before Hugh or your pa had a chance to stop you.”
Alex raised an eyebrow at the suggestion.
Betsey grinned. “Don’t look at me like that. Just hear me out.”
“I’m listening but so far you’ve said nothing the least bit interesting.”
“Well, Jesse Samuels was pretty upset when he heard Hugh was going to ask for your hand. You could always see if the reason was because he wanted you for himself.”
Alex choked. “Are you out of your mind?”
Betsy laughed. “No, I’m perfectly sane and I’m serious.” She crossed the room and leaned against one of the desks. “The other rumor floating around town is that Jesse didn’t just jump Hugh in the saloon when he heard Hugh was proposing, he went crazy and nearly beat him unconscious. Ben was there and said it looked as if Jesse meant to kill him before him and Aaron pulled him away. If I had to guess, I’d say he was still sweet on you.”
Alex’s pulse leaped at the thought but snorted a laugh in hopes Betsey couldn’t tell her heart raced with that one small remark. “Jesse has never been sweet on me.”
