Free Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot Page A

these. Though the challenge had come sooner than she had expected, she had known there would be one and that how she handled it would set the tenor for the school year. “Kindly take seats in the back row.”
    “What if we don’t?” The second boy sneered at her, his brown eyes filled with scorn.
    “You will do as Miss Kirk says.”
    Harriet blinked in surprise. She had been so intent on staring down the bullies that she had not heard him approach, but her surprise paled compared to the boys’. They wheeled around, their expressions almost comical when they saw Ladreville’s sheriff standing next to them, his hand on his six-shooter. Their earlier bravado vanished, and they seemed to shrink several inches. Harriet would have been amused if she hadn’t been so angry. The man had no cause to interfere. Didn’t he realize that his actions had undermined her authority?
    “Mr. Wood, what are you doing here?”
    He glared at the boys and pointed to the back of the room, then waited until the two bullies had meekly taken seats there. “As Ladreville’s mayor, it’s my responsibility to begin the school year by welcoming the students.”
    Harriet doubted that. She had seen the way he had assessed her each time they had met and knew that he was like Thomas, underestimating her simply because she was short and thin. She might be unable to match Lawrence’s physical strength, but that did not mean she was unable to maintain discipline. She’d show him. Taking a deep breath and willing her voice to remain level, Harriet faced her pupils.
    “Boys and girls, please take seats—any seats. I’ll assign your permanent spots later.” The clatter of footsteps was followed by the whisper of clothing as thirty children slid onto the benches. When the room was silent, Harriet gestured toward Lawrence. “We have a special guest today. Please greet Mr. Wood, our mayor. I expect you to listen quietly as he speaks and to afford him the same courtesy you would me.”
    Turning toward Lawrence, Harriet saw his lips twitch as if he were amused. Surely she was mistaken. There was nothing even remotely amusing about her words. She must have been mistaken, for when he spoke, his voice betrayed not a hint of a smile.
    “Ladreville is fortunate to have a teacher of Miss Kirk’s caliber.” He paused and looked around the room, fixing his gaze on each student in turn. “I expect you to obey her. I do not want to hear of any problems.” He touched his six-shooter, as if reminding the class of its presence and his role as the town’s sheriff. “Just because the jail cell is empty now doesn’t mean it has to remain that way.”
    A collective gasp and the sound of bodies shifting nervously on the benches greeted his pronouncement. Harriet steeled her face to remain impassive, though inside she fumed. The threat was as unnecessary as his visit. Now she’d have to deal with its aftermath, but he, of course, had not considered that. Though she had once felt a connection to him, sensing that he had painful secrets, today Lawrence Wood had proven to be like Thomas, needing to establish dominion over everyone he met. The sooner he departed, the better. She waited until the room was once again quiet before she turned to Lawrence. “Thank you, Mr. Wood. I am certain that my pupils are looking forward to a year of learning as much as I am.”
    Fortunately he recognized the dismissal and strode from the schoolhouse, pausing only to look down at the two boys who had been harassing her. When the door closed behind him, Harriet picked up a slate and prepared to write. “Now, class, I want you to tell me your names and the grade you were in last spring.” The school year had begun.
    The day passed quickly. The older boys—Henri and Jean Fayette—tested her authority several times more, then admitted defeat and sat quietly. As she had expected, the humiliation of having to stand in front of the class and demonstrate their ignorance proved to be an