Free Undaunted Hope by Jody Hedlund Page A

that’s passed from lighthouse to lighthouse for keepers and their families.”
    â€œAmazing,” she said, fingering another book. “My favorite, The Courtship of Miles Standish .”
    â€œI suppose the Board has decided if they can keep their staff from getting so bored during the winter, they’ll have less turnover.”
    She lifted one particularly thick book from the crate and traced the silver-embossed lettering engraved on its black cover. “So you’ll have this precious supply of books all winter long?”
    Alex nodded. “They’re for Gunnar and Ingrid to read.”
    Tessa looked at him sharply. They both knew that Gunnar and Ingrid weren’t proficient enough to read the thick books in the crate. “ You and their father will need to read them to the children, Mr. Bjorklund.”
    Alex didn’t dare look at Michael. He had the feeling his brother’s face had flushed with the same embarrassment that was swirling through him. How could he respond to Tessa without coming across as the complete dolt that he was?
    â€œThey won’t be able to read them to us, Miss Taylor,” Ingrid said.
    â€œI’m disappointed with such news.” Tessa leveled a censuring look at him.
    He lifted his shoulders in question. Why was she singling him out? Why wasn’t she bestowing her wrath upon Michael too?
    â€œMy daddy and my uncle never read to us,” Ingrid said.
    Alex shook his head at his niece, warning her not to say anything else. But she lifted her chin almost defiantly and continued, “But it’s not because they don’t want to. It’s because they don’t know how to read.”
    Tessa sat back on her heels and stared between him and Alex with widening eyes.
    Michael ducked his head.
    Alex had long ago stopped caring about the fact that he’d never had but a rudimentary education, enough that he could do a few sums, read what he needed to, and sign his name. What use did he have for any learning beyond that? He wasn’t destined for being a teacher or minister or any other line of work that required an education. He was a lightkeeper, and before that he’d worked on the tender crews delivering supplies to lighthouses.
    She stood. “I’m starting an evening school next week for parents and students who aren’t able to come during the day. Perhaps you’d both like to attend.”
    â€œI’ve gotten along so far just fine,” Alex said. “I don’t need any more education.” That wasn’t entirely true. He knew he’d be able to do so much more with his dog breeding if he were better at the business aspect of raising purebred elkhounds. But he wasn’t about to admit that to Tessa.
    Her delicate brow wrinkled above her flashing eyes. “You’ll come to my evening class, won’t you, Michael?” she asked, all the while glaring at Alex.
    Michael hesitated only an instant before nodding. “Sure, I’ll come.”
    Tessa smiled at him. “Excellent. Then I’ll look forward to seeing you there.”
    â€œI know you’ll like having Miss Taylor as a teacher,” Ingrid said, peering up into her daddy’s face.
    Michael looked directly at Tessa and responded with a small, rare smile. “I have no doubt I will.”
    Speechless, Alex stared at Michael. His brother had been like a dead man walking for the past five years. What was going on here? Was Michael finally waking up?
    Under any other circumstance, Alex would have been thrilled. He loved his brother more than his own life. He’d watched hisbrother hurt for too long, and he’d been waiting for Michael to put the past behind him and move on with his life.
    But move on with Tessa?
    An anchor dropped in Alex’s stomach. From the moment he’d seen Tessa, he’d been drawn to her in a way he hadn’t been drawn to a woman in a very long time. Over the past couple of weeks, he