Free Wild Hearts by Susan Mallery Page B

flower boxes in front of many of the storefronts. A large sign in the general-store window proclaimed a meeting the next night for a reading of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing . He would guess the “ham” one of the men had complained about was Hamlet. Not many schoolteachers who’d come to Titanville read Shakespeare. He would know. In the past eight years, he’d bedded most of them.
    He turned left at the Titanville First Baptist Church, then headed out toward the two-room schoolhouse on the edge of town. When the original smaller building had burned down three years ago, he’d donated the money for the larger structure.
    Two boys raced across the schoolyard, a kite flying above them. A few girls sat together, playing jacks. As he approached, a woman stepped out of the schoolhouse, glanced toward him, then shaded her eyes to watch his approach.
    From what he’d heard, he’d expected the new schoolteacher to be tall, rail-thin and old. The woman in front of him barely came to his shoulder. She was young and pleasantly rounded with a full bosom. As he got closer, she dropped her hand. The scars someone had complained about were freckles. They went with her flame-red hair. And the cold eyes were, instead, the color of spring grass. Big and green and bright, framed by long lashes.
    Her mouth was full and made for laughing…or kissing. She was pretty enough, he thought, surprised that someone so feminine could bring all the men to their knees.
    â€œMrs. Harbaugh? I’m Zeke Titan.” He tipped his hat.
    â€œHave you come to shoot me, Mr. Titan?”
    â€œWhat?”
    She pointed at the Winchester he still cradled in his arm. “I don’t allow guns on school property. Or weapons of any kind.”
    â€œWhat harm can a young boy do with a knife?”
    â€œPlenty of harm, sir. If your reputation is anything to go by, you are well aware of the danger knives and guns can present.”
    â€œMy reputation?” Excellent. “So you’ve heard of me.”
    â€œOne can hardly live in Titanville and not hear of you and your reputation for wildness.” She frowned slightly. “I’ll admit I’d pictured someone older, however.” Her gaze dropped to his flat midsection. “Someone of more girth, perhaps.”
    He gave her a lazy smile. “Disappointed?”
    Her green eyes narrowed. “Disappointment would imply your presence is of any consequence to me. I assure you, it is not.”
    â€œAre you this prickly with all your visitors?”
    â€œYou are confusing my unwillingness to waste time with my temperament, Mr. Titan. You are the one who walked to the schoolhouse. For what purpose?”
    â€œWhy, to meet you, Mrs. Harbaugh.”
    She frowned slightly, as if confused by the admission. “And now you have. I still have students here and they require my full attention.”
    â€œThen I will leave you to them.” He tipped his hat again. “Until this evening.”
    â€œWhat happens this evening?”
    â€œWe will dine together, Mrs. Harbaugh. You’re staying at the hotel, are you not?”
    He already knew the answer to that question. Teachers stayed at the hotel for a year. If they made it to their second year—and so far no teacher had—a house would be built for them. Zeke covered the cost of the room, easy enough, as he owned the hotel. Meals were taken in the small dining room in back.
    â€œI’m staying there,” she began, “not that it is any business of yours.”
    â€œIt’s my business now,” he said softly. “I will see you at six.”
    â€œI will not be dining with you. It wouldn’t be proper.”
    â€œA public place, surrounded by other people in a well-respected establishment? What could be more proper? It will give you the chance to save my soul, Mrs. Harbaugh. What goal could be more worthy?”
    Annoyance flared in her beautiful green