Free Second Chance Bride by Jane Myers Perrine Page A

let you know that if you need anything for yourself or for the children, you only have to come to town or send Ramon to get me.”
    “Thank you, Sheriff. That’s comforting to know. If I need you, where would I find you?” She cautioned herself not to relax too soon. She knew this type of man too well. Her father had once been handsome and charming, at least for long enough to court her mother.
    “Most often I’m in my office in the jail, which is just down the street from the hotel.”
    “What are you doing here, Bennett?” John’s voice interrupted.
    Annie looked up in surprise. Although his horse stood only a few feet away, she hadn’t heard his approach. Wary of the sheriff, she’d missed his arrival. From his words and glower, she could tell that John obviously did not approve of her conversation with the sheriff.
    “I thought I should introduce myself to the new schoolteacher.” He stood, nodded at her and put his hat back on. “A pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”
    “For me also, Sheriff.” She got to her feet and watched as he mounted his horse and rode off.
    “Matilda, I know you are innocent in the ways of the world, but you should not associate with that man.” John shifted in the saddle as his black horse danced sideways.
    “He merely stopped to introduce himself. He seemed nice.”
    “He’s anything but nice. Bennett’s a retired gunfighter. He’s not the type of man a schoolteacher should associate with.”
    Although Annie was glad John considered her innocent in the ways of the world and hoped he would never find out differently, she wondered why he spoke so strongly. She did not plan to keep company with the sheriff. He’d only paid a polite call on a newcomer to town.
    John wasn’t jealous, was he? How absurd. He was just a man very concerned with appearance. She’d noticed that before. It was important to him that the teacher he’d hired would avoid anything that could be considered immoral.
    “Please remember you agreed not to associate with people of low degree. That describes Sheriff Bennett exactly.” He tugged on the reins to control the restless horse.
    “I have no plan to associate with anyone of low degree,” she said, irritated by his repeated lack of trust in her.
    He nodded. “I only wished to clarify the matter.”
    “You need not clarify this issue. Be assured I understand my contract. If you remember, we went over it together.” Afraid she would lose her temper, Annie turned toward where the students were playing. She kept an eye on Clara, telling herself she did that not because she didn’t want to meet Mr. Sullivan’s eyes but to assure herself the child had recovered.
    After nearly a minute, she heard, “I’ve done it again, Matilda.”
    She turned back to see him shaking his head.
    He smiled ruefully. “I jump to conclusions about you. Again, I apologize.”
    “Thank you.” What else should she say?
    “I came here to tell Lucia to return home. Her son is sick.”
    “Oh, dear. How ill is he?” Annie stood.
    “I don’t believe it’s serious. Ramon just requested that Lucia come home to care for him.”
    “I didn’t know she and Ramon had a son. How old is he?”
    “Miguel must be almost eight by now.”
    “Eight? Why isn’t he at school?”
    “He works at the ranch.”
    “But he should be in school. Certainly Miguel will do much better in life if he can read and write.”
    “Unfortunately many young people in this area don’t attend school because they are needed by their families. Others cannot afford school, even with the low tuition rate.”
    “How sad,” she said, recognizing that he could have been talking about her as a child. What would John think of her if he knew her story? What would he say? More importantly, what would he do? Annie never wanted to find out.
    “I also came to give you a message,” he said. As Annie took a few steps toward him, he frowned in concern. “Are you limping?”
    She looked down at her feet. Although