Tangled Times: A Classic Historical Western Romance Series by Irene Bennett Brown

Author:Irene Bennett Brown [Brown, Irene Bennett]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781639777853
Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing
Published: 2023-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Icel’s lips were tight, alarm and hate for her own child in her eyes. She whirled and climbed back on her horse. “Get your horse, boy, and come with me right now, or else.” She hard eyed Jocelyn and Miss Denton not to mix in.

Herman started for the horse shed out back of the school, and both Jocelyn and Miss Denton grabbed at him. “You don’t have to go, Herman,” Jocelyn told him, “we’ll look out for you, have the marshal talk to your mother about this, go to the county sheriff if we have to.”

Herman hesitated, looked at them wistfully. “I have to go. Ma would hurt you if I don’t. Teacher, could I take my reader with me?”

“Yes, you can take your reader, your tablet and pencils, too.” She hurried inside for them.

“By fall, Herman,” Jocelyn told him, “when school starts again, this matter will be taken care of and you’ll be able to come to school without all this fuss.”

He nodded, took the book and supplies Miss Denton brought to him, and tucked them under his arm. “You been good friends. I won’t forget. Never.”

The two women watched him ride away. “Damn that woman!” Jocelyn said.

Miss Denton wiped her eyes with her handkerchief, straightened her shoulders, and turned to go inside to her other students. She said over her shoulder to Jocelyn, “Double damn her.”

The mailman’s hand shook as he took Jocelyn’s elbow to escort her back to his buggy.

It had been a difficult day, after many of the same. At home again, the letter Jocelyn took from her apron pocket didn’t serve her mood well. Muscles quivering with anger, she read the letter aloud:

Mrs. Pladson, you stingy, greedy, liar you! Taking all our dear Aunt Letty’s things for your ownself. All of it, no sharing at all. You’ll pay for this, wait and see, you wicked of the wickedest. Burnt in hell, that’s what you got coming…” Sick with disappointment that anyone would think this of her, Jocelyn tore the letter to pieces, and added it to her cook fire.

All of it was untrue, so she needn’t feel guilty, but still, it hurt. And she was tired. Weary of always trying to do right and having whatever it was fly in her face. She sat slumped in a chair until it came to mind what she needed: A short visit with Francina in Topeka would be medicine to all this upheaval. She’d come back restored, stronger than ever to face whatever was due her next. She heaved a deep sigh. In the name of Hannah, she hoped that to be true.

Jocelyn had to stand on the crowded Topeka electric streetcar, but after the train ride from Skiddy, she welcomed the opportunity. Had gladly given her seat to an expectant mother who entered the streetcar after she did. Attempted to feel no ill will toward the portly gentleman across the aisle who filled a seat and a half, who pretended not to see the young mother-to-be, or Jocelyn.

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