Dakota Plains - 03 - Dakota Dusk by Lauraine Snelling

Author:Lauraine Snelling [Snelling, Lauraine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781618431998
Google: bsgF2hSZa7QC
Amazon: 1618431986
Goodreads: 1820279
Publisher: eChristian
Published: 1994-03-01T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

Everywhere Rebekka went, Jude was there.

“Howdy, Miss Stenesrude,” said Johnny J., her oldest pupil, as he waved at her from his painting ladder when she approached the school on Monday morning. “Sure is looking good, wouldn’t you say?”

“I certainly would.” Rebekka stopped to admire the sparkling white paint. “You’re doing a fine job.” She opened the door to find Jude nailing up the thin boards and the chicken wire for the plasterers who were coming next. “Mr. Weinlander,” she said as she tipped her head in acknowledgment.

“Miss Stenesrude.” Jude continued nailing, the hammer ringing in perfect rhythm.

Now he was here, ruining her joy in the new building. How could anyone else be happy when he stared out at them with such sad eyes? She slanted a peek in his direction. There was no indication he cared whether she was in the room or not; he just continued with his work.

Rebekka paced the room, picturing the blackboards for the wall, where her desk would go, and if she would change the configuration of the children’s desks. She’d seen a school building with movable desks, and since the school was also used as the town’s meeting hall, theater, and dance hall, movable desks would be a decided advantage.

She took a paper and pencil from her bag and began a list of supplies, including the changes she would like to make. But where could they get the money? She’d have to talk with Mr. Larson to see if there was any left from the bank loan. As she paced, she tapped the pencil end against her teeth.

When finished, she put the things back in her bag and walked toward the door. “Good day, Mr. Weinlander.” She kept her voice cool and terribly proper.

“Ummm.” The hammering continued without a break.

As she stalked the path homeward, she fumed at the snub. Didn’t he even have the grace to be polite?

After having talked with Mr. Larson and called on two families who had recently moved to the area, she walked into the boardinghouse and found him sitting at the table drinking a cup of coffee.

“Supper in half an hour,” Mrs. Sampson said as she turned from the pot she was stirring on the stove and smiled at Rebekka. “There’s a letter for you on the entry table. And a box arrived. Must be books, it’s so heavy. Jonathan brought it over from the train station.”

“Wonderful. Thank you.” Rebekka crossed through the kitchen and went out without looking that man in the face. Two could play at his game. She stopped at the oak secretary to pick up scissors and knelt by the box. As she cut the strings, she read the address.

“Who are they from?” Mrs. Sampson followed her into the sitting room.

“A school in Fargo.” Rebekka folded back the top of the box and peered inside. “Arithmetic, history, reading,” she said as she shuffled through the books, setting them outside the box as she dug deeper. “What a gift. This gives me at least something to start with.

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