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“Who?” Mitch said.
He looked at Priscilla and blushed. “Oh, uh, me.”
“No, you’re way too young.”
Priscilla winked at Ian and heaved a sigh of relief. Even though this was hunting territory, she wasn’t sure how receptive the townsfolk would be to a teacher who could outshoot the men.
After lunch, the ladies set up pies and cakes and coffee for everyone to enjoy before they headed home. Priscilla felt as welcome as she had at the church she’d attended back home her entire life. With a full stomach and a warm feeling inside from the friendships she’d made, she felt ready to face her students the next morning.
Mitch was called up to the front to make the final arrangements with the men on hunting the mountain lion while Priscilla gathered her things and walked with Ian out the door to the buggy.
“Why don’t you want to go with the men to hunt the mountain lion?”
Priscilla placed her hand on Ian’s shoulder. “Since I’m new here, I think it’s best if don’t talk about that right now. People have a certain idea of what a teacher should be like, and I don’t want to give them a reason to fire me.”
“Fire you! No. You’re the best teacher, ever.”
“Thank you so much, but you must wait for school to start before you can say I’m the best teacher, ever.” She smiled softly. “But I love your enthusiasm, and I hope you will be just as excited about school tomorrow morning.”
“Are we ready to go?” Mitch walked up to the buggy and took Priscilla’s hand, then helped her climb in.
Priscilla asked a lot of questions about the Christmas concert and pageant that she’d just volunteered to conduct. From what Ian told her, it would require a certain amount of work, but nothing she didn’t think she could handle.
Ever the gentleman, Mitch helped her alight from the buggy.
“I’ll see you at school tomorrow, Ian.” Priscilla waved goodbye to the boy. Mitch walked her to the door, and she almost forgot his negative comments earlier. “Thank you for inviting me to church and the lunch afterward.”
“You’re welcome. I just hope you know what you’ve gotten yourself into with volunteering to handle the Christmas concert and pageant.”
“I’m sure it will be fine.” She lingered at the door, Mitch’s demeanor making her think he wanted to say something else. After a minute he tugged on the brim of his hat and walked away.
It was a quiet ride home after Mitch dropped Priscilla off. He’d had the crazy urge to kiss her when they’d gotten as far as her door. It bothered him to realize he might have done something that stupid if Ian hadn’t been in the buggy waiting for him. Now that school was about to start, there really was no reason for him to see her again, unless they just happened to cross paths on the street. He’d welcomed her on behalf of the town, gotten her settled, and now he was free to leave her to do th
e job she’d been hired for.
If she lasted long enough to do it, that was.
When he and Ian arrived home, they went their separate ways to finish up the daily chores. It gave him time to remind himself that Miss Priscilla Cochran was no longer his problem or concern. He was happy about that. Now he could concentrate on his business and what he wanted to do for the town.
He was standing by the fireplace in the parlor, leaning his arm on the mantle, poking at the fire he’d started to warm the place up a bit before bed, wondering why the place seemed so lonely and cold all of a sudden.
“Pa, I have a great idea. A way to make sure that Miss Cochran doesn’t leave Dogtown.” Ian burst into the room, excitement on his young face.
Mitch looked up at him and smiled. “And what is that, son?”
“You should marry her.
Chapter 6
Mitch stayed away from Priscilla for two whole days. During that time he behaved like a besotted adolescent, looking up with anticipation each time the door to his shop opened, then telling himself he didn’t care that it wasn’t her. But then what would she want with a gun shop anyway? She’d said she’d handled a gun or two, but most likely pinched it between two fingers, handing it off to someone else.
He was still reeling from Ian’s casual remark that he should marry Priscilla. What an outrageous idea that was. Despite the fact he didn’t want to marry, getting hitched to a woman so far above him, who most likely was already tired of the town and the few things it had to offer, had never occurred to him.
Not really.
He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for school to let out. Once Ian arrived to help out, he would stroll over to the schoolhouse. After all, it was a parent’s duty to see how his child was doing. There might be some issue she was reluctant to talk to him about, and he’d rather uncover it right away.
It amazed him how he could come up with such nonsense and actually believe it. Nevertheless, his decision made, he whistled as he cleaned and repaired the three guns Elmer Dogger had dropped off the day before.
