A brisk fall breeze blew against the door of the schoolhouse as the last student left for the day, and Hope looked around at the leaves that she’d need to sweep up before she left for the weekend. She’d also have to make sure the fire was good and doused so that the wooden building didn’t end up a pile of ashes. Otherwise, the room was fairly neat, and she hoped to be on her way home in a half-hour or so. She needed a break after the last three weeks. It seemed like the colder the weather got outside, the less capable of getting their work done the students became, as if their minds were starting to freeze up. But today, she’d had a breakthrough with one of her toughest students, and he finally seemed to be getting his multiplication, so that was something she could smile about on the walk home.
Grabbing the broom out of the closet, Hope set about sweeping up the debris of the day, and her mind wandered back to thoughts of what it might be like if this wasn’t a schoolhouse in the middle of a well-established little town in Missouri but one out west, maybe in Montana or California. Would she hear shots fired outside of her classroom windows all hours of the day? Would she be able to walk home alone, or would she need an escort? The thought of being out where the world was expanding and anything was a possibility was exciting, but at the same time, she thought about her mother’s good cooking and the safety of her grandparents’ solid, two-story brick home and knew it would be a hard trade to make, especially if the position didn’t come with her own home, which she’d heard a lot of them out there in the new settlements didn’t.
“You’re fantasizing again, Hope Tucker,” she muttered to herself, brushing the last bits of dirt and leaves into the dustpan and carrying it over to the trash bin. It wasn’t nearly full so there was no reason to take it out that afternoon. She put the fire out, straightened a few more items around the room and then bundled up tightly against a cold October wind and headed out the door with just her lunch pail. No schoolwork for her this weekend—she was taking a few days off.
She hadn’t made it far when she saw Jimmy Brooks coming up the other side of the road. He had on a thick coat and his hat was pulled down low over his ears, like he was just as cold as she was. It had been weeks since she’d spoken to him, and even at a distance she could see the pathetic look in his eyes, as if she’d broken his heart. It had never been her intention to do so, but her mother’s words hit home with her. Why would she want to give him the impression she might be interested in marrying him when that wasn’t even a possibility?
He pulled his wagon to a halt across from her, and Hope found a smile. “Good afternoon, Jimmy,” she called, gazing up at him. “You in town to visit the general store again?”
“No, miss,” he replied, not smiling at all; he looked pathetic, staring down at her. “I stopped by the bank to speak to your daddy.”
Hope raised an eyebrow. “You did?”
“Yes, miss.” She wondered why he was suddenly being so formal. “Might I give you a ride home?”
She tipped her head and took him in, suspicious. Hope knew her father wouldn’t have promised him anything, but she may as well hear Jimmy out. “All right.” She was still uncertain but could see no harm in it.
Jimmy leapt down and helped her into the other side of the wagon seat, and River whinnied, reminding them it was much colder out than it should’ve been for mid-October. Hope settled to the far side of the seat, leaving just enough space so as not to fall out and waited for Jimmy to come back around to the driver’s seat.
He climbed up and gave the reins a quick jerk. Since he’d been headed the opposite direction of her house, they’d have to take a little longer route, and Hope found herself going back the way she’d just come. They sat in silence, and she felt more uncomfortable by the moment.
Once he’d turned and headed the right way, Jimmy cleared his throat. “Your daddy said the same thing he did last time, that it was up to you. Now, I figured the way you been avoidin’ me, I had my answer already, that you ain’t interested in courtin’ me, Hope Tucker. But I wanted to make sure that’s right, cause I ain’t about to just give up on you.”
Hope felt her stomach tighten as it had the last time he mentioned the possibility of the two of them spending more time together, and she shifted her gaze from the side of his face to the road in front of him. She remembered what her mother had said, but part of her thought it might be easier to just say yes, to go on a few dates with him, and then, maybe he’d see for himself that they were not a good match.
But then, there was the possibility he might think they were, and then what would she do? He turned his head to look at her; she could feel the weight of his brown eyes on the side of her face, and Hope knew she’d have to speak. “Listen, Jimmy, I guess I’ve always just thought of you more as a friend than… anything else.”
“But we could be more, Hope. You don’t know unless you give me a try.”
It seemed like a legitimate argument, but she didn’t think she needed to date him to know it just wouldn’t work out. “Jimmy….”
“You got someone else in mind, Hope?” The question was accusatory, and it left Hope dumbfounded.