A Touch of Autumn(9)

The next thing Charles knew he was standing in the hall outside her closed door. A growl threatened to explode from his throat. That surely didn’t go the way he’d planned. Why were women so stubborn and opinionated? Especially Livvy and P.H.

He slammed through the front porch and leaned against one of the pillars. Laughter drifted his way from the direction of the orchard. He sauntered over, the smell of peaches tantalizing his taste buds. Albert and some of the older boys were harvesting the last of the crop, while the younger ones picked up fruit that had fallen to the ground. Cook would look through those carefully and salvage the good ones for peach butter. The thought made Charles’s mouth water.

Jeremiah waved from one of the top branches, a grin splitting his face. The sight was encouraging. The boy was good-natured when he wasn’t being mean to the younger boys.

Charles returned the wave and walked around the house to the old stable to see how the work was going. It hadn’t been used for years since the carriage horses and mules had been housed in the barn. But with the addition of the new horses, Trent had hired a couple of men to repair the stable. Charles grinned. He wouldn’t put it past his friend to fill the building with horses.

He grunted. Then sighed. Maybe he was making too much of this. But he’d seen Livvy shy away from horses before and suspected that she was afraid of them. He also suspected that she’d spoken before she thought. There was only one thing to do, since P.H. was being obstinate. He’d talk to Trent and see if he’d go over the director’s head and put a stop to the whole thing.

An hour later, when Trent dismounted and tied his horse, Warrior, to the hitching rail beside the porch, Charles clapped his friend on the shoulder. “Have a minute to talk before you check on the students?”

“Sure, is something wrong? No new illnesses, I hope.”

Charles shook his head. Trent was devoted to the children of Quincy School and their health was one of his main concerns. During a measles epidemic the year before, the doctor had remained at the school night and day until all risks were past. Charles was happy not to have bad news for him. “No. Just a little matter I need to discuss with you.”

“What can I help with, Charles?”

Charles cleared his throat. Maybe he shouldn’t put Trent on the spot like this. He took a deep breath. He might as well go ahead. “I guess you know that Olivia wants to teach the girls to ride horseback.”

Trent peered at him, his eyes questioning. “Uh-huh. Abigail is going to help make riding habits. Why?”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” Now that was an intelligent answer. His face warmed at the amusement in Trent’s eyes and Charles frowned. What was so funny about it? “I mean, after all, she’s not a teacher.”

“Sure, she is. She teaches Sunday school. Has for years.”

Charles snorted. “Well, that’s a far cry from teaching a child to ride a horse.”

“What does P.H. think about the idea?”

“She’s taking Olivia’s side, of course. You know how women stick together.”

“I also know P.H. wouldn’t agree to it unless she felt it was a good idea. So unless you have a better reason than the one you’ve given, I’m not about to go over her head.”

Charles’s stomach clenched. Should he tell Trent of his concern about Livvy’s fear? But that wouldn’t be fair. Especially since he wasn’t one hundred percent sure about it. Besides, Trent wasn’t likely to go against his wife and the director without a good reason.

“Tell you what, Charles.” Trent slapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s give it a try. If things aren’t going well, I’ll talk to P.H. and maybe we’ll cancel the class.” He held out his hand.

Feeling like an idiot for bringing the matter up to Trent in the first place, he shook his friend’s hand then followed him into the house where delicious aromas wafted up the hall from the kitchen. Fine. A trial period it would be. But Charles planned to keep a close eye on Livvy to make sure she didn’t get spooked and cause herself or one of the students to get hurt.

Or maybe he could convince her to give up the idea. After all, he was doing this for her own good.





Chapter 5




The road to the school veered to the left. Livvy straightened and took a deep breath as she turned onto the narrow lane. She could do this. After all, she’d be fitting the girls for their new riding dresses and wouldn’t be anywhere near the horses today. So why were the muscles in her back and chest tighter than her corset, and why was she clenching the reins so tightly she could barely feel her fingers?