“I think that should be up to the pastor—and besides, this is a community board. It’s been used for years to advertise anything and everything.”
She straightened her back and looked every inch the schoolteacher. “As the pastor’s daughter, I believe I can speak on his behalf. I know he’ll insist you take it down.”
“Well.” Hays tossed the rock onto the ground. “Until he does, here it will stay.” Something about the pure exasperation in her stance made Hays want to stay and tease her a bit more, but he had chores waiting for him back at the ranch, and there were still several dozen posters to hang. “Good day, Miss Longley.” He wiped his hands on his trousers. “I do hope to see you again soon.”
One of her hands slipped up to rest on her hip while the other pointed at the board. “Mr. Hart, I demand you remove that poster, or…”
“Or?” He waited, loving how the rosy tint in her cheeks made her eyes look even greener. So much about this woman intrigued him.
“Or I–I’ll remove it myself—and any other poster you hang in town. It’s unseemly!”
He lifted the stack off Gage’s arm. “Don’t worry. There are more where these came from.”
She let out a frustrated breath, but he didn’t stop to acknowledge it.
“That could have gone better,” Gage said with a nervous laugh.
“Maybe.” Hays glanced behind him and chuckled when he saw her taking down his poster. “Maybe not.” He had never met a woman who responded to him the way Miss Longley had. It was a refreshing change.
He turned his attention back to the blacksmith’s, already looking forward to the next time he’d encounter the new schoolteacher.
Emma Longley clutched the WANTED poster as she watched Hays Hart cross the street. Of all the nerve! Who would advertise for a bride in such a distasteful manner? Was he serious?
“I see you’ve met my favorite Hart.”
Emma turned at the sweet sound of her new friend, Constance Prescott. Connie stood in a black mourning gown and bonnet, a small Bible in her gloved hand. Her black eyes revealed the recent pain of losing her mother, yet her gentle smile showed her resilience. She came to the church every morning to pray, and the unexpected friendship was the one bright spot in Emma’s short time in Hartville.
“If he’s your favorite,” Emma said, “I can’t imagine what the others are like.”
The edges of Connie’s eyes crinkled as her smile widened. “They’re all wonderful, but Hays and I went to school together, and we’ve been good friends for years. He may be a little unpredictable, but he’s one of the nicest men in town.”
“Nice?” Emma crumpled the poster. “He’s arrogant and stubborn—not to mention improper. He’s advertising for a bride.”
Connie brought the worn Bible up to her lips as she giggled. “Oh, Hays.”
“You’re not shocked?”
“When it comes to Hays, nothing could shock me.” Connie lifted the hem of her gown and walked up the steps to join Emma. “He’s the youngest of the Hart sons and doesn’t quite fit in with the rest of them. They all tend to be serious—but Hays is different. I know you’ll come to like him.”
Emma stole a glimpse across the road, unable to keep her gaze off the handsome man. “I don’t see how.”
Connie smiled at Emma and then opened the front door. “Are you getting settled in the school?”
Emma followed Connie inside the building, happy to change the subject. “It hasn’t been easy.” The church also served as the schoolhouse for the children of Hartville. The winter term would begin in four days, but it was almost impossible to prepare with everyone coming and going. Papa dropped in regularly to prepare for his first service on Sunday, and several people had stopped by to meet the new pastor.
“What this town needs is a separate schoolhouse.” Emma went to the front of the room, where her desk was pushed back against the wall.
Connie walked to the front pew, which also served as a desk, and took a seat. She removed her gloves and set them on the desk next to her Bible. “There’s no money to build one. Some former teachers have made the same request, but they’re often met with resistance from the citizens of Hartville, so they don’t pursue the idea.”
“Resistance?” Emma gathered several Texas history books she had been studying and took her reticule from the top drawer. Just like all the other times people came to pray, Emma felt it best to leave. It caused a great deal of interruption in her daily routine, but the building was first and foremost a church.
“Yes. People in Hartville have a hard time changing, or giving up their hard-earned money when they already have a perfectly good building for the school.”
“But don’t they understand how inconvenient it is for everyone?”
Connie lifted her delicate shoulder. “I can’t say.”
Emma hugged the heavy stack of books in her arms. “I plan to speak to the superintendent of the school and see what can be done.”