cooking it. Maybe some people just didn’t have the ability, no matter how hard they tried.
She just hoped at least someone would bid on her pie, especially since the auction would be after the judging of the other pies they’d made and without much doubt, hers wouldn’t be winning. It would be humiliating if no one even wanted hers at all.
After chatting with a few more of the townsfolk, she decided to wander around and take a look at all the booths set up around the middle of the town. Her eyes moved around, taking in the joy being radiated from every person she met.
This small town of Promise was unlike anything she’d ever experienced before. Everyone worked together, helped each other, and genuinely cared about their neighbors. Of course, there were a few people in the community who were less friendly, but for the most part, the entire town was filled with people who didn’t have much for monetary value, but they made up for that in what truly mattered.
And this little fair, put together each year by everyone in the town, was a chance to just enjoy time together and celebrate the life they lived out here on the frontier.
“So, you must be the new schoolteacher everyone is talking about all over town. My name is Mrs. Martha Pembrooke. I run the Pembrooke school on the outskirts of town. How is the teaching going in that dilapidated old schoolhouse you’ve been assigned to?”
Kathryn offered a tense smile as the older woman approached her, standing in front of her so she had no choice but to stop and talk.
“Actually, the schoolhouse is wonderful. It has more than enough supplies for each of the students and it’s been quite easy to get settled in.”
“Well, you come from the city. I can’t even fathom how they convinced you to settle for a teaching assignment like this, out here in the middle of nowhere. You would have had so much more opportunity if you’d stayed back east where the schools would have the best of everything. I’m sure they’re not even able to pay you much.”
“I was thrilled when my aunt contacted me to see if I’d be interested in teaching out here. The schools back east aren’t any better than what I’ve found here.”
Kathryn tried to keep her voice calm, but she could tell Mrs. Pembrooke was here to stir up trouble. A man stood beside her and he weakly tried to pull at her arm and keep her moving past.
But she wasn’t budging.
“Oh, I don’t believe that for a second. But now that you’re here, I’d like to offer you the opportunity to teach at a real school, where you can make a difference with children who will actually be able to go far in life. And I’m certain the pay will be much more appealing than anything you’re getting from the town for working in that public schoolhouse.”
The plump woman was waving her hand around in disgust as she spoke about the little schoolhouse Kathryn taught at. A sudden urge hit her to defend the place she’d grown to love in the few short weeks she’d been here.
“I appreciate your offer, Mrs. Pembrooke, however I have to politely decline. You see, I’m here because I do want to make a difference in these children’s lives. And just because the school I’m teaching in isn’t as big or fancy as what you’re providing, the students I have in my little school have just as much of a chance of going far in life as any others.”
By now, she could feel herself starting to shake with anger, and she knew she needed to bring it under control before she made a scene. Already, a few people who had been nearby were stopping to listen to their conversation, knowing Mrs. Pembrooke wouldn’t likely be making neighborly small talk with the new teacher in town.
Without thinking, her eyes automatically moved through the town center in search of Colt. He was standing next to the mercantile talking to Caleb, but as though he could sense she was in need of help, his gaze found hers.
Mrs. Pembrooke turned her head to see what Kathryn was looking at, and when she looked back at her, one eyebrow was raised, and a smug smile took over her face.
“Well, I guess I can see why you’re so loyal to your little school. I should have known. Surely you do remember that Mr. Hammond is a married man? It