Hope Tucker surveyed her pupils one more time before dismissing them for the afternoon. It seemed like her class grew by a student or two every week, and at this rate, they would need a bigger schoolhouse by next fall. “Be sure to practice your letters this evening, Freddy,” she said to one of the smaller students in the front row. “Take your slate home, sit by the fireplace, and practice your strokes. You’ll get it in no time.”
“Yes, Miss Tucker,” Jimmy replied, smiling up at her with a large gap where both of his top two front teeth were missing. She patted him gently on the arm and then walked between the rows one last time. The clock showed they had two more minutes, and each child was still fast at work on their lessons, particularly the older ones in the back who would be studying for exams in just a few months. She remembered that anxious feeling; it had only been two years ago when she’d been the one brushing up on her studies in anticipation of graduating from high school, hoping to earn high enough marks to become a teacher. Now, here she was with her own class, and while she loved her work, something was missing.
She pushed those thoughts aside and cleared her throat so that she could speak loudly enough for everyone to hear. “All right, class. That is all for today. I shall see you back here bright and early in the morning.”
All of the children, from the oldest to the youngest, gathered up their belongings, stopping at the cubbies and hooks along the wall to put on their coats and collect their lunch pails. Most of the older students had younger brothers and sisters, and they stopped to help them before heading out the door. None of them broke into a run until after they’d left the front porch of the building, something Hope had taught them a few months ago when the new term had started and she became the teacher of record for her hometown, Lamar, Missouri.
Grabbing a broom from the small closet across from her desk, Hope began to sweep up the day’s dust and debris. There were books to straighten, shelves to dust, and the chalkboard needed erasing, but at least she didn’t need to mess with the fireplace just yet. It was nearly November, and soon enough, she’d be stoking a fire in the morning and cleaning out the fireplace in the afternoon, but for now, the kids seemed warm enough with all of their bodies in one room, and she was glad to have one less duty to fulfill.
After half an hour or so of tidying up, Hope collected her own lunchbox and a stack of books before heading out the door, pulling the sweater her mother had knitted for her last fall tightly around her shoulders.
Her house was within walking distance of the school, though it was about a half-mile away. The weather was nice enough, no rain today, and too early for snow, so she took off with a pleasant smile on her face, wondering what her mother had planned for dinner.
Hope hadn’t made it too far down the road when she heard the sound of a cart pulling up behind her, which wasn’t unusual in a growing town, but when it slowed and came to a stop just in front of her, she turned her head to see who the driver might be, and a rush of pink filled her cheeks.
“Howdy there, Miss Hope,” a familiar voice called down to her as she stopped alongside the road and looked up into the face of Jimmy Brooks. “Thought you might wanna ride home.”
“Good afternoon, Jimmy,” Hope replied, holding onto her books and lunch pail with both hands in front of her. “Thank you, kindly, but I think I’d rather walk. It’s such a nice day out.”
“Now, I can’t imagine you ain’t in a hurry to get home to your mama’s good cooking. I’m sure you can hot foot it up the road with the best of ‘em, but with ol’ River here pullin’ us along, you’ll be home in no time.” He gestured at the large brown horse at the front of the cart.
Hope continued to take him in for a second, surveying her options. She had known Jimmy since she was a baby. His mother, Susannah, was best friends with Hope’s mother, Cordia, and even though Hope had lived much of her childhood out on the family farm, the two families spent many a weekend together whenever Hope’s family came to town to visit her grandparents. Once her parents had come to Lamar to stay, Jimmy had attended school with her but ended up quitting before he graduated so he could help his father and brothers on their own farm. Still, he was a smart enough fellow, easy on the eyes with his dark hair and brown eyes, and Hope certainly didn’t dislike him; she just wasn’t sure if she felt the same way about him as he obviously felt about her.
“Well…” she began, looking at the cart and then down the road. She could practically see the turn she’d have to make to get home from here, it was so close.
Jimmy took her hesitation as opportunity. He hopped down from his seat and came around to help her up, offering his hand. “Come on, Hopey. I came all the way to town just for you.”
She glanced at his hand, rough and stained from working the crops, and slipped her much smoother one into it momentarily so she could make it into the carriage without taking a spill. Jimmy held her belongings in his free hand while she pulled herself up and took a seat. He handed her books and other things to her with a smile and then dashed back around to take his seat while Hope tried not to laugh at his enthusiasm.