Summary: Madeline Cartwright, Ben’s oldest stepdaughter, is Virginia City’s new schoolteacher. She has a school program planned but doesn’t have anyone to build the stage she needs, that is until Kevin Butler steps in. Kevin and Madeline are very close to being enemies, so the sparks are bound to fly!<\/p>\n
Rating: T<\/p>\n
Word Count: 20,397Note: The Cartwright Gals trilogy is a spinoff series for Romancing the Ponderosa and it focuses on Ben’s three adult stepdaughters. It should be read in chronological order, starting with “Mrs. Little Joe”.<\/p>\n
Romancing the Ponderosa series:<\/strong><\/p>\n Mrs. Little Joe (Book 1)<\/a> Cartwright Gals Trilogy:<\/strong><\/p>\n A Romancing the Ponderosa – Spinoff Book 1<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ponderosa Schoolmarm<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 1 <\/p>\n \u201cClass you are dismissed!\u201d The room fills with the sound of books snapping shut and children\u2019s laughter. As I scan the swell of kids in the room, trying to decide which one to pick, I spot a sandy brown haired boy and call out, \u201cOakley, will you please clean the blackboard today?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, Miss Cartwright.\u201d He answers, looking up from his books which he\u2019s stacking neatly, tying a piece of twine around them. He walks over to the blackboard, grabs the eraser and begins the daily chore of wiping it clean. I always try to choose a different student each day so that the chore isn\u2019t punishment; the corner\u2019s reserved for that. Sitting down behind my sturdy desk, I watch as the rest of my pupils filter out the door calling goodbyes to one another. Within seconds the only people in the room are Oakley and I.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, Oakley?\u201d Glancing up from the paper I am grading, I look at the seven year old boy who\u2019s the spitting image of his father, Kevin Butler. Well, minus his kind, sparkling green eyes which I\u2019m guessing he inherited from his late mother. The poor child\u2019s been motherless ever since she died five years ago giving birth to another baby, who sadly also passed away. I didn\u2019t feel comfortable asking Mr. Butler how he lost his wife so I asked Pa instead and that\u2019s what he told me.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s going to build the stage for our school program?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I was going to ask one of my brothers or Candy. Why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, my Pa\u2019s real good at buildin\u2019 things with wood, I thought maybe he could do it for ya.\u201d He looks over his shoulder at me with a smile. \u201cHe built that desk you\u2019re sittin\u2019 at.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHe did?\u201d I run my hand over the smooth surface of the desk. I didn\u2019t know Mr. Butler was a carpenter, too, let alone that good of one! This desk must have taken hours to make with all of its intricate details and the way it\u2019s completely smooth all over so there\u2019s not even the slightest chance of getting a splinter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty ain\u2019t it?\u201d He comes over and rests his elbow on my desk, plopping his chin into his hand. The smile he gives me is the exact replica of the smile I looked up at while dancing with his father three and a half months ago during the party my Pa threw. Grinning back at the sweet little boy in front of me, I reach out and wipe the chalk dust off his nose.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s pretty isn\u2019t it.\u201d I correct. \u201cOakley, you know your Pa and I aren\u2019t exactly friends so I\u2019m not sure if he\u2019d want to build it for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d He sighs. \u201cBut it\u2019s not for you, Miss Cartwright, it\u2019s for the whole school. Anyways if my Pa were to build it, it would last for years and years and years.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo you\u2019re saying that if one of my brothers or Candy were to build it, it would fall apart the first year?\u201d I tease, a smile on my lips, right brow raised a little.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, no, ma\u2019am!\u201d He exclaims, shaking his head. \u201cI didn\u2019t mean that at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know, Oakley, I was just playing around with you.\u201d I laugh as his shoulders relax and his worried expression is replaced by a grin. We both glance at the schoolhouse door as a wagon pulls up outside. \u201cSounds like your Pa\u2019s here to get you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He runs back over to the blackboard and quickly scrubs off the two arithmetic problems he left when he walked over to talk to me. Putting the eraser away, he dusts his hands on his pants before grabbing his tied books and lunch pail off his desk near the front of the room. Tucking his books under his left arm, he throws his other hand up in a wave. \u201cSee ya tomorrow, Miss Cartwright!\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGoodbye, Oakley.\u201d I call back as he runs towards the door. When he hears me, he glances over his shoulder with a smile and doesn\u2019t see his father step through the door as he crashes right into him. His books and lunch pail take flight as his backside hits the wooden floor. I cover my mouth with my hand to try and hide my grin as Oakley looks up with a stupied look.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHiya, Pa!\u201d He laughs, his shock short lived.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd hello to you, too, Oak.\u201d Mr. Butler laughs, pulling him to his\u00a0 feet and dusting off the back of his pants. Oakley quickly gathers his scattered things. \u201cOakley, go on out to the wagon, will you? I\u2019ll be out in a second, I wanted to talk to Miss Cartwright for a moment.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSure thing, Pa.\u201d He zips out the door.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Cartwright?\u201d Mr. Butler begins, taking his black cowboy hat off. The way he bends the brim back and forth in his hands makes it look like he\u2019s nervous or something.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, Mr. Butler?\u201d I ask, my voice polite.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, uh, I\u2019m going out to the Ponderosa to look at some horses your Pa\u2019s wanting to sell, so I was wondering if I could take you home since I was going that way already.\u201d I toss the idea around in my head a moment, trying to decide. Kevin Butler and I aren\u2019t exactly enemies but we\u2019ve rubbed each other the wrong way since the very beginning. Well, not exactly the very beginning because it wasn\u2019t until after we argued at that party that we began to dislike one another. That argument was just the first of the many we\u2019ve had in the short amount of time we\u2019ve known each other. But despite the mutual dislike between us, we try to be civil, polite, and as friendly as possible to each other.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Butler, it\u2019s very kind of you to offer to take me home, thank you.\u201d I respond, my mind made up. \u201cI have a few things to gather up, so if you\u2019ll give me a moment, I\u2019ll be ready in a second.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course, I\u2019ll be in the wagon.\u201d Slapping his hat back on, he slips out the door. I quickly put all my papers in a stack and shove them into my black bag that Adam gifted me the day before my first day of school. He said that every teacher needed something to safely transport her papers safely back and forth. Standing up, I look around the room, making sure it\u2019s all clean and tidy before I walk out the door. Shutting it behind me, I pull the key out of the pocket of my light brown skirt. As I turn the key in the lock, I hear the wagon seat creak behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I see Mr. Butler climbing down from where he was sitting on the bench. Walking over to my blue roan horse, Trixie, he grabs her reins from off the hitching post and ties them to the back of the wagon.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Still watching him, I step up to the side of the wagon and climb onto the seat. Just as I sit down, I feel my skirt tug and hear a loud rip. My shoulders fall and a small huff escapes my lips as I reach down to tug my skirt free. Peering down at it, I see a four inch tear straight up the side. Looks like my sewing box will be coming out tonight if I want to wear this skirt again tomorrow like I plan to.<\/span><\/p>\n Mr. Butler clambers up onto the other side of the wagon seat and it tilts to the left under his weight. I have to quickly grab the handle beside me to keep from sliding sideways into him. He glances over at me briefly before turning to Oakley behind us in the bed of the wagon. \u201cAll ready back there, little man?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir.\u201d He chirps back. Even though the father and son duo look the same, their temperaments are nearly opposite. While Mr. Butler is hot tempered and almost nasty at times, Oakley is sweat tempered and so kind I don\u2019t think he\u2019d hurt a fly. I\u2019m sure Mr. Butler is a kind man once you get to know him but I have a feeling Oakley inherited his gentle spirit from his mother.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGuess what, Pa?\u201d Oakley breaks the silence after we\u2019ve ridden about eight or nine minutes into our ride to the Ponderosa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Cartwright told us today that at the end of the school year we\u2019re going to have a school program. It\u2019s goin\u2019 to be like one of those fancy plays you can go watch in the big cities. All of us are goin\u2019 to have words we have to remember so we can say them in front of everyone!\u201d I can\u2019t help but smile at the excitement in his voice. When I told the class my plans this morning, the whole room erupted into one big cheer. A loud one at that!<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds very exciting.\u201d He glances over at me with a smile nearly as big as my own. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019ll be a whopping success!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut we\u2019ve got a bit of a problem, Pa.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAnd what can that be?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe need a stage built an\u2019 we ain\u2019t got anyone to build it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to ask one of my brothers or Candy to build it for me.\u201d I quickly say before Oakley gets a chance to ask his father to do it for me.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, well, Miss Cartwright, if none of them can do it for you, I\u2019d gladly step in and do it for you.\u201d He nods. \u201cI enjoy working with wood, and if I don\u2019t say so myself, I\u2019m pretty good at it, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf my desk in the schoolhouse is any indicator of your skill, you\u2019re a very fine carpenter. But I\u2019m sure one of my brothers will be able to build it for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, but my offer still stands.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll remember, Mr. Butler\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, and thank you, I\u2019m glad you like your desk.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re welcome, it\u2019s the best desk I\u2019ve had in the seven years I\u2019ve taught school.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 2 <\/p>\n \u201cMr. Cartwright, these broodmares are just what I need to grow my ranch.\u201d I glance over the chestnut\u2019s neck that I\u2019m stroking to look at the older man who\u2019s almost like a father to me. He stands casually leaning against the fence, watching me inspect his mares. \u201cYour stock\u2019s always the best for miles around and I\u2019ve never seen better mares than these. In fact, they\u2019re better than the ones I already have.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, thank you, Kevin.\u201d He smiles. \u201cYou know the boys and I put a lot of hard work and pride into our stock. Both horses and cattle. But those horses you have, they\u2019re something, too, especially that white stallion of yours.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Prince is something to behold.\u201d Giving the mare a final pat, I duck back under the fence. On the other side now, I stand beside Mr. Cartwright, propping my elbows on the top rail. \u201cI think I\u2019ll take the chestnut, the buckskin, and the bay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI had a feeling those would be the ones you\u2019d want.\u201d He slaps me on the back with a grin. \u201cLet\u2019s go into the house and figure out the price. I\u2019m sure my wife will have something for you to drink. If we do all our business out here and I don\u2019t invite you into the house, Rose\u2019ll skin me alive!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSomething to drink would be nice, my throat is quite dry. Oakley\u2019s already in the house, I\u2019ll have to go in to round him up anyways.\u201d We turn towards the house just as Adam rides into the yard. Waving, he jumps down. I wave back, calling, \u201cHello, Adam.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cKevin, Pa.\u201d He nods. \u201cKevin, I figure you\u2019re here to buy some broodmares. Let me guess, you\u2019re buying that chestnut, buckskin, and the bay.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYep, how\u2019d you know?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re the best of the bunch and you only buy the best mares to breed that stallion of yours with.\u201d He laughs as we walk together towards the front door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019re those grandsons of mine?\u201d Ben asks, throwing his arm around Adam’s shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cGrowing like weeds!\u201d Adam shakes his head in amazement. \u201cIt\u2019s like every time I blink, they\u2019ve gotten bigger.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHow old are they now?\u201d I ask. I can\u2019t remember when his twins were born but I know it wasn\u2019t that long ago.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThree and a half months.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI can remember when Oakley was that age.\u201d I laugh, shaking my head as we step through the door. \u201cNow the little man\u2019s seven.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Oakley\u2019s head pops up from the other side of the sofa, a grin spreading across his face when he sees me. He hops off the sofa and runs over to me, wrapping his arms around my waist in a hug. I ruffle his hair before he lets go. Glancing to the left, Miss Cartwright catches my eye. She\u2019s sitting at the dining room table, nose buried in her school papers but she looks up, sees Adam and her smile is nearly as big as the one still plastered to Oakley\u2019s face. Standing up, she walks over to the bunch of us men making our way to Mr. Cartwright\u2019s desk in the corner.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam, I didn\u2019t think you\u2019d be here today.\u201d Her smile is still bright on her face.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI had a few things I needed to talk to Pa about.\u201d He smiles back, wrapping his arm around her shoulders in a hug.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, once you\u2019re finished, I have something I wanted to ask you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright, I\u2019ll stick around.\u201d He tosses her a wink and she turns to go back to her papers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Sitting down in the chair in front of Mr. Cartwright\u2019s desk, I hear her say something to someone else. I look over my shoulder and see the now familiar figure of Mrs. Cartwright coming our way with a tray. Adam props himself on the edge of the desk just as she circles around behind me to lay her tray down on Mr. Cartwright\u2019s right side. They share a smile as she turns to me, \u201cKevin, would you like a cup of coffee?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am. That would be nice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAdam how about you?\u201d She glances up at him.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll gladly take one, Ma.\u201d She hands me a delicate looking china cup and then pours Adam a cup. Oakley goes back up to the sofa, apparently finding our adult business boring. He plops back down again, picking up the book he was reading.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Our business is completed in less than fifteen minutes and standing up, I shake both Mr. Cartwright and Adam\u2019s hand. We walk back across the room towards the door but all of us turn to look when we hear someone skipping down the stairs. It\u2019s Mr. Cartwright\u2019s middle daughter, the auburn haired one who Candy\u2019s been sparking. She smiles at all of us as she makes her way over to the table, sitting down across from the oldest Miss Cartwright. After seeing who it is, Adam turns to walk out the door but stops suddenly, turning back. \u201cHey, Madeline, what was it you wanted to ask me?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m planning a school program and I need a small stage for it.\u201d She turns sideways in her chair to look at him. \u201cI was wondering if you could build it for me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhen do you need it?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I plan on having the program for the end of the school term but I wanted the stage to be a permanent structure in the schoolyard. I figured it would be a good addition and it could be used for more than just school things as well.\u201d She explains, as Adam steps up to the table to talk to her better. \u201cSince the winter months are coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to go ahead and get it built before the first solid hard freeze. Plus if we were to wait until spring, there might not be enough time to get it built since we would have to wait on the ground to thaw, which might take quite a bit of time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat sounds like a good idea but unfortunately I\u2019m going to be too busy to do it for you.\u201d He sighs. \u201cI have that timber contract that\u2019s got to be finished by the end of November. Maybe Joe or Hoss can do it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cJoe, Hannah, and Lilia Marie are going to San Francisco at the end of the week.\u201d Mr. Cartwright says. \u201cThey\u2019re going to be there for a little over two weeks doing some business for me in preparation for next year\u2019s cattle drive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I forgot about their trip.\u201d Miss Cartwright sighs, plopping her cheek into her hand. \u201cIs Hoss doing anything?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHoss came by earlier when I was the only one home.\u201d Her mother chimes in. \u201cLeo and the little ones have some sort of stomach sickness and he said he\u2019s up to his ears in work trying to keep up with his chores and Leo\u2019s. I was going to send Jewels out there to give him a hand but he doesn\u2019t want anyone around just in case it\u2019s catching.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, I guess that leaves Candy.\u201d She looks up at her sister across the table. \u201cBrie?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cCandy\u2019s going to start rounding up strays on Monday and he won\u2019t be back for a while.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss Cartwright, I could build the stage for you.\u201d I offer, speaking up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s very kind of you, Mr. Butler, but I\u2019m sure you\u2019re very busy with your ranch.\u201d Her words are said kindly, but we both know the real reason why she doesn\u2019t want to accept my offer and it doesn\u2019t have anything to do with my ranch. The two of us don\u2019t exactly get along, we\u2019re like oil and water together. We both have hot tempers and even though she has better control of her\u2019s, almost every time we talk, we end up butting heads and our conversation turns into an argument. But with all that pushed to the side, I still would like to build that stage for her.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt isn\u2019t a problem, Miss Cartwright.\u201d I nod. \u201cI could come by after school hours and work on it until it\u2019s almost dark each day. And when I need to, I could even work on it on the weekends.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n She looks at me for a moment, obviously thinking about what I just said, the same expression on her face that she had when I asked if I could bring her home. Sticking her hand out for me to shake, she says, \u201cAlright, Mr. Butler, you\u2019ve got yourself a job building that stage. My Pa and I discussed it last night and he agreed to supply everything that\u2019s needed plus pay the builder fifteen dollars when he\u2019s finished.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll come up with a design for it tonight and bring it by the schoolhouse tomorrow when I pick up Oakley.\u201d I let go of her hand. \u201cYou can tweak it to your liking and then I\u2019ll get the supplies to start building on Saturday.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSounds just fine, Mr. Butler.\u201d She nods, giving me that overly polite smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 3 <\/p>\n \u201cAlright class, I\u2019ve got everyone\u2019s parts written out for the school program.\u201d Standing, I grab my stack of papers and begin to walk up and down the aisle between the desks, handing the right ones to their new owners. I stayed up till nearly one thirty last night writing them and even though it\u2019s not noon yet, I\u2019m already feeling it. My hands now empty, I stifle a yawn as I walk to my desk. Sitting back back down in my chair I look at the excited faces of my students again. \u201cNow, I know the program isn\u2019t until spring but I thought you all would like a lot of time to memorize everything. And since everyone\u2019s part is a different character, I also thought it would be nice if you had costumes, which of course take time and money to make. Hopefully with this much time we can get everything ready without rushing at the end. You know, take our time and drag it out so it\u2019s more enjoyable. Like when you lick a piece of candy really slowly to savor it and make it last longer than if you were to bite it off in chunks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n After the class quiets back down, I look at my watch and seeing that it\u2019s five minutes till twelve, I dismiss them for lunch. The room is quickly emptied and even though I\u2019d rather eat my own lunch, I push myself to my feet. Walking over to the big blackboard, I begin to write out the arithmetic problems for our next lesson. Standing on my tip toes, I reach up and start with easy problems and as I travel down, each row gets harder with the bottom row ending in complex long division for my oldest student, Hattie Miller.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Laying down the chalk, all finished, I dust my hands briefly on my skirt since it\u2019s already smudged in chalk dust. When I drop it back down, the tear from yesterday catches my eye. With a sigh, I walk back over to my desk, plopping tiredly into my chair. I forgot to sew that rip last night like I had intended and I was too tired to notice it this morning. I\u2019ll have to fix it tonight so Hop Sing can wash it for me if I want to wear it on Monday. I don\u2019t have too many clothes, let alone work appropriate clothes. Pa tried to buy me new ones before I started teaching but the only thing I let him purchase was that purple party dress I wore to their wedding. I make my own money to not be a burden to my parents and also to help out, so therefore I buy my own clothes. But I have a bad habit of buying more books or things for my class instead of the clothes I need. I\u2019m really surprised that this skirt didn\u2019t split in two when it ripped, especially since it\u2019s five years old and I\u2019ve worn it nearly everyday.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Looking at my watch again, I jump slightly when I see there\u2019s only about eight minutes left of the lunch break. Quickly pulling out the sandwich Hop Sing packed for me, I inhale it with a very unlady-like speed, glad no one\u2019s in the classroom to see me eat my lunch like a heathen. My sandwich gone, I glance back at my watch. I still have two minutes to spare. Standing up, I slowly walk across the room towards the door. I bounce on my toes slightly, trying to wake myself up since the food in my stomach, even though it got there quickly, is making me even sleepier than I already was. Stepping outside, I glance around making sure none of the kids ran off as I reach up and pull the rope attached to the bell. As it chimes, all the kids skid to a halt and quickly grab their lunch pails, taking back off into the schoolhouse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The day seems to drag on, yet at the same time go quickly. When I wasn\u2019t interacting with any of the students, I kept catching myself trying to doze off so to keep myself awake, I laid my hand in my lap and whenever I felt myself drifting towards dreamland, I gave my thigh a sharp pinch. I\u2019ll probably have a small bruise there now but at least it kept me from falling asleep and embarrassing myself in front of my class. Feeling like it should be nearly three o\u2019clock, I pull out my watch again for what seems like the hundredth time today. A quiet sigh escapes me when I see that it really is three o\u2019clock this time. I\u2019ve never been happier to say, \u201cClass you\u2019re dismissed, I\u2019ll see you all on Monday morning. Make sure you finish all the assignments I gave you. Oakley, I know I asked you yesterday, but would you please clean the blackboard again?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, ma\u2019am, of course.\u201d He quickly puts his things down and walks over to the board. The loud room rapidly quiets as the students filter out the door and within minutes the only sound is Oakley\u2019s quiet scrubbing. I begin to grade a spelling paper that\u2019s in front of me but the words blur horribly. After closing and opening my eyes, I try again but they don\u2019t clear. With a sigh I open my desk drawer and gently run my finger over the frame of my glasses. I only need them when I\u2019m extremely tired and I haven\u2019t needed to wear them in a while. They aren\u2019t the most comfortable things in the world and they make me look shrewish and mean, well at least that\u2019s what Jewels told me. Hearing the scrubbing stop across the room, I glance up just as Oakley turns towards me. \u201cMiss Cartwright, since my Pa ain\u2019t here yet, can I go outside?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOf course you can but make sure to wear your coat, it\u2019s chilly out there.\u201d After slipping his coat on, he flies out the door, completely forgetting to shut it behind him. Not wanting to get up or yell for him to come back, I just leave it open. It\u2019s a little stuffy in here anyhow so the cool air feels good. I look back down at the paper and then over at my glasses again, deciding to ignore the both of them right now. Dropping my face into my hands, I let myself drift into a light doze. At least this time with my head propped up there\u2019s less of a chance for it to fall forward and smack my desk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMiss, Cartwright, are you all right?\u201d The sound of Mr. Butler\u2019s voice makes my eyes open and my head swivel up out of my hands. I didn\u2019t hear him pull up outside or step through the open door. I must have dozed off deeper than I thought. I quickly sit up straight in my chair, hoping that I don\u2019t look like a mess.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I\u2019m all right, Mr. Butler.\u201d He continues to give me a worried, concerned look. \u201cI\u2019m just tired, I stayed up really late last night preparing the written portion of the program.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, I\u2019m glad that\u2019s all. I thought you had gotten sick or something.\u201d He tosses his hat onto one of the desks in the front row and pulls a folded piece of paper out of his back pocket. \u201cI brought the plans I drew up last night.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Unfolding the paper, he smooths it out on my desk right in front of me. I blink and realize my eyes are still blurry, so quickly reaching down into my drawer, I pull out my glasses. As I slip them on I get that odd feeling like I\u2019m getting stared at. Looking up, I find Mr. Butler watching me with a surprised expression. Apparently my glasses have caused him a little bit of surprise, but ignoring him I study the design in front of me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s quite big.\u201d I comment after I read his extremely neat figures beside it indicating the measurements.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI know, I did that on purpose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t you think a forty foot long stage is a little on the big side?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNo, not really.\u201d His right brow moves up a little. \u201cOnce all your students are up there, there needs to be enough space for them all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Butler, I only have fifteen students.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThen it\u2019s just the right size. It would be a tight fit for fifteen kids to be moving around if it were smaller.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut all of them won\u2019t be on it all at once except for the very ending.\u201d I insist, my temper beginning to flare and take control. He takes a deep breath and it looks like his is beginning to, too.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m remembering correctly,\u201d he practically growls back, \u201cyou said that the stage could be used for more than just the school, right?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYes, I did say that. Why?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, if that were to happen, then it would be grown adults using it and it would be just the right size. Not too big, not too small.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBut I still think it\u2019s too large!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat I don\u2019t understand is why you\u2019re so fired up about the size of this dang stage, anyway!\u201d He slams both of his hands down on the desk, glaring down at me, eyes flashing fire. \u201cIt\u2019s not like you\u2019re the one paying for it. Your father is!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n His words somehow get past my anger and bring me to my senses. Why in the world am I arguing about something this silly? I guess I\u2019m way more tired than I thought. I open my mouth to answer but hearing the floor creak over by the door, we both turn to look. Oakley stands in the doorway, green eyes wide as he watches us, \u201cPa?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOakley, go get in the wagon, we\u2019re almost done here.\u201d His son turns back around and does what he\u2019s told. Mr. Butler spins on his heels, facing me again. \u201cI\u2019ll pick up the supplies in town this weekend and start on the stage on Monday, but I\u2019m making it the size I planned.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He turns and walks towards the door, boot heels clicking across the floor. Suddenly remembering something Pa told me to give him and not wanting this conversation to end like this on such a sour note, I jump to my feet, pulling a paper out of my skirt pocket, \u201cMr. Butler, wait!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n He stops in the doorway and turns to look back as I rush over to him. In my haste I stub my toe on one of the desks. I try to hide the pain but looking up I see him smirking at me. Giving him back a smirk, I hold out the folded piece of paper. \u201cPa told me to give this to you. Show it to the store clerks in town tomorrow and they\u2019ll know to put everything on Pa\u2019s tab.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThank you.\u201d He reaches out and takes it, slipping it into his pocket with his design. He nods and turns to step out the door but I quickly throw out my hand and touch his arm, stopping him.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMr. Butler, I\u2019m sorry for losing my temper a few seconds ago.\u201d I apologize, my pride taking a small bruise. \u201cEven though it\u2019s not a very good excuse, I\u2019m really tired today, I\u2019m sorry. I think the stage will be the perfect size.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s all right, ma\u2019am.\u201d He tips his hat at me and steps out the door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Chapter 4 <\/p>\n \u201cWhoa, Trixie.\u201d I pull her to a stop in front of the dressmaker’s shop the next day. Last night while I was trying to mend my skirt, I ended up ruining it instead. The fabric just fell apart in my hands. I\u2019m honestly surprised it lasted this long, so this morning after throwing on my other simple skirt I rode into town with money in my pocket. Money to buy fabric this time, not books. Pa tried to offer me money but I declined since I have more than enough to buy the fabric needed to replace my brown skirt. Swinging myself out of my saddle, I rub Trixie\u2019s face as she nuzzles her nose into my neck. \u201cGood girl, Trix.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Looping my reins around the hitching post, I skip up onto the sidewalk and into the dressmaker\u2019s shop. The bell above the door rings and the familiar face of Miss Young peers out of the back room at me. Her face lights up in a beautiful smile as she calls out, \u201cBe with you in a moment, Miss Cartwright.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t rush, I\u2019m in no hurry.\u201d I walk over to her table full of fabric bolts. Searching for a fabric similar in color to my skirt, I trail my fingers over the different bolts in front of me, marveling over how so many of them look very similar in texture yet feel so different. Miss Young sweeps back into the room, her cheerful spirit lighting up the shop.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cNow what can I do for you, Miss Cartwright?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWell, first off just call me Madeline.\u201d I laugh. \u201cWhen I\u2019m outside of my classroom it feels odd to be called Miss Cartwright.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAlright,\u201d she laughs and it sounds almost like a bird song, \u201cbut only if you call me Ellie.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAgreed!\u201d I smile. \u201cEllie, I need brown fabric for a skirt.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe Redhead (Book 2)<\/a>
\nLeo (Book 3)<\/a>
\nRose, My Love (Book 4)<\/a><\/p>\n
\nCaptive Heart – Spinoff Book 2<\/a>
\nRyan & Juliet – Spinoff Book 3<\/p>\n
\n(Madeline<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(Kevin<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(Madeline<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n
\n(Madeline<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n