The Christmas Calamity Read online

  Arlan admired Benjamin Franklin’s wisdom, often quoting the man from a book his dad had given him about the nation’s founding fathers.

  “I don’t think you’ll convince most of my students of that.” Edna tightly clasped Arlan’s arm with her hands as they walked through town. “Do you mind stopping at the mercantile a moment? I need to purchase pencils and a few tablets.”

  “Not at all. Shall we?” Arlan started to open the door to the mercantile when Horace Greenblum, the telegraph operator, hurried around the corner, waving a slip of paper above his bald head.

  “Miss Bevins! Miss Bevins! I’ve been looking all over for you. You just received an urgent telegram.” Horace rushed forward as fast as his bandy legs could carry him and handed the paper to Edna.

  As she read it, her hand went to her throat and tears ran down her cheeks. “Oh, this is terrible news. Just terrible.”

  Burying her face against Arlan’s chest, she wailed loudly.

  Uncertain what to do, Arlan gingerly patted her shoulder and stared at Horace, bewildered.

  “What is it, Miss Edna? What has transpired?” Arlan wished the woman would stop caterwauling and gather her composure. People openly stared at them as they passed by.

  “Arlan, do you need some help?” Ginny Granger Stratton asked as she and her husband, Blake, walked out of the mercantile.

  “I’m not sure. Mr. Greenblum delivered a telegram to Miss Bevins and then…”

  “It’s terrible news, Ginny. Just dreadful.” Edna fluttered the paper in her hands Ginny’s direction then resumed sobbing hysterically.

  Ginny held the telegram so Blake could read it as well. “I’m so sorry, Edna. Why don’t we take you home? I’m sure you’ll want to pack a few things and catch the stage as soon as possible.”

  “Oh, goodness. I…” Edna lifted her head and glanced around, overwhelmed by the thought of making the decisions requiring her immediate attention.

  “What has happened?” Arlan took the telegram from Ginny. Quickly scanning the message, he surmised a runaway buggy struck Edna’s mother and the woman needed extended care. Although the girl often spoke of her family back East, she claimed she had no plans to return to her childhood home. It appeared she had no choice now.

  “I’m so sorry, Miss Edna. Of course, you’ll want to leave immediately. I’ll acquire a stage ticket for you while you hurry home to pack.” Arlan looked at Blake and Ginny for agreement.

  “I’ll run over and tell Luke so he can spread the word with the school board.” Blake kissed his wife’s cheek. “You go help Miss Edna pack, love, and I’ll meet you at her house.”

  Arlan hurried to the stage office and purchased Edna a ticket then rushed to the school. Luke and Blake pulled up with a wagon and stopped in front of the small house where Edna resided as he approached on foot.

  The three men waited outside for a few moments discussing what the community would do without a schoolteacher.

  “I wish I knew someone who could step in for a month or two, assuming Miss Bevins plans to return.”

  “I wonder if Miss Janowski could teach.” Arlan voiced his thoughts aloud. “She asked me today if I knew anyone hiring in town. I’m under the assumption her wagon repairs cost more than she anticipated and she is in need of work.”

  “Who’s Miss Janowski?” Blake asked, looking from Luke to Arlan.

  “A phantasmagorical magician Arlan dragged to town.” Luke grinned at his employee, entertained by the troubled look on the younger man’s face. He’d noticed Arlan’s interest in the unconventional woman and thought her a much better match for his friend than Miss Bevins.

  “That isn’t entirely true. I happened upon a wagon with a broken wheel and axle in the middle of the road yesterday. The owner claims to be a magician. I did witness one of her magic tricks that seemed quite impressive.”

  “You got to see a magic trick?” Luke couldn’t mask his disappointment in missing the illusion. “How come I didn’t get to see one?”

  “She was probably too busy cooing over Maura. It’s no secret she seemed quite taken with the baby.” Arlan glanced up as Ginny opened the door and motioned for the men to approach the house.

  “She’s staying with you and Filly?” Blake directed his question to Luke.

  His brother-in-law nodded his head. “For now. Why don’t you and Ginny join us for dinner and you can meet her yourself? You might as well come along, too, Arlan.”

  “I don’t want to impose.” Arlan never turned down an invitation to dine at Granger House. Filly was one of the best cooks in the county, but he didn’t think spending another evening in Alex’s captivating company was a good idea. Especially not with Edna leaving town in the face of her own little tragedy.

  “You know you’re welcome anytime. Filly always makes plenty. If she didn’t, I certainly wouldn’t ask my sister and Blake to join us for dinner. He can eat more than me any day.” Luke offered Blake a teasing grin.

  “Chauncy can eat us both under the table. Besides, you’re fully aware your sister’s skills and talents don’t include cooking so I have to take what I can get when it’s available.” Blake tipped his head to Edna as she walked out the door with his wife.

  “Can you boys load her trunks? We better hurry right over to make sure she catches the stage.” Ginny kept an arm wrapped around Edna’s waist as she guided her down the boardwalk into the heart of town.

  Arlan, Luke, and Blake each loaded a trunk then gathered the bags sitting by the door. They had no idea how the two women packed everything so quickly, but the little two-room house sat empty of Edna’s belongings.

  While Blake drove his wagon to the stage depot, Arlan and Luke walked.

  “How long do you think Miss Bevins will be gone?” Luke asked as they waited for a wagon to pass so they could cross the street.

  “I don’t know. I didn’t get a chance to ask.” Arlan shoved his hands into his pockets and balanced on the balls of his feet as a couple of cowboys rode by.

  “Why don’t you take her for a short walk and say your goodbyes. I’ll make sure the stage doesn’t leave without her.” Luke thumped Arlan on the back as they neared the bench where Ginny and Edna waited.

  “Thanks, Luke. I appreciate it.”

  Arlan knelt in front of the distraught woman, took her hand in his, and gave it a light squeeze. “Miss Edna, would you mind taking a little walk with me while we wait for the stage to arrive?”

  “I would mind and I’m not in the least interested. Please leave me alone.” Edna leaned against Ginny and hid her face behind a soggy handkerchief.

  Rebuffed, Arlan stood and stepped away to wait with Blake and Luke.

  The stage arrived, rolling to a stop in a cloud of dust. While the driver changed horses, Luke and Blake helped Arlan load Edna’s trunks and bags. The woman continued clinging to Ginny, dabbing at her tears.

  “You’ll be fine, Edna. Be sure to send us a telegram as soon as you know how long you’ll be gone.” Ginny hugged the girl then stepped back so Arlan could give her a hand into the stage.

  “Take good care, Miss Edna. I look forward to your return.” Unsure if he should kiss her cheek or walk away, Arlan dropped her hand when she glared at him.

  Rather than respond, she nodded her head and took a seat. She didn’t even wave as the stage pulled out and headed down the road toward Heppner and the train station.

  As it disappeared from sight, Ginny brushed a hand down the front of her skirt, trying to dislodge the dust that clung to the silk fabric. “I’m famished. Did I hear you say we’re invited for dinner, brother dear?” She wrapped her arm around Luke’s and playfully bumped against his side.

  “Only if you think you can behave yourself, Ginny Lou.” Luke used the nickname, knowing how much it annoyed her. Although they were both married adults, the siblings still enjoyed tormenting each other, just as they had as children.

  “Do you want to walk or ride?” Blake asked as he climbed up on his wagon’s seat.
r />   “I’ll walk, Blake.” Ginny blew her husband a kiss as she strolled along with Luke and Arlan.

  “Did you really find a magician on the side of the road, Arlan?” Ginny glanced at her brother’s assistant.

  “Yes, I did. She calls herself Alex the Amazing.”

  Ginny turned to study him a moment. “And is she?”

  “Is she what?” Distracted by thoughts of Edna departing and spending the evening in Alex’s company, he only half-listened to Ginny’s comments.

  “Is she amazing?”

  Luke chuckled while heat rose up Arlan’s neck. “I’m sure I wouldn’t know.”

  “Well, that is a pity.” Ginny grinned as she and Arlan walked up the steps to the front door while Luke went to the barn to help Blake with his team of horses.

  Ginny opened the door then stepped inside, unpinning her stylish hat and leaving it on the hall tree. Arlan removed the hat he wore and left it there as well. He followed Ginny to the kitchen where the sounds of feminine voices floated down the hall.

  “Hello, Filly! Hope you don’t mind extras for dinner!” Ginny breezed into the kitchen and gave her sister-in-law a hug, noticing the dark-haired beauty setting plates on the table.

  “Not at all, Ginny. Have you met, Miss Janowski?” At Ginny’s headshake, Filly turned to her guest. “Alex, this is Luke’s sister, Ginny Stratton. She and her husband, Blake, live a few miles out of town.”

  “Miss Janowski, it’s lovely to meet you.” Ginny shook hands with the woman who appeared to be close to the same tall height as Filly and every bit as lovely, in a dark, untamed way. Her sister-in-law had a creamy complexion, mahogany hair, and emerald eyes while the stranger had black hair, penetrating hazel eyes, and an aura of mystery surrounding her.

  “Thank you. It’s my pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stratton. Please call me Alex.” Alex studied the petite blonde girl. Her eyes and mouth bore a slight resemblance to Luke.

  “Arlan mentioned your wagon is in need of repair. I hope it’s nothing serious,” Ginny said as she went to the cradle near the table and checked on Maura. The baby somehow slept through the noise of dinner preparations.

  “Mr. McIntosh assured me it is essential to replace the entire undercarriage so it will take both extensive time and funds for the work to be completed.” Alex asked all over town that afternoon about a job. A foul man named Cecil, manager of the Red Lantern Saloon, was the only one interested in hiring her. Before she’d work for him, she’d crawl on her hands knees all the way to California.

  Aware of Arlan’s gaze, she raised an eyebrow at him in question.

  “Are you good with children?” he blurted.

  “I suppose as good as most people.” Alex had never spent much time with children growing up, since she was an only child. She did find great joy in making children laugh and watching their eyes sparkle with excitement during her magic shows. “Why do you ask?”

  “There’s a temporary position available immediately for a schoolteacher.” Arlan looked at Ginny, seeking her collaboration.

  “Schoolteacher?” Filly asked as she removed a roast from the oven. “What happened to Miss Bevins?”

  “She received word her mother sustained an injury in a tragic accident with a buggy. The woman will need someone with her to provide extended care for a few months.” Ginny offered Arlan an encouraging look, urging him to continue speaking with a discreet wave of her hand his direction. “Miss Bevins departed on the evening stage with plans to care for her mother until she’s well. We helped pack her things, but she doesn’t know for certain how long she’ll be gone.”

  “Oh, that’s terrible. I hope her mother will heal soon.” Filly motioned for Ginny to slice a loaf of bread while she mashed potatoes. Alex picked up a knife and began carving the roast, earning a pleased smile from Filly.

  “In her absence, a temporary teacher is needed. Since you’re looking for work, Miss Janowski, it might be a good opportunity for you, if you can teach.” Arlan watched the woman’s quick and efficient movements as she sliced the meat and placed the pieces on a serving platter. Despite his best intentions, he was fascinated with her graceful hands.

  “I have my teaching certificate although I only taught for a few months after receiving it.” Alex didn’t like to think about that time in her life, but perhaps the work she put into getting the certification would come in handy now that she desperately needed a job. “How do I apply?”

  “You’ll need to discuss it with the head of the school board.” Ginny grinned as Luke and Blake walked inside the kitchen and pointed to her brother. “And there he is, along with one of the board members.”

  “Luke’s the board president?” Alex looked from Filly to Ginny as both women smiled at her.

  Blake stepped forward and shook her hand. “You must be Miss Janowski. I’m Blake Stratton.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Stratton.” Alex made note of the man’s slight British accent and regal bearing.

  “Please, call me Blake. If what I heard as we walked down the hall is correct, it sounds as though you may be the answer to the dilemma of having our teacher suddenly leave town.”

  Alex smiled, afraid to hope that she might so easily secure a job.

  After dinner, Luke and Blake discussed her teaching credentials and quizzed her abilities to handle a classroom full of students of various ages since her limited experience focused mainly on younger children.

  “The older boys can be quite a handful,” Luke said, taking a drink of his coffee and accepting a piece of pie from his wife. “Some of the board members have stepped in a few times to put a little fear into them since Miss Bevins struggled to get them to behave.”

  “If you gentlemen would find it acceptable, would you give me trial period? There are three days left in this school week. That should provide sufficient time for you to decide if I’m doing a satisfactory job with the students and me to decide if I can manage them.”

  Luke glanced at Blake and he nodded in agreement. “It’s a deal. I’ll let the rest of the school board know tomorrow. In the morning, I’ll walk you over to the school and we’ll see if we can make heads or tails out of Miss Bevins’ lesson plans. At the end of the week, if you continue as the teacher, by mutual agreement, the teacher’s house would be yours to use. You’re also welcome to stay here, if you’d rather.”

  “Thank you, Luke. You and Filly have been most gracious to open your home to a complete stranger.” Humbled by the Granger family and their hospitality, Alex decided they were the kind of people she could easily call friends, if she stayed in one place long enough to have any.

  Furtively glancing at Arlan, she couldn’t deny there were many good people in the town of Hardman she’d hate to leave behind once Mr. McIntosh completed the repairs to her wagon.

  “Are you grateful enough to do me a favor?” Luke asked with a mischievous twinkle in his icy blue eyes.

  Alex’s shoulders stiffened and she looked at her host with a guarded expression. “What might that be?”

  “Would you mind showing us a magic trick or two?”

  The breath she’d held escaped on a laugh and she smiled at her host. “I’d be happy to. Do you have a sheet of paper?”

  Luke went to his library and returned with a stack of paper, placing it on the table.

  They watched as Alex folded a piece of paper into thirds and then folded it again until it formed a neat little square. She unfolded the paper and ripped it along the lines, until she had nine squares of paper.

  “This works better with nine participants, so some of you will have to do two.” Alex passed out the sheets of paper, giving everyone but Arlan two. “Mr. Guthry, please write an odd number on your sheet of paper. The rest of you need to write even numbers on both of yours. Fold the papers, so I can’t see what you’ve written.”

  Taking one of the bowls she’d just helped wash and dry from where it sat on the counter, she held it out as they dropped their slips of folded paper inside.

/>   “I’ll draw out the slip with the odd number written on it.”

  She waved her hand over the bowl with a dramatic flair, drawing Arlan’s attention to her long fingers. He watched as she picked up a piece of paper and set the bowl on the counter.

  She opened the paper and grinned. “Five. Is that your number, Mr. Guthry?”

  “Yes, it is, but how did you know that was my slip of paper?”

  Alex laughed and shook her head. “A good magician never gives away their secrets.”

  Filly and Ginny clapped, begging Alex to do another trick. She asked Luke for a deck of cards and kept them entertained for an hour with a variety of card tricks until the baby began to fuss. Filly excused herself, taking Maura upstairs to nurse.

  “We better get home, love. The horses will complain about their late dinner as it is.” Blake stood and pulled Ginny up beside him.

  “You should come out to our place one afternoon, Alex. Blake raises the most beautiful horses and carves gorgeous furniture. You could see his workshop and stay for tea.” Ginny smiled encouragingly at her.

  “That sounds nice. Thank you for the invitation. Perhaps I could come on a Saturday, when I have the day free from teaching.” Alex walked with Ginny to the door. Arlan, Blake, and Luke followed behind them.

  “Let’s plan on it. I’d invite you to stay for dinner, but that would be more of a punishment than a treat.” Ginny winked at Blake who nodded his head in agreement.

  “Although, in all fairness, she hasn’t burned anything in the past week and most of what she made was edible.” Blake kissed his wife’s cheek and hurried out the door with Luke before she could swat him.

  “I’ll look forward to an afternoon visit,” Alex said, returning the friendly hug Ginny gave her.

  Ginny pinned on her hat and waved before rushing out the door to where Blake waited with the wagon. Luke said something that made both of them laugh before waving them on their way.

  “I also need to leave. Have a pleasant evening, Miss Janowski.” Arlan picked up his hat and held it in his hands, watching the gaslights on the wall dance in the woman’s entrancing hazel eyes.