Love and Hidden Secrets
Chapter 1
"Right this way Miss Lewis, we'll get you set up in the boarding house. I'll have your bags sent over right away. Tomorrow you'll meet the town council and we'll inform you where our old schoolteacher left off with the children so you can start making lesson plans."
"Thank you so much Reverend" said Annie Lewis. She had just arrived in Colorado Springs moments earlier, and the Reverend had met her at the train station. She had taken the teaching position here after the old schoolteacher resigned after marrying the town mayor. She desperately needed the money, but she loved children too. She always dreamed of having a family of her own, but her life had not gone the way she had planned, and she was forced to get her teaching certificate instead of look for a husband. When the add in the paper for a new school teacher found its way to her, she immediately sent a telegram. Starting over in a town where no one knew her past, she could start over, and make money at the same time had seemed too perfect for Annie.
"You are free to teach your own teaching methods, but you will be checked on from time to time to be sure there are no problems in the classroom". The Reverend opened the door to Annie's room and walked in. "Here we are Miss Lewis. I'll go get your bags now."
"Thank you" she said as she walked in admiring the amazing view out her bedroom window. "Oh, Reverend?"
"Yes Miss Lewis?"
"Please, call me Annie."
"Yes, Annie?"
"Where might I get a bite to eat before I retire for the evening?"
"Oh, Grace has the best eats in all of Colorado. She is just behind the clinic."
"Thank you so much for all your help. Good evening Reverend." With that Annie was alone. She freshened up to go to Grace's hoping she might meet a few friendly faces to start her stay in Colorado Springs off to a good start.
Annie slowly walked through the new town…her new town. Taking it all in, she arrived at Grace's. She found a table and sat down. Shortly after Grace, a perky women who had a glow about her came up to her.
"Well hello there, ya new ain't ya? I'm Grace, what can I get ya darlin?"
"Hello, I'm Annie. I just moved here today, I'm the new schoolteacher."
"OH! That's fantastic, me and ma husband, we expecting a little one of our own in not too long." Grace beamed and patted her tummy. She was only about 2 months into her pregnancy, but Annie could tell she was the happiest woman alive.
"Well then, Grace, Congratulations are in order. And I'll be happy to teach your little one full of knowledge when he or she gets to the right age." Annie smile up at Grace. Inside, she felt a stab of jealousy, she wanted a family of her own so badly. But that quickly passed, seeing Grace so happy couldn't keep Annie down for long.
As Annie sipped on her coffee and munch on a piece of Grace's delicious apple pie she wondered what kind of occupational people were in this town. She liked to have guest speakers in her classroom, show her students that with the right education they could do just whatever they set their mind too. She smiled when she thought of the clinic she passed, a doctor would be a great guest speaker. She would speak with the Mayor tomorrow at the meeting about others she could speak to about educating her class.
Walking back to her room, she bumped into someone. Looking up, she met the blue eyes of a very handsome young man.
"I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going, oh I can be so clumsy. I'm so sorry..I…"
"Don't worry about it" came the response. "No one hurt, have a nice evening…Miss?""Annie. Annie Lewis. And you are?"
"Matthew Cooper. Nice to meet you Annie.""Cooper. Cooper? Mr. Cooper the lawyer? I saw a sign when I arrived in town this morning. Are you a lawyer?"
"Yes, that's me. At your service. That is if you need my service, which hopefully you won't. Not that I wouldn't love to see you again, just that people come to me with problems and I don't want you to have problems…"
Annie giggled. She usually wasn't comfortable around men. But Matthew had a way of making her feel calm, like they had been friends all their lives. "I understand, nice to meet you as well Matthew."
Walking away, Annie couldn't help but think, had bumping into the lawyer been accidental, or fate?….
So, let me know what you think so far, I have an idea where I wanna take this story, but your thoughts would greatly help me drive it home so let me know =]