The rumors were swirling all around Ford, who was trying to keep a low profile. He kept his head down as he navigated the halls trying to focus only on his classes, and not all the talking. He knew there was a substitute in biology - that was one of the things everyone was talking about. He wasn't sure what that meant, but really wished everyone would go back to ignoring boring old Ford.
"Hey, Ford."
He looked up to find Lizbeth smiling at him, leaning beside his locker. She was really, really pretty and for a long minute he couldn't think of anything to say at all.
"Uh, hi." He finally managed, and blushed as she laughed.
"So," She said as he closed his locker. "How many years in prison is your brother gonna serve for killing Mr. Jacobs?"
Ford rolled his eyes and sighed deeply.
"That was my favorite one today." She said laughing and walking beside him down the hall.
"Really? I like the one where Hannah stabbed him with a kitchen knife." He grinned at her.
"I didn't hear that one! Why did she do it?" Lizbeth asked him.
"Apparently, she found out that Mr. Jacobs was secretly in love with Adam, or maybe it was Brian. I wasn't really sure."
"Now, that is scandalous!" Lizbeth laughed. "We live in the world's smallest town."
"We do." He shook his head. "I suppose now is where I really face the music." He indicated the door in front of them which led into their biology class. He shrugged his shoulders. "Here goes nothing."
He pushed open the door and of course every eye in the room turned toward him. He tried to step in confidently. He imagined himself being tough like Brian, and not even thinking about what anyone else thought or said. He straightened his shoulders and moved to take his usual Seat of Shame - which is what he'd taken to calling it, when an unexpectedly female voice called out from the front of the room, startling him completely.
"We have open seating today. I'll work up a chart tomorrow." Ford looked up to find a tall and beautiful woman standing at the front of the room. She had short brown hair which framed her face, and bright green eyes. She smiled warmly at Ford. He stood completely frozen until Lizbeth bumped his shoulder.
"Ford? Hey, Ford." Lizbeth laughed. "Oh, good grief! Come on!" He followed her to the very front row, and glanced over at her, as smiling widely, she sat in the center, front seat.
***7***
"I heard she's a serious babe." Evan said reaching across the table for a piece of bread.
"Pass it." Hannah said shaking her head at him. "And you shouldn't call a grown woman a "babe".
"She's really pretty." Ford agreed. "But she's really smart. She has a Phd in biology, and she's a great teacher. I mean, I know it was just the first day, but she explains things really well, and didn't put up with any garbage from anyone either."
"That's 'cause everyone was stunned into silence by her gorgeousness." Evan said laughing. "Man! I should'a waited to take biology this year!"
"Maybe I should take a refresher course!" Brian said laughing.
"You aren't helping." Hannah said rolling her eyes at him.
"I wasn't trying to." He said back, laughing.
"She went to Davis." Ford said taking a bite of food.
"She did?" Crane asked suddenly interested. "What did you say her name was?"
"Miss Prewitt. I think her first name is Elizabeth."
"Prewitt? Her grandparents own the ranch at the south end of our property. I remember her! She used to come and visit in the summer." Adam said.
"Oh, you do, huh?" Hannah asked.
"Honey, she's younger - she was a little kid. I think she's Crane's age."
"I'm Crane's age." She pointed out with an eyebrow arched at him.
"I meant Daniel." He said sheepishly. "Is there any more corn?"
"Not for you." She said dryly.
"What did she say? Is she taking over and what happened to Jacobs?" Brian asked.
"Don't know. She said she's our substitute and she's supposed to be there for awhile, but says she doesn't know anything about Mr. Jacobs." Ford answered. "Do you think he'll be back?"
"I've no idea." Adam said. "I don't want you worrying about it though."
"That's easy." Ford shook his head.
"I mean it." Adam said seriously. "This isn't your fault."
"You did really good, Ford." Brian added.
"You ought to hear the rumors!" Evan said laughing.
"Shut up, Evan!" Ford said trying to cut him off.
"What rumors?" Adam asked.
"Oh, that you killed Mr. Jacobs because he hit Hannah." Evan said helping himself to more corn. "Oh, and that Brian broke his arms - with a yardstick somehow."
"I could do it, little brother!" Brian said grinning. "Give me anything and I'll turn it into a weapon!"
Guthrie laughed. "I heard that he tried to kiss Hannah, so Brian tied him up, and Adam punched him."
"My favorite one was that Hannah stabbed him with a kitchen knife because . . ."
"Shut up, Evan!" Ford interrupted.
"Geez, don't be so touchy!" Evan turned and looked at Ford. "They're just stupid rumors."
"Stupid is right." Hannah said, sitting back in her chair and lifting a coffee mug to her lips. "Don't let it bother you, Ford. People talk in this town." She sighed. "And nine times out of ten, they are talking about some McFadden or another. You don't have to worry about me."
"Hannah can hold her own, Little Beans, don't worry so much." Daniel said.
"Ugh! Don't call me that!" Ford groaned.
"Little Beans?" Hannah asked laughing.
"Oh, God, Dan'l, I swear I'm gonna kill you!"
"It's what Dad always called him - 'cause Ford's always been skinny. Little Bean Pole, I think was the first nickname."
"Little Beans." Hannah said teasingly. "Ah, that's so cute!"
Ford pushed his plate out of the way and put his head down on the table. "This day is getting worse and worse."
Evan reached out and patted his shoulder. "Don't stress. You get to see Teacher McBabe tomorrow."
"Evan!" Hannah said sharply. "Don't be a neanderthal! You be respectful."
"Yes, ma'am." He said repentantly. "I was just trying to cheer up Little Beans."
"Little Beans is gonna put his boot in your backside if you don't knock it off." Hannah told Evan.
"I'm gonna go do my chores." Ford said pushing back his chair and leaving the table. Sometimes family is a pain in the ass. He thought.
***7***
"Should we call the school?" Brian asked Adam later as they stood together on the front porch.
"I don't think so. I mean, they'd call us if they need to, don't you think?"
"They got the number on speed dial." Brian said with a shrug. "I just wonder, don't you?"
"Yeah, I do." Adam agreed. "But I'm just glad not to be worrying over another meeting."
"You heard why Hannah stabbed him with that kitchen knife, didn't you?" Brian asked with a raised eyebrow at his older brother.
"Well, it's hell to be as pretty as me." Adam said with a grin. He gave Brian's shoulder a shove and turning away from him said, "I'm gonna go find that wife of mine. See if I can't convince her that she's the only girl for me."
"Poor girl." Brian said shaking his head.
***7***
Walt Hemmings looked down the length of the nearly empty bar. Sighing he approached the man who sat at the end.
"I'll have another." He said as Walt approached him.
"Nah, you've had enough. Why don't you go on home?" Walt asked. "You got school in the morning don't you?"
The man looked up sharply with a fierce anger in his eyes, "Not any more." He said bitterly, and tossing some money on the counter, Peter Jacobs turned and stumbled out the door.
