The school week began with an unfortunate twist. Miss Susan announced that she was traveling to Stockton to stay with
her mother for a time, in order to care for her. She would no longer be teaching their school. At least for the near future, she would not.
The teacher made the declaration, standing in front of the classroom, with her hands folded. She seemed sorrowful
about having to leave her job as their teacher, but her mother's health was delicate, and she was needed.
Charlie exchanged a look with Rebecca, and Miss Susan talked on, saying that she knew until a replacement
was found to fill her spot, that she knew all the students would be diligent about keeping up with their reading and
numbers at home.
One of the Carter twins raised his hand to ask, "When will we get a new teacher?"
Miss Susan replied that she wasn't certain about that. "I'm sure the school board will be working to locate someone."
The other Carter twin raised his hand. "Will you come back?"
"That depends on how my mother gets along. I have hopes that I will be able to return, Tommy," Miss Susan said.
One of the older girls suggested that there be a picnic on Friday of that week, as a going-away time for Miss Susan.
Miss Susan looked touched at that. "That's very nice. We can do that at lunchtime on Friday. Thank you, class. Now,
everyone take out their reading books."
Predictably, some of the children were pleased about having a break, however short, from the grind of daily school. At recess time, it
was all the talk.
Charlie was mostly quiet about the break from attending school. She had mixed feelings, truthfully. It would be alright, she
thought, to have a bit of time at home to play with the dogs, and maybe tag along with Scott or Johnny or Murdoch while
they worked. Still, she felt it would get lonesome not seeing her friends, especially Rebecca.
"Maybe we can still see each other sometimes," Rebecca said, in encouragement, to Charlie.
"Maybe," Charlie said, hopefully.
"My Pa will say that I'm to do extra chores, since I'm at home," Rebecca said.
Charlie suspected that she might, also, have extra chores set for herself.
"I'll ask if you can come to the ranch, though," Charlie said. "At least once a week-will your father let you do that?"
"I don't know," Rebecca said, and, at Charlie's look of disappointment, Rebecca added quickly, "I'll do what he says so
that maybe he'll let me come over."
After that, a circle of the children discussed the picnic on Friday.
One of the boys volunteered to bring a watermelon from his family garden to share, and it was suggested that
he bring two, so there would be enough for everyone.
Monte spoke up to ask Charlie if she could bring some of the churros that Maria was known for making, and that Charlie
had shared at school a time or two before.
"I'll ask Maria," Charlie told him.
After school was dismissed, Monte hitched a ride on Gurth, sitting behind Charlie, out to the spot where the
baby rabbits had nested.
"I can't stay but just a couple of minutes," Charlie told him, as Monte slid down to the ground.
They tread thru the tall grass together, and when Monte knelt down, brushing grass and dirt aside, they
found that the baby rabbits were gone.
"I figured they'd be gone soon," Monte said, standing and rubbing his hand on his jeans.
"Did something get them, do you think?" Charlie asked, misunderstanding him.
"Naw, I think they just got big enough to move on," he said.
"Oh," Charlie said, relieved.
"Yeah."
They stood looking at each other for a couple moments.
"I'm sort of sorry-" Charlie said, and then wondered if Monte would laugh at her for being sentimental.
"Me, too," Monte said, surprising her. After another moment of stiff silence, he said, "Maybe we can go fishin' or somethin'
together, sometime. Since we don't have the rabbits to look after, I mean-"
Charlie nodded, and said, in honesty, "I like to fish."
Monte ducked his head and nodded, and Charlie thought he almost seemed embarrassed.
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When Charlie was nearing the outskirts of Lancer, she saw a group of men in one of the pastures to the north,
working cattle. She could hear whistles thru the air, and calls to urge the cattle on. She rode up closer to the fence
that separated the road from the pasture, and sat, watching.
Trying to see if she could discern Scott or Johnny in the mix of men. She thought she saw Johnny's black hat, and
a few moments later, he gave a wave, and Charlie waved back at him. Watching the movement of the cattle, Charlie wished
she could be out there, in the midst of it, or at least on the edges, riding along and helping.
When a few minutes more had passed, she saw Scott's familiar form, and he rode over and up to the opposite side
of the fence. Pulling his horse to a halt, he greeted Charlie. "Hey, kiddo."
"Hey," Charlie said, in answer.
"Something wrong? Or are you just watching?"
"Just watching," Charlie told him. "Can I come in, and help?"
"You're not dressed for working cattle," Scott said, nodding at her school dress.
"If I go and change, then can I come and help?"
"We're nearly done, I think," Scott said, and, then, at the look of disappointment on Charlie's face, he added, "If you hurry,
you can ride with me for a bit."
"Okay!" Charlie said, and put Gurth into a gallop. She tied the reins and went inside, leaving her lunch pail and books
on the table, and telling, Maria, "Ayuda Scott."
She dashed upstairs and changed into her overalls and old blouse, and pulled on her scuffed boots, leaving her school
dress and stockings in a muddle on the floor of her bedroom.
She rode Gurth into the pasture, careful to shut the gate behind her. When Charlie galloped up near the herd, she
spotted Scott, who must have been keeping an eye out for her. He held up a hand to warn her to wait, and then, when
the cattle had turned, he motioned to her to ride to him.
After that, Charlie stayed close to him, excited about being in the thick of things, even when the dust
began to coat her face, and sting her eyes.
When the cattle had been herded to another pasture, further up, where the grass was lush and green, the group of men
began their ride back towards the main house and barns.
Johnny uncapped his canteen of water, and held it out to Charlie. "Thirsty?" he asked,
and Charlie took it from him in eagerness.
"Very thirsty," she said.
She handed it back and Johnny recapped it.
As they sat there, the three of them, surveying the grazing herd, Johnny asked, "How about it, pequeno? Think you might
wanna be a ranch hand?"
"Yes, I liked it," Charlie told him, with enthusiasm.
"You've got a layer or more of dust on you," Scott said. "You'll need to take a bath before supper."
"Okay," Charlie said, reaching up to rub her arm across her forehead.
"Yeah. I don't think your teacher would want you comin' in to school dusty like that in the mornin'," Johnny said, looking
amused.
"I don't have school after Friday," Charlie said. "Miss Susan has to go to Stockton again to look after her mother."
"For the next week?" Scott asked.
"No. She's not coming back," Charlie reported.
"Not coming back?" Scott asked, looking startled.
"Well-she doesn't know when she'll come back," Charlie amended. "It depends on how her mother gets along."
"Mmmm," Scott said, looking regretful.
"So-no school, huh?" Johnny asked, as they began riding back towards the house.
"Not after Friday. There's going to be a picnic on Friday-I'm going to ask Maria to make some churros, and one of
the boys is gonna bring watermelon," Charlie announced.
"Ask Maria nicely, about the churros," Scott said, in warning.
"I will."
Back at the house, the horses were unsaddled, and Charlie cooled Gurth, and Scott told her to go on inside,
and start water to bathe with.
Maria took over the water heating, and sent Charlie upstairs to wait. Sitting on her bed, clad only in her chemise,
there was a knock at her door, and Teresa opened it and popped her head inside.
"The water's ready for you," she told the younger girl. "Make it a quick bath. Supper's going to be ready
soon. And, pick up your clothes first."
"I heard voices downstairs," Charlie said. "Who's here?"
"Cole's here for supper," Teresa said, looking bubbly with happiness.
After her bath, Charlie dressed in a pair of denims and blouse, leaving her feet bare, and going downstairs. She set
the table, as was her regular chore, adding another setting for Cole. She could hear laughter from Murdoch's study.
On another trip back to the kitchen, Charlie asked Maria, in broken Spanish, about making the churros for the school
picnic on Friday.
"Por favor," Charlie added.
Maria smiled, looking indulgent, and nodded her head. "Si," she said.
Charlie smiled back at the older woman, and gave her an impulsive hug around her apron-covered waist.
Charlie slipped into her seat at the table as the rest of the family were coming into the dining room. She was intent
on hiding her bare feet. Murdoch would not approve of bare feet at the table, and Teresa would likely not be pleased,
either, what with Cole present.
Once the meal was over, Cole suggested a walk to Teresa, who agreed immediately. When they'd gone, the Lancer men
began gathering their dishes, and heading to the kitchen with them.
Even though she tried to bide her time, getting to her feet slowly so as to avoid detection, Murdoch paused behind her
chair, looking pointedly at Charlie's bare feet, and raising his eyebrow.
"I just got out of the bathtub," Charlie said, as excuse.
When Murdoch stood there, still lifting that brow, Charlie gave him a hint of an impish smile. "My feet were hot," she told
him.
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That night, after they'd finished their nightly reading together, Charlie leaned against Scott's shoulder, chattering.
She talked about the book they were reading, about what things she might do during the break from school, about
how Maria had agreed to prepare the churros, all of those things.
"While there's no school, maybe I can do more things like I did this afternoon," Charlie said, hopefully. "Help round up the
cattle, and things like that, that I haven't done before-do you think that I can?"
"We'll see about you riding herd," Scott said. "I'm sure there will be plenty for you to do."
"I meant new things," Charlie specified. "Not just extra chores."
"Uh huh," Scott said, dryly. "Well, we'll see. But, if you're asked to do something, then you need to show grace,
and do it with a good attitude."
"Alright," Charlie said, in agreement.
"Alright. Slip down under there now," Scott said.
When he'd tucked Charlie up, he told her that he'd heard from Mr. Beets, and that he needed to go into Stockton within
the next week to meet and look over some papers.
"What are the papers?" Charlie asked, looking up at him.
"Financial things," Scott said.
She'd assumed as much, and Charlie nodded.
"There's a lot of papers and things, about the inheritance, isn't there?" she commented.
"There is," Scott agreed. "I mentioned it because I wondered if you might want to go along with me when I go, since
you've got a break from school and all."
"It would be nice to see Mr. Beets again," Charlie said. "Could we try a new restaurant? And go to the bookstore?"
"I'm sure we could do that," Scott said, in agreement.
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The week passed, and a fishing expedition was planned for after school on Friday. On Wednesday afternoon when she
got home from school, Charlie waited for Scott to talk to him, but he didn't return to the house until just before Maria
was putting supper onto the table. So, she only had the opportunity to greet him, and answer as he asked about
her day.
After supper, Charlie had to help Teresa with the dishes, and then she finally had the chance to go and find Scott, where
he was sitting on one end of the sofa, talking to Murdoch.
Charlie went to sit beside him, waiting for a lull in their conversation. She was bursting to tell Scott about Friday afternoon.
Finally, he paused, and turned to look at Charlie, giving her his full attention.
"Homework tonight?" he asked.
"I have some handwriting," Charlie said. She began to tell him, then, about the fishing planned.
"Where at?" Scott asked.
"At the river," Charlie told him.
"Why not at Rebecca's grandparent's, where you usually go?"
"The boys said the catfish are easy to catch at the river," Charlie reported. "They've been catching a lot lately."
Scott glanced toward Murdoch, who was listening, looking pensive, and then said, "I don't know about you going
to the river like that."
Sitting up very straight, Charlie gave him an imploring look, "But, why?"
"It concerns me. You're not that strong of a swimmer," Scott pointed out.
"We're going to fish," Charlie protested.
"Mishaps happen. You could fall in. There's always that chance."
"I'll be very careful, I promise!" Charlie begged. "I won't go near the edge."
"It'll be difficult to catch a fish standing too far back," Scott said. He gave her a half-smile, trying to tease, but
Charlie remained serious.
"You're not going to let me go?" Charlie asked, twisting her hands together in agitation.
"I didn't say that," Scott said. "You thrust it on me-I need to think about it."
With great effort, Charlie kept from fussing, kept from getting sassy, but just tightened her hands together and
watched him with her wide brown eyes.
"Will you decide soon?" she asked, trying to be respectful. "It's only two days from now-"
Scott nodded, and said, "I will, Charlie. I'll think about it tonight, and tell you tomorrow."
Charlie looked to Murdoch, whose expression continued to be serious and contemplative. Murdoch gave her
a slight smile, and Charlie hoped that he would be sympathetic to her request. He wasn't saying anything at the
moment, though, at least not in front of Charlie. She knew he would wait until she'd gone upstairs to bed, before
he gave Scott his opinion.
"Do your handwriting, and then come and sketch with me until you go up to bed," Murdoch said, in invitation.
So, Charlie did that. She completed her handwriting, and then sat with Murdoch in his large chair, while they looked
thru his sketches, and then hers. Murdoch was admiring her recent drawing of the pups, and talked with her of the
contour lines and interior detail of the drawing. Charlie found herself absorbed in his teaching, and enjoyed her evening,
while Teresa read, and Johnny and Scott played a game of chess.
Upstairs, after she'd gotten into her nightgown and prepared for bed, Scott came up and they read together
as usual. When he marked the page, and closed the book, Charlie sat where she was, tucked against his side.
"I'll be very careful, if you let me go," she said, quietly.
Scott half-turned so that she had the fullness of his expression. "Charlie," he said. That was all. But, she
knew very well what he meant by it. He meant that she shouldn't pester him, or continue to cajole.
"Alright," Charlie said, subsiding, and Scott gestured to her to scramble under the quilt.
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