Each day after her work at the school house was done, Katie stopped by the church to see how the orphans were doing. She knew what it was like to be new in town, and she wanted to make sure all the boys felt comfortable in their new temporary home. And it didn’t hurt that she got to see Aaron Cavett.

Katie had thought that by seeing him so often, he would start to lose his strange pull over her. Instead, her feelings for him had only intensified. As soon as he walked into a room, she felt an instant need to be near him at all times.

Katie walked through the pews of the church until she found the blanket with the teddy bear on top. She pulled a book out of her bag and looked around for a sign of Jacob. She found him sitting in the corner, playing with Callum and Freddy. “I brought something for you.” Katie held up the book and set it down next to the teddy bear.

“Thank you, Miss Sanders!” Jacob leapt up and raced toward her, throwing his arms around her knees and wrapping them in a big hug.

“You’re welcome,” Katie laughed. She had always enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews, but her connection to Jacob felt different. It was already a close and special bond even though they’d only known each other for a few days.

Jacob opened the book. It was a chapter book on frogs. “It’s all about Freddy and his friends! Oh, thank you!” Jacob beamed.

“Maybe you can read it to me later,” Katie suggested. Even though the book was more appropriate for an older child, Jacob was reading well ahead of others his age. She knew he’d be able to handle this book, and that he’d find it highly entertaining.

“Yes, ma’am,” Jacob responded. He rushed back to Callum and picked up Freddy. “I can’t wait to show you my new book, Freddy!”

Katie looked for Aaron next. He was certainly keeping himself busy. During the day, he gave the boys lessons. Katie and Miss Carroll had cleaned out the back room of the schoolhouse and found some old primers and books they didn’t mind sharing. The schoolhouse was too small for all of its current students and the orphans combined, so Aaron continued to teach the boys.

Sure enough, she found him organizing a large stack of books in the corner. “Hello, Aaron.”

Aaron barely looked up as she approached. “Hello.”

Katie wished he would show a little interest and ask her how her day went. It was the least he could do. Then again, he was very busy. “How were your lessons today?”

Aaron sighed. “Fine. I really need a permanent space, though. We’re very grateful to use the church, but the boys need a real school house.”

Katie nodded. “I understand. I think if they were learning in a real institution, they would take it more seriously.”

Aaron finally looked up and stared into Katie’s eyes. “Exactly.” Katie felt a buzz of electricity as their eyes met.

“Has there been any progress with that?” Katie asked. “Finding you a permanent space, I mean. Cletus hasn’t said much about it at home.”

Aaron shook his head. “Not that I’m aware of. There’s been a lot of grumbling and consternation about the fact that there are fifteen rowdy boys in Nowhere who don’t belong here. Sometimes, I think they’d like to send the lot of us back to New York.”

“No!” Katie cried out before she could stop herself. “You can’t go back to New York.”

Aaron seemed amused. “Why is that?”

Katie’s mind raced as she tried to think of reasonable excuses. “I think the boys will be happier in Nowhere than in New York. The big city could be dangerous for them. Here, they’ll be able to do hard work and get ahead without all of the distractions of a big city.”

Aaron nodded. “You may have a point there.” He closed the book he had been examining and opened the next one. “Of course, regardless of where the boys end up, I’ll be returning to New York at some point in the near future.”

“What?” Katie felt a wave of sadness wash over her. How could Aaron leave?

“My work is in New York,” Aaron said gently. “I’ll miss the boys, of course, but—”

“The boys!” Katie exclaimed. “But they could be tempted down the wrong path without your guidance! Aren’t you worried about what will happen to them?”

“I suppose it all comes down to where they’ll receive their education. If it’s a proper school, I trust they’ll be fine, even without me,” Aaron explained. He took his job as a teacher very seriously, but he wasn’t so egotistical that he believed he was the only teacher who could serve his students well.

“What about little Jacob?” Katie continued.

Aaron looked puzzled. “What about him?”

“He absolutely adores you,” Katie said. “He’ll be devastated if you leave.” Not to mention, I’d be devastated, too, Katie thought. “Plus, I’ve seen the way you look after him. You really care for him. I suspect you’d miss him just as much as he’d miss you.”

Aaron frowned. “I care for Jacob just as I care for all my pupils.”

Katie didn’t press the issue further, but she knew she was right. For all of his rules and rigor, Aaron Cavett had a soft spot for little Jacob.

Callum ran up to Katie and Aaron and tugged on Katie’s skirt. “Miss Sanders! Will you sing for us again?”

Katie looked at Aaron. “I’m not sure. I don’t want to disturb your Headmaster.”

“Nonsense,” Aaron replied. “You won’t distract me. In fact, your singing will help me focus on my work. You have a beautiful voice, Katie. I hope you’ll use it.”

Katie’s heart soared at Aaron’s compliment. She nodded and made her way to the center of the church. A few of the boys gathered around her and she began to sing a few scales as a warm-up.

She taught the boys the notes she sang and within a few minutes, they had joined her.

Aaron sat back and rubbed his aching temples. Despite the fact that he had worked nonstop since arriving in Nowhere, he had accomplished very little. The boys had no permanent place to live or go to school. But at moments like these, watching beautiful Katie singing with the boys, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.

Even Jacob looked positively angelic as he sang next to Katie, even though Aaron knew he was most likely planning something mischievous.

Aaron wanted to get back to work, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away from Katie and her incredible voice. He had never heard anything like it before. He didn’t think she knew what a special gift she had been blessed with.

Katie taught the boys one of her favorite church hymns. They picked it up with ease, and soon they were even harmonizing with each other. Jacob had a natural command of pitch and tone, and Katie pushed him to project his voice. It rang out through the church.

Aaron sat in silence, amazed at what Katie had been able to teach Jacob in less than an hour. He had no idea the boy could sing like that. For all of Jacob’s talents, though, Katie’s voice was on another level.

Once the boys had tired of singing, they sat down on the floor to rest.

“Please, Miss Sanders, just one more?” Callum begged.

“Yes, Miss Sanders! Another!” Jacob chimed in.

The other boys also beseeched her to continue, and Katie finally acquiesced. “Fine. One more song. But this is the last one,” she warned.

The boys erupted into cheers.

Katie closed her eyes and thought about her growing interest in Aaron. She wasn’t brave enough to tell him how she felt about him in words, so why not in song? She could sing any song but would make sure the tone and inflection made it clear that she was in love.

Slowly, Katie began to sing. Even the older boys came in through the back of the church and reverently took seats in the pews, listening to Katie’s melodies float through the air. Katie poured all of her passion and emotion into her song. She didn’t look at Aaron once, but he was all she could think about. When she drew to a finish, the boys and Aaron burst into applause.

Katie blushed and took a mock bow. She walked over to Aaron.

“That was spectacular, Katie,” Aaron said. He felt alive after listening to the way Katie sang. He knew he could listen to her for hours.

“Thank you,” Katie said gratefully. She looked at the stack of paperwork and books in front of him. “Do you need any help?”

Aaron shook his head. “I don’t want to trouble you with the mess I’ve created. One of my teachers used to tell me that I make things more complicated than they need to be.”

Katie took a step closer. “I really don’t mind. I would be happy to help.”

Aaron stared at Katie’s delicate mouth and imagined kissing her. His heart began pounding faster and faster. He worried it was so loud she would be able to hear it. But instead, she stood there, waiting for further instructions.

Aaron shook his head. He needed to pull himself together. “No, thank you, Miss Sanders. Have a good evening,” Aaron told Katie with an air of finality.

Katie swallowed back a few tears of disappointment and nodded. “Good night.”

Katie said goodbye to Jacob, Callum, and the other boys and then left the church. She sat outside the building and waited for Cletus to pick her up after he was done at work. No matter what she tried to think about, her thoughts kept returning to Aaron Cavett. She couldn’t figure him out. At times, he was friendly and generous. At others, he was strict and emotion-less. Which one was the real Aaron? And did he feel about her the way she felt about him?