Will stood off to the side, watching his wife in her prettiest new dress, greeting the children on the first day of school. Today, he insisted on going with her, even though she told him not to worry, she could drive the team. 

Not only because he wanted to make certain she was all right, but because he wanted to watch his wife in action. As the youngsters walked into school, she gave them seating assignments according to their age group. Of course, there were always a couple of ruffians and she just smiled at them and pointed them in the right direction. 

They would test her character. While Quinlan sometimes appeared weak, hiding beneath her fear was a will of iron he knew would be good for the children.

"Good morning," she said to the students as they walked in the door. 

How had he gotten so lucky to have married this woman? Sure, they still had some problems to work through, but he was falling in love with her. She had such a gentle, sweet soul and the life they were building together he hoped would become stronger. 

A wagon pulled up and he glanced up to see his mother and father. Oh no, what did his mother want now? "Will, please help me down."

He walked over and assisted his mother. "What are you doing here?"

"It's the first day of school and that's my daughter, the teacher," she said, clapping her hands together. Reaching back in the wagon, she pulled out a dish filled with cupcakes. "This morning, I made these for her to share with her new students. Excuse me, son, but I want to give these to Quinlan." 

Suddenly she paused and gazed at Will. "Is she feeling all right? If she's having morning sickness, these might make her nauseous."

Will wanted to rent the air with curses but couldn't. Instead he gritted his teeth and took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Quinlan is doing great. No need to worry mother."

If the poor woman knew they hadn't had sex yet, she would be so disappointed. Will wanted to wait and give his wife time to adjust. Now he didn't know how to get started. Soon, the magic would happen, soon. 

"Take the cupcakes to Quinlan, Mother. I'm sure she'll appreciate them," he said, not wanting to upset his mother. It was thoughtful of her to cook for the children who would love them. Maybe his wife would save him one. 

"Quinlan, dear," his mother said, hurrying up the steps of the school. "For the first day, I brought these for your students."

"Thank you," she said. 

"Have a wonderful day."

"Thanks again," Quinlan said as she went back to directing the kids. 

When the last of the children filed in, she rang the bell. Time for him to go back to his carpentry. Time for his parents to return home and for Quinlan's life as the new teacher to begin.

She smiled and gave him a hearty wave as she closed the door and he heard the click that meant she'd locked it from the inside.

Last week, when he was doing the finishing touches, he installed a new lock. No, he didn't think there would be any trouble, but being prepared was better than taking a chance. 

He helped his mother back in the wagon. "I can't believe she's teaching," she said smiling. 

"You're the one who had her come to Zenith," he said. "You're the one who said I should marry the teacher."

"And you did. Are you happy?" she asked sincerely like she doubted she had done the right thing. 

At first, he'd been reluctant and even angry that his mother placed an ad for him, but the results were the best thing that ever happened to him. His wife, Quinlan, was more than a man could ever dream of having for a partner. Soon, when the time was right, they would consummate their marriage. 

A grin spread across his face. "Yes, Mother, I'm very happy. Quinlan makes me happy. You did good."

His mother clapped her hands. "I'm so glad. Now, I must get home. Right now, I'm crocheting baby blankets. The first one I'm doing is blue and the second one pink."

"Aren't you rushing things a bit? We're not pregnant."

"No, but you soon will be," she said with a smile and a wave. 

As they drove away, he thought at least she was positive. Right now, he wasn't so certain since they had yet to do the deed. 

The first week of school went off remarkably well. There were the usual pranks played by certain students and she had already identified her troublemakers and separated them. There were the typical little girls who flirted with the boys and the shy kids who stayed to themselves. Closing up, she walked out the door and locked it behind her.

"Mrs. Adams, a word with you, please," a woman said, startling her. 

The woman was Jessica's mother and already she had determined the child could be pompous. The ostentatious airs about her mother confirmed her suspicions. Today was the first time she had driven alone and she knew if she was terribly late, Will would come looking for her. 

"Your Jessica Brown's mother."

"Yes, Lydia Brown," the woman said not holding out her hand as if she did not want to lower herself to a teacher’s level.

The woman stood at the bottom of the steps looking up at Quinlan, but she moved up the stairs to block her from leaving. Quinlan looked around to see if her daughter was anywhere near. 

"How can I help you," Quinlan said, knowing instinctively the woman was trouble. "This first week your daughter is doing very well."

She gave a snort. "Mrs. Adams, my daughter is incredibly intelligent and I’m not certain you are capable of teaching her what she needs to learn. Jessica came home and said a young man named Pecos is in her class. That boy is a half breed."

The term half breed Quinlan found derogatory. Sure, she noticed the child's beautiful dark eyes and dark skin, but she chose and would continue to treat him like everyone else. 

"Mrs. Brown, the only thing I know about this child is he's here in my school and he's an excellent student."

This situation was something she had never dealt with in New York. All the children at the orphanage had no parents, and no one except Madam Wigg to make certain they received the best education.

"Don't you understand? His tribe will use whatever knowledge you teach him against us. They will sneak into town in the middle of the night and kill all of us. Remove him from your classroom."

Was there any way to handle this delicately without making Jessica's mother anymore upset? Could she point out the boy's family had probably been here longer than her family, but things like that didn't matter to women like her. 

"Mrs. Brown, as a teacher, I don't decide who gets to learn and who doesn't. My job is to educate the children who come into my school and inspire in them the desire to learn and to continue their education. After all, we will soon be handing off society to the children."

The woman stared at her like she was as ignorant as they came. 

"Look, Mrs. Adams, you're from New York. Just a few years back, tribes roamed the countryside killing people. We don't need to be educating these kids and teaching them to rob us in our beds."

No matter how Quinlan tried to reason with the woman, she could not get through her stubborn insistence the boy brought danger to the children.

"I'm sure you're right about the tribes roaming the countryside. But again, I'm here to teach. My job is not to discourage someone from learning. Have you ever thought maybe by teaching him a skill, he will become an active member of our society?"

The woman's face turned red and her eyes grew large like she was appalled. When she spoke, her voice had risen in volume almost screaming at Quinlan.

"Well, I don't give a fig about this child. All I know is I don't want Jessica around that boy, catching whatever diseases he carries. And when the Indians attack your school, I don't want her killed by his people."

Sure, she read the raids in Texas had killed many people, but somehow, she didn't think Pecos’s tribe was going to invade the town. Most Indian tribes now resided on reservations. 

"Mrs. Brown, I'm sorry you feel this way. The school is a safe place and the Indians haven't attacked in years. If you think you must remove Jessica, I would hate to lose her as a student."

The woman turned up her nose. "Remember, when the school is attacked, the blood of these children will be on your hands. The school board will be hearing from me."

Without another word, she whirled around and hurried down the steps. Just what she didn't want or need: an angry parent. Would she influence the other parents to remove their children?

Quinlan didn't want trouble in her school, but if she asked one child to leave, who was to say another parent would come in and say no blonde children. Or no blue eyed or red headed children. 

This teacher wasn't going to divide her students for any reason.

Quinlan was late getting home and Will began to pace the floor. Before he set off in search of her, he would give her a little more time. Maybe she kept a student after class or something slowed her from leaving, but wherever she was, he wished she'd hurry. 

Worry gnawed his stomach as he continually glanced down the lane, searching for the sight of his wife. 

The news from the sheriff alarmed him. Neither one had heard from Al. Maybe he was busy tracking Lee, but when he didn't receive word from his friend, Will worried. 

Lee was a cold-blooded killer who already ended three people's lives. One more wouldn't make a bit of difference to him and Lee knew that Al and he worked together. 

The man would like nothing more than to finish killing Will. Because of Al and Will, the man's gang now sat behind bars waiting to hang and they planned to catch Lee. Until he almost killed Will. 

Determined not to become anxious, he took a deep breath and went back into the kitchen just as the rattle of the wagon turned down the drive. Finally, she was home. 

Rushing out the door, he greeted her at the barn, a smile on his lips. "I worried about you."

She shook her head. "An irate parent kept me after school."

As he lifted her out of the wagon, his hands on her small waist, his chest tightening with want. The smell of lavender wafted to his nose and he almost moaned. Hurriedly, he unhitched the wagon. "Did you have a problem with one of the children?"

"Oh no, just her mother."

Rushing to spend time with his wife, he slipped the bridle off the horse and led the mare inside. After a quick rub down, he gave the animal a fresh bag of oats. Finally, he pulled the wagon to the side of the barn, ready to begin again in the morning.

Slipping his arm around Quinlan's, he inwardly sighed as she smiled up at him. 

"Why was the parent upset?"

Never before had he thought much about the parents giving a teacher trouble. He expected it to be from the students. 

"There is a little boy Pecos in my class. A nice young man who is quiet and studious and probably smarter than some of the other children," his wife pursed her lips and shook her head, clearly annoyed, "This mother told me he's a half breed."

Suddenly Will recognized which families were causing her problems. 

"Sorry, but I don't look at a child's color, what their religion is, or anything other than trying to stimulate their minds and teach them what they need to know. The term half breed I find distasteful, vulgar, and rude."

Will watched his wife clench her fists like she wanted to punch someone. "And I found Mrs. Brown's threats to remove her daughter from school to be especially vile. But it's her choice."

Bull’s eye. The family had moved to Zenith about four years ago when the husband took over the bank in town. The banker's wife was a rigid, elite matron doing her best to bring high society out west. Pecos’s family were generous and loving and their daughter married an Indian brave. The result, Pecos. 

Though he didn't like the situation with the Browns, he would try to let Quinlan handle this. Hopefully she wouldn't need his protection. The boy was an innocent child caught between two worlds, and now his world had spilled over onto his wife.

"I'm proud of how you stood up for that child, but keep in mind Mrs. Brown will go to every parent in that school. That woman is vicious and will try to have you either fired or the boy removed."

They reached the porch and she sank down to the swing and he sat beside her. This had become their ritual in the last week. When she came home from school, they would sit on the swing and enjoy a few moments relaxing before they went in and cooked supper. 

This was his favorite time with his wife. 

"All I want to do is teach. Not try to keep snobbish parents happy. This boy wants to learn like all the other kids."

With a yank, he pulled her against him. "You'll do what's right for both the boy and the children in the school."

As she gazed at him, her emerald eyes glowed with warmth and he leaned down covering her mouth with his. The kiss deepened with his lips moving over hers, letting her realize how happy she made him. A moan escaped from the back of her throat as he released her lips. 

"For now, I'm so glad that my wife is home."

"You just want me to cook supper," she said grinning.

Laughter erupted from his lips. Lately they had started to tease one another, and she realized the last thing he wanted was some of her burned cooking. "How about we fix dinner together."

She hugged him to her and he felt his heart slam into his chest. How long before she gave him some kind of signal she was ready to consummate their marriage. He was beginning to fall in love with this gentle woman who stood her ground for what she believed was right.