Merry Christmas, My Love

“Saturday. Right before I saw you, but it didn’t blacken until later that night.” Ellie continued to eat.

“What did Mr. Colbert say?”

Ellie swallowed. “Luckily, I haven’t seen him yet. Marion told me he went to a meeting in Oklahoma City this morning, but I thought he may be back by now. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

Before Ellie could relate the story to Rose about falling into the water trough, two other teachers joined them. Once again she shared the story of her black eye, saving the water trough episode for Rose’s ears only.

Thankfully Mr. Colbert didn’t join the teachers for lunch, which he rarely did anyway, but there was always the chance. If she could only dodge him for a couple more days, there would be no need to have to view the censure in his eyes again.

Her thoughts turned to him as the other teachers chattered around her. She had never in her life found a man who interested her in a way that made her question her vow to never marry. Until now. Why in heaven’s name would Max Colbert, arrogant, self-righteous, and narrow-minded, make her heart beat faster? When she looked into those deep blue eyes, above a well-shaped nose, and sensuous lips, her stomach did funny little things. Things that made her squirm.

She’d been very aware of his strength when he gripped her shoulders and pulled her out of the water. And she may be a spinster, but at twenty-eight years, she’d known his thoughts when he glared at her soaking wet clothes. The only way to describe his eyes was smoldering. She was surprised her clothes hadn’t dried on the spot under the heat of his glare. But Max Colbert stood for all the things she and her fellow suffragettes were fighting against. Male arrogance and superiority. It would behoove her to remember that and stay as far away from him as possible.

Max braked in front of Dennis Hoover’s home. Hoover lived in a small apartment building on the corner of Fifth and Lexington, several miles from the Guthrie Library where the Women’s Rights members met. He checked his watch. The meeting wouldn’t start for another ten minutes.

“Thanks for coming, Dennis. I appreciate the company.”

The pudgy man with spectacles and thinning hair tugged at his collar. “I don’t mind, Max. Like I said, it isn’t as though I had anything better to do tonight. I just don’t understand why you want to go to this here meeting. You don’t seem like the women’s rights type.”

“One of my teachers is involved with the group. I want to see if it’s an activity befitting a lady.” And possibly handing her off to you.

They stood at the door to the meeting room. Much to Max’s surprise, there were a few other men sprinkled throughout the audience. He grunted. Probably dragged there by their wives. He scanned the room until he spotted Miss Henderson. She spoke to another woman, her back facing him, but he’d recognize that messy bun of brown curls anywhere. Also, the slender shoulders and back. And the way her waist dipped in, and her bottom charmingly outlined by her slim skirt. Sweat beaded his forehead, and he mentally shook himself.

“This way.” He stepped in front of Dennis and led the way to two empty seats next to Miss Henderson. He motioned for Dennis to sit next to her, and he took the seat after. Max cleared his throat. “Miss Henderson.”

She turned, her smile faltering. Her eyes widened. Her mouth opened as if to say something, closed abruptly, then opened again. “Mr. Colbert?”

“What the devil happened to your eye?” He leaned across Dennis to examine the yellow and purple skin.

“An accident.” She touched her eye briefly. “What are you doing here?”

He glared at her. “What sort of accident could a lady have that would involve a black eye?”

“A man hit me in the eye with his elbow.”

Max jumped from his seat. “Who? Who hit you? I demand to know who struck you, Miss Henderson.”

Dennis and Miss Henderson stared at him, eyes wide, mouths open. She turned and looked at the audience they had attracted. “Mr. Colbert, please, sit down, you’re causing a scene.”

He sat and adjusted his tie and coat. She might put him off, but he would get to the bottom of this. After a few deep breaths, he turned to her again. “Miss Henderson?”

“Yes, Mr. Colbert.”

“I would like to introduce you to Mr. Dennis Hoover, an acquaintance of mine. Dennis,” he nodded in the man’s direction, “this is Miss Ellie Henderson, one of the teachers at Logan County High School.”

Dennis blushed a bright red and put out his hand. “How do you do, Miss Henderson?”

She ignored his hand. “I’m fine, thank you, Mr. Hoover.” She leaned across him and looked Max in the eye. “Why are you here, Mr. Colbert?”

“Is this not an open meeting?”

She bristled. “Of course it’s open, but we prefer supporters.”

Dennis eased his chair back as Max and Ellie shot remarks at each other, his head moving back and forth. Within minutes, the woman at the podium smacked the gavel and announced the beginning of the meeting.

Max sat back and continued to fume. A black eye! Whoever gave her that injury would answer to him. Since Miss Henderson’s uncle had been derelict in his duty toward his niece, he would have to take up the slack. An accident! He turned toward her again, and leaned over Dennis. “I expect a full report on that accident on my desk first thing tomorrow morning. Names, Miss Henderson, I expect names.”

“Are you crazy? I told you i