The Spinster (Emerson Pass Historicals 2)

She looked up at me with tired eyes. “I can’t turn down the offer, and I thank you kindly.”

Josephine

Phillip went out to inspect the barn. We left shortly thereafter, worried about keeping Oz and Willie out in the cold for too long. Phillip had promised to return at first light. I planned on sending him with some staples, such as flour and lard.

With Phillip driving the horses, I had time to think. Phillip couldn’t repair that roof on his own. The twins would have to help. Viktor and Isak Olofsson might be able to spare some time as well as the Cole brothers, Noah and Roman. All the old gang from our first year at the school were as bonded as a group of people could be, having survived the day that Louisa Kellam’s father had come for Mama. She’d taught us that we were stronger as a team. We proved her right that day when we jumped and hog-tied him before he could finish choking Mama. I shivered, remembering. I could still see the roster of that first class in my mind. Mama, known as Miss Cooper to us then, had called out to us from it every morning.

Class of 1910, Emerson Pass, Colorado

Teacher: Miss Cooper

Martha Johnson, Age 16

Elsa Johnson, Age 14

Josephine Barnes, Age 13

Poppy Depaul, Age 13

Isak Olofsson, Age 11

Alma Cassidy, Age 10

Theo Barnes, Age 9

Flynn Barnes, Age 9

Louisa Kellam, Age 9

Viktor Olofsson, Age 9

Noah Cole, Age 8

Shannon Cassidy, Age 8

Roman Cole, Age 7

Nora Cassidy, Age 6

Willa Cole, Age 6

Cymbeline Barnes, Age 6

* * *

Things were different now. Most of us were grown. Three had fought in the war. Martha and Elsa were married now with babies of their own. Alma would soon be home from nursing school. I’d opened our library. Poppy was studying under a veterinarian so she could come home and be of help to the farmers and townspeople with beloved pets. Before she went away to finishing school, Louisa had assisted her adoptive mother with church duties. The Cole brothers and their uncle had opened a café in town.

I could still see how we’d looked back then, however, just by closing my eyes. What a scared little bunch we’d been. Papa’s dream to have a school to educate us had come true. It still made me proud to think of what he and Mama had built together. But now some of our gang were in trouble, and we needed to come to their aid.

“I can hear your mind turning,” Phillip said.

“I was thinking about that barn. You’ll need a village of men. With some help, you can finish it within a few days. By yourself, it could take weeks.”

“True enough.”

“I don’t want you up there on your own in the middle of winter. You could slip and fall. Break your neck.”

“You care about my neck?”