“If you will just let me explain,” she pleaded. She couldn’t accept the dull ache of foreboding.
Levi Westland nodded. “Yes, I believe we should allow her to explain.”
“I don’t see the point. The evidence is here for all to view. Miss Leland admits she spent many nights at the Miller farm.” The bank president’s wife spoke with a contempt that forbade any further argument.
“Now, dear, let her speak.” Mr. Anderson patted his wife’s hand.
The woman looked ready to argue further, then took a deep breath and sighed. “I don’t see the point, but if she must.”
“I believe she must.” Josiah’s low voice reminded Anna Mae of his presence. She hated that he was here to witness her shame.
Mr. Anderson waved his hand in her direction. “Go ahead, Miss Leland. Tell us what happened.”
Anna Mae remembered Josiah’s words, “Just tell them what you told me.” She took a deep, calming breath and did just that. Her hands shook in her lap as Mrs. Anderson studied her with impassive coldness. The woman’s mouth twisted wryly as Anna Mae recounted how she’d followed Bart out into the woods.
Levi nodded his head as if agreeing with her choice to go search for the little boy, as did a couple of the other men.
She assured them of the innocence of her stay and that she’d been very ill. Anna Mae finished by explaining that she and Mr. Miller had returned to town the moment it was safe to travel with the girls.
Josiah stood. His hands worked the rim of his hat while he spoke. “I can vouch for Miss Leland. Everything she has told you is the truth. When she arrived at the farm, Miss Leland was very ill. It wasn’t until the last few days that she’s felt well enough to get up and eat.”
Mrs. Anderson gasped, but he pressed on. “I’d like to add that Miss Leland behaved like a perfect lady, watching over the girls as best she could, being sick and all, while I handled the care of the horse and mule. She has done nothing wrong and I request that you allow her to keep her teaching position.”
Anna Mae knew that in his own way Josiah thought to help her, but she feared his words caused more damage than good. He must have felt so, too, as the tensing of his jaw betrayed his deep frustration. Her heart warmed at the thought that at least he’d tried to help her. She watched the play of emotions on his face and realized he felt the same hopelessness that tore through her.
For a moment she allowed bitterness to slip in. He would walk away with no repercussions. His job wasn’t threatened. He would suffer no embarrassment, no aftermaths, yet she stood to lose everything. Where was the fairness in that?
Then she realized how unfair her thoughts were. He’d been nothing but kind to her. Even in front of these people, Josiah had tried to help her. They’d become friends during her stay with him. If truth be known, it was a friendship she wouldn’t have minded cultivating, if the circumstances were different.
She imposed an iron control on herself, stifling any warmth she felt toward the sheriff. Josiah simply felt guilty for her predicament. It wasn’t his fault, but she knew he felt as if part of it were. Either way, Anna Mae refused to allow herself to soften toward him. She couldn’t afford to let another man break her heart. Besides, by the way things looked, after today she wouldn’t be staying in Granite.
She raised her eyes to find the board members watching her, gauging her reaction to Josiah’s words. Her gaze shifted from one person to the other, the majority of them staring back in accusation. Thoughtfully, she searched each man and woman’s face. Several of the men looked at her with what appeared to be sympathy, while Mrs. Anderson’s features showed nothing but scorn. Levi Westland held her gaze as if to say he was on her side.
Mrs. Anderson spoke once more. “As honorable as Miss Leland’s tale sounds, she still broke several of the rules of her contract. Gentlemen, I realize you think she did the right thing by going out for the boy, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that she signed a contract. What good is the contract if we do not hold our schoolteachers to it?”
When no one answered, Anna Mae was assailed by a terrible sense of bitterness. She knit her fingers together and rested them in her lap. Her throat ached with defeat. Lord, why? In desperation her heart cried out to her creator. Have You forgotten me? Is there a purpose in allowing this to happen a second time? Did I not learn the lesson You wanted me to through the humiliation of being stranded at the altar? Must I be humiliated again through no fault of my own? Bitter tears burned the backs of her eyes. She lowered her head so that they couldn’t see them.
The woman’s voice droned on. “I move that we dismiss Miss Leland as our schoolteacher. She broke the contract when she left town with Bart Bradshaw and stayed out after dark. As for what happened at the Miller farm, that is between Sheriff Miller, Miss Leland and the good Lord.”
Anna Mae raised her head and boldly looked Mrs. Anderson straight in the eyes. She might stand accused, but she most definitely was not guilty, and she refused to cower in front of them as if she were. God knew that she had done no wrong and therefore had nothing to be ashamed of.
Mr. Anderson spoke up. “I second the motion.”
Mrs. Anderson continued with the ruling. “All in favor raise your right hands.”
Three of the men raised their hands. Levi Westland sat staring at them with hard eyes.
“All opposed.” Mrs. Anderson continued as if daring Levi to raise his hand.
He did so and said, “This is wrong, Thelma Anderson, and you know it.”
She ignored him as if he hadn’t spoken. “Miss Leland, you are hereby removed as the schoolteacher of Granite, Texas, for your unladylike conduct.”
“Now hold on just a moment.” Josiah’s voice boomed about the room. “Miss Leland never once misbehaved as a lady. And if I hear such words bantered about town, I may just lock you up for slander.”
Anna Mae stood. “Sheriff Miller. Thank you for your kind words, but the school board has spoken.” She smoothed out her skirt and walked to the door. Just before exiting, she added, “I’m sure Mrs. Anderson is too much of a Christian to go speaking falsehoods about me. Now, if you all will excuse me, I will be retiring to my room.” Her chin quivered but she managed to hold her head high as she exited the room.
* * *
Josiah looked at each of the school board members. He ought to arrest every one of them. They’d just delivered a verdict without any evidence. A court of law would have thrown them out of the courthouse. He could think of any number of things to charge them with. Slander, destruction of character and illegal firing from a job. And the unfairness of it—now that cut the cake. All in the name of moral correctness.
“Well, now, what will we do for a schoolteacher?” he asked, noting that none of them would meet his eyes.
Mrs. Anderson raised her head and sighed dramatically. “I suppose I shall have to fill in until another teacher can be found. I suggest we advertise for a male teacher this time.”
He looked at the older woman, her actions finally making sense. “Ah...” He deliberately drew the word out. “I see.” Everyone knew the bank president’s wife was bored, but Josiah wouldn’t have thought she’d fire Anna Mae to give herself a job to do.
She glared at him, but a telling flush crept into her cheeks and deepened to crimson.
Josiah shook his head, distaste curling the edges of his mouth into a grimace, which he allowed the board members to see. To their credit a few of them had the grace to look ashamed, and dropped their heads. He slapped his hat back on his head and left.
He made his way to Emily Jane, who sat with the twins just outside the door. “Thank you for watching the girls,” he said in greeting.
“It didn’t go well for Anna Mae, did it?”
“I’m