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“Betsy, whaddaya mean, creepin’ up on me thataway?” He glared at his wife, who seemed to shrink inside herself. “I could’ve nicked this blade!”
    “I’m sorry, but the new schoolmarm come out and wanted to talk to you.”
    The man pushed his hat to the back of his head. “What about?” He didn’t flick so much as a glance in Edythe’s direction. She squirmed uncomfortably.
    “About William. Seems he forgot to bring home a note tellin’ us she wanted to visit, an’ he’s been talkin’ out of turn an’ such in the schoolroom.” Mrs. Sholes recited William’s offenses in a calm, unemotional voice. Listening, Edythe experienced a small jolt of shock that the woman remembered every misdeed. Apparently she had been listening.
    Mr. Sholes worked his jaw back and forth while Mrs. Sholes talked, his brows low and his gaze aimed somewhere behind his wife’s head. Edythe took hope in the man’s deep scowl. When Mrs. Sholes fell silent, he plopped his fist on his hip. “That it?”
    Mrs. Sholes nodded.
    Finally Mr. Sholes looked directly at Edythe. “Miss Amsel – that your name?”
    The furrows in his forehead deepened, and Edythe’s heart doubled its tempo. She belatedly put out her hand. “Yes. I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”
    The man stared at her hand for a moment. Then he wiped his palm on his dirty pant leg and gave her fingers a brief shake. “Seems to me those troubles are your troubles, not ours.”
    Edythe’s hopes plummeted. “Surely you agree parents and teachers are in partnership when it comes to the education of children.”
    “Yep.” Mr. Sholes tapped his leg with the file. “My part of the teachin’ happens here. An’ your part of the teachin’ happens at school. I wouldn’t want you to come to my house an’ give my boy lessons on farmin’ or shoein’ a horse. You’d be interferin’ in my job.”
    Edythe knew where he was leading. “I’m simply requesting your support. If William sees that you view education as important, then his attitude toward school – and his behavior – should change.”
    Mr. Sholes removed his hat, wiped his forehead with his wrist, and then plunked the hat back into place. “Look, you got a job to do. You want me to respect that. All right, I respect it. But I have a job to do, too, an’ if I have to run to the school every time my boy gets a little ornery, I won’t get my job done. So I’ll say it again: I’ll take care of William when he’s at home, an’ you take care of him when he’s at school. Do your job, Teacher.”
    Edythe’s face flamed at his insolent tone. Harsh words quivered on the tip of her tongue, but she held them back. It would be pointless to argue with this muleheaded man and his mouse-like wife. “Very well.” She whirled toward the wide opening at the opposite side of the barn. As she charged into the sunlight, she heard a snicker. Looking up, she spotted William in the loft window.
    He grinned, the curl of his lip impudent. “See you on Monday, Miss Amsel.”
    Edythe snorted as she climbed into the wagon and released the brake. Taking up the reins, she gave them a little flick. “Yah!” The horse obediently lurched forward, and Edythe aimed the wagon for the road. The sooner she left the Sholeses’ place, the happier she would be! And over the weekend she needed to concoct a scheme to bring William under control.

Chapter
FIVE
    Joel reached over his head to the highest mercantile shelf and caught the curved handle of the lone oversized kettle. He pulled, but the kettle didn’t budge.
    Small hands tugged at his pant leg. “Uncle Joel, can we have some licorice now?”
    Robert – always wanting candy when they came to town for their Saturday shopping.
    “I . . . already told you . . .” Joel grunted with the effort of removing the kettle from the shelf. Was it caught on something? “If you and Johnny are good the whole time we’re here, then you can each choose a licorice whip. But not . . .