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walked toward him, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. This disturbing man put her at a disadvantage. He was handsome like Holton, but he never tried to charm her like Holton. Mr. Lang reminded her more of a determined bull.
    Nothing she’d said so far concerning Gunther had made the least impression on him. She knew in her heart that there was nothing she could do to help Gunther fit in—too much separated him from the other students. But how could she make this man believe her? See he was doing harm to his brother?
    Glum about her prospects at persuading him, she sat down on the school step, facing the river. He sat down a polite distance from her. For a few minutes neither of them talked. Finally, she cleared her throat. She would try once more.
    “I realize that you want Gunther to learn more English so he is better prepared for life here.”
    His powerful shoulders strained against his cotton shirt. “Yes, that is so.”
    Her heart went out to him, a man trying to raise a teenage brother and a little boy by himself. Nonetheless, why did he have to be so stubborn? “But Gunther is too much older and too sensitive about being different from the others. Making him sit with little children won’t work.”
    “Gunther must learn to obey.” Mr. Lang’s words rang with deep feeling.
    She tried to imagine what was driving this man to continue to put his younger brother in such a difficult situation. Maybe if she talked about her family, he might reveal something about himself.
    “I have a younger sister.” She didn’t mention that her elder brother was full of himself or that she’d had a baby brother, too. It cost her enough to speak of her sister Cissy and what her sister had unwittingly put her through. She paused a moment, grappling with her own rampant emotions. “My parents made the mistake of always saying to her, ‘Why can’t you be more like your sister?’”
    Where am I going with this? How is this being helpful?
    She shook herself and then drew in a breath. “Nothing you do or say is going to change Gunther’s mind or behavior. The struggle is not between you and him. It’s really between Gunther and this new set of people, this new place.” She sighed.
    Several moments passed before he spoke. “You speak truth. But Gunther is too young to know what is good for him.”
    “Human nature will not be denied.” Each word increased her confidence that making the lad attend school would not end well. “Gunther is a young man and we’ve put him in a situation that wouldn’t be normal for any lad his age. You see that.”
    “Yes.” Mr. Lang didn’t sound happy or convinced. He rose. “I will keep Gunther home tomorrow. I must go, and think.” He bowed his head politely, his unfailing courtesy impressing her once again.
    “I think that’s best.” Ellen watched him don his hat and ride away. She stood motionless long after he’d vanished through the trees. Even after he had disappeared from view, his image stayed with her. A handsome, brave but troubled man. She wondered if his broad shoulders ever tired of the responsibilities he carried. The deep sadness she sensed in him drew her sympathy.
    She shook herself and went inside, her own heart heavy. Never far from her mind were the charming words Holton had spoken to her. She reminded herself that she must stop noticing Kurt Lang so keenly. After everything she’d been through with Holton, the last thing she needed was to be the focus of whispers about the foolish old-maid schoolmarm.
    Of course it was one thing to stop noticing him. It was another thing to stop thinking of him completely.

Chapter Four
    S tanding outside the Stewards’ cabin after Saturday supper, Kurt tried to figure out exactly what he was doing there. He’d been surprised when the Stewards had invited him and his family to eat with them and Miss Thurston. The meal had been tasty, and he’d enjoyed talking about farming and the fall hunting with Martin, who was about