A Teacher’s Heart of Gold (Preview)

Prologue

Tabitha Kingsbury’s small hands shook as she held the letter that could possibly be her future in a nutshell. She had been striving hard in her twenty-six years to become the best teacher she could be, and if the people of Tinker, Kansas, agreed with her, she knew she’d reached her goal. She knew the people of Tinker tended to be strict about who they allowed to teach their children. Her grandmother had gone on about it for years before she’d passed. It was a shame that Tabitha couldn’t show her grandma her success.

Tinker was the largest town in Kansas near Booty, where she was born and raised. In the opinion of Tabby’s mother and grandmother, Booty was the cesspool of Kansas, a small bump in the road that didn’t need to be marked on the map. Everyone in Booty was anxious to leave. Everyone under thirty, anyway. Tabby was one of them. It was hard for her to believe she’d stayed in the little dumpy town as long as she had.

It was the people that kept her there. Times were miserable, and supplies were almost always low, especially during the winter. Traveling to Tinker was the only way to get supplies, and it was a three-hour trek there and back through rough terrain. 

Sometimes Tabby wondered why Booty still even existed. 

She lifted the envelope and turned it over to slide her fingers under the flap and open it. If she got the teaching job in Tinker, it wouldn’t start until the new year, when 1880 brought in all kinds of changes. She hoped a permanent move to the larger town was part of that change. 

Tabby sucked in a deep breath and held it. She unfolded the paper with her eyes closed and peeked through one eye, squinting, wishing her heart would stop slamming in her chest.

“Our dear Ms. Tabitha Kingsbury, we are delighted to inform you….”

She didn’t finish reading. Her eyes opened wide, instant tears filling them. She practically crumpled the paper in her hands as she lifted her fists in the air and did a jig around the kitchen, singing a happy tune. She couldn’t help laughing at herself. It was too fantastic.

“What in heaven’s name?” Tabby’s mother, Agatha, came into the kitchen, staring at her daughter. A second later, her eyes flipped to the paper in Tabby’s hand, and a big smile came to her lips. “You got the job? You got it?”

Tabitha laughed and skipped over to her mother, holding her hands out. She grabbed hold of her mother’s, and the two danced together around the room. Tabby couldn’t have been happier. 

“When do you go?” Agatha asked, her voice high-pitched in her excitement. “Oh, I’m so happy for you. I will miss you so much.”

Tabby stopped dancing and stood still in front of her mother, looking into the woman’s eyes. “I didn’t read it all yet, but I’m sure I have to go before the beginning of school after the new year starts. Oh, Momma, I’m so excited. I finally made it. And I don’t want you to miss me. I want you to come with me! Say you’ll come with me, Momma, please! I don’t want to go alone. Tinker is a big city compared to Booty.”

Her mother snorted, though her smile remained in place. “That isn’t saying much. But I know what you mean. And I don’t know, honey. My life is here. It’s always been here.”

Tabby pulled her eyebrows together and puckered her lips. “You’ve always hated it here, too, Momma, and you know it. Now you have the opportunity to go somewhere else. With me! You should take it! You know Poppa would want you to. Don’t deny it.” Her green eyes flashed with reminiscence, thinking of her beloved father, who’d been crushed by a large tree while cutting them down. He’d been a lumberjack, and, by nature, his job was dangerous. She hated thinking of his demise now, especially when something good had finally happened to her.

“You’re right,” her mother said, nodding. “He would want me to go with you. But it’s such a big change, Tabby. I don’t know if the big city is right for me.”

Tabby thought quickly. She didn’t want to go to Tinker by herself, but she would if she had to. It just wasn’t right to leave her mother behind in the armpit of Kansas when she would be living in a quaint little cottage, making new friends, and enjoying new sights. She wanted her mother there, as well, enjoying her life.

“It’s not as big as you think. I’m sure it’s much the same as last winter when you had to travel there for medicine. Just think of it, Momma. You would have everything you need at your fingertips year-round. You could probably find some sewing work or cleaning if that’s what you want to do. You’d have a whole new world opened to you.”

Her mother laughed delightedly, giving Tabby the impression that she was, in fact, going to Tinker with her daughter. “You make it sound like the Garden of Eden.”

Tabby laughed with her. “You know how I feel about Tinker, Momma. I’ve always wanted to live there but didn’t want to go until I was established.” She lifted the letter and shook it lightly, thinking she should probably read the rest to ensure she wasn’t mistaken. She glanced at it, quickly scanning the words under the greeting, which only excited her more. “This proves I’m established, Momma. And I insist you come with me. You can visit your friends from here when they have to come to Tinker for supplies and goods.”

Her mother chuckled, giving her a knowing look. “All right, dear. I’ll come with you. When do we leave?”

“We have two weeks.”

“During the Christmas season, then?” her mother asked, raising her eyebrows.

“The children will return to school after the new year, and I will be there to greet them.” She threw her arms around her mother, still laughing. “I’m so happy, Momma. This means everything to me! God has truly blessed me. You know how much I’ve wanted this!”

Chapter One

Algie Bronson ran one hand through his black hair, knowing it would bounce back to where it had been before he did it. He needed a trip to the barber. His hair was getting entirely too long. The curls were getting in his way, and it made his head sweat even though it was wintertime.

His kids, Mack and Ellie, were yelling at each other in the other room, but he could tell by the tone they were playing. His children were seven and five, and they didn’t always get along. When they did, Algie could tell the difference. They were yelling at each other because they were playing a game. Soon they would come running into the kitchen asking him where dinner was at.

Algie turned his dark green eyes to the massive, thick door to his home, which was already open, as he was expecting company. That company was coming in at that moment. Algie smiled at him. 

“Howdy, Charlie, how you doing this evenin’?”

Charles gave him a sardonic look as he crossed the room and dropped into a dining table chair. “I’m bout frustrated, Algie. That wife of mine. I don’t know what to do with her.”

Algie hated to hear his friend was having marital trouble. He himself had lost his wife, the mother of his dear children, soon after his daughter was born. There’d been no complications with the birth, and both mother and child had been fine. But two days after Ellie’s birth, Carol caught an infection. There was bleeding inside her body the doctor didn’t detect, and she died when Ellie was three days old.

Algie hadn’t met another woman in the past five years that could possibly have eased his pain and made his heart love again. If he was honest, Algie didn’t think that would happen for him again. He’d come to accept it. 

He turned over the meat in the pan to let the other side cook and joined his friend at the table.

“Tell me what’s happening. Is there anything I can do to help?”

Charles grunted, tracing an imaginary line on the tabletop, hunched over with his other hand pressed against his tight lips. He lifted his head slightly to respond to Algie’s question. 

“Nah, you know you can’t talk to that woman. If I can’t get her to see sense, you can’t, either. I guarantee it.”

Algie knew his friend was right, but it never hurt to ask. 

“Anything else then. I don’t mind. Send George over to stay the night, and you take your lady out on the town and show her a good time.”

“There are about three places in Tinker to show a lady a good time, Algie, and my wife and I have visited all three more times than we can count. That’s not special to her.”

“What is special?” Algie asked, thinking if Charles could do something to make his wife, Ruth, know how much he really loved her, they would stop arguing so much. He’d stopped asking what the arguments were about. They were generally none of his business and based around something mundane anyway. He would never tell Charles how meaningless the reasons behind his fights with his wife were. To the couple, these were important things. They were both good people. Charles had never laid a finger of anger on his wife, and she was not the type to insult him or make him feel bad about himself. They were devoted to each other and to the Lord. They weren’t about to dismiss His ways just because they didn’t get along all the time. They still fought regularly. It was a mystery to Algie as to why. 

“I don’t know,” Charles sighed. “I reckon that’s the problem.”

Algie searched his brain for something good to respond with but didn’t think of anything before his children burst through the door. Both he and Charles whipped their heads around to watch them barrel into the room, Mack heading for his father and Ellie stopping short in front of Charles, staring at him. She knew who he was and wasn’t frightened, but it was always funny to see her stand and stare at the man like she did.

Algie bit his lips together to keep from laughing. He didn’t want to risk hurting her feelings if she thought she was being laughed at.

“Hello,” she said to Charles in a plain voice.

“Hello there, little one,” Charles responded pleasantly. “You are looking like a lovely young lady tonight.”

“Thank you.” Ellie curtsied, pulling the sides of her pink dress out as she did so. Algie loved his daughter so much that the feeling sent warmth throughout his body. He stood up and went to her, scooping her in his arms to kiss her. 

“What are you two doing in here? Dinner isn’t ready.” He didn’t have to ask the question. This was a regular nightly routine for them. The children would play until they smelled the food cooking and then would come running in before it was ready, wondering why it wasn’t on the table for them to eat yet. 

“She said dinner was ready,” Mack replied, sticking his tongue out at his sister. “You were wrong, Ellie. Dead wrong.”

“I was not!” Ellie called out, struggling to get out of her father’s hands. He set her down on the floor, and she stomped over to her brother and glared into his face. Her lower jaw jutted out. “Dinner is too ready.” She turned innocent eyes to Algie, who felt bad for her but wasn’t going to lie. “Right, Papa?” 

Algie winced visibly and gave her a sympathetic look. “It’s not quite done yet, Ellie, sorry.”

“Haha!” Mack stated crassly, sneering at his sister. “You were wrong, you were wrong, you were wrong.”

“Be quiet, Mackenzie Bronson!” Ellie yelled out, balling up her small fists and shaking her head so violently that her blond curls bounced from side to side. “I don’t like you when you act like this.”

“Well, I don’t like you when you act like this!” Mack responded. “You always do. You act like you know it all, but you don’t, Ellie!”

“You’re just a meanie!” Ellie shot back hotly. “You’re just a….”

“That’s enough!” Algie spat out the words, making not only his children jump but his friend as well. Algie sent an apologetic look to Charles, who looked like he just wanted to stay out of it. “You two go to your rooms until I come to get you for dinner!”

They stomped from the room, grumbling and bickering with each other but no longer yelling.

“They need a mother,” he mumbled, turning his eyes to Charles. “That’s what the Lord intends, doesn’t He? For all children to have a mother and a father. Perhaps it’s time to start looking for companionship for me and a woman who will be a mother to them.”

Charles pulled his lips back and lifted his eyebrows. He sighed.“I think you’re right, Algie. Been saying it for a while now. But not just any woman. You know that. When you find the right one, you’ll know.”

Algie snorted. “If I do.”

Charles shook his head, giving his friend a confident look. “You will. You will.”

Chapter Two

Tabitha glanced at her mother before pulling out the letter from Francis. Her sister was still in Booty. She hadn’t lived with Tabby and Agatha since she turned sixteen, seven years ago. 

Francis had a falling out with her sister and mother. Tabby didn’t even want to read the letter. She was sure it would be filled with vitriol instead of the apologies she needed to give for her terrible behavior. Booty had been a terrible enough place to live without Francis making everything so much worse. She’d gained a horrible reputation that had spilled over onto Tabby and her mother, which was devastating. They were a good Christian family, but Francis wasn’t a highly moral person.

Their family problems had been a major factor In Tabby wanting to leave Booty. Everything seemed to go badly in that town, especially after her father was killed. Life was never the same without him there, protecting them from the dangerous people in and around the small town. There seemed to be excessive violence and anger for a place with only a few hundred residents. Tabitha longed to be in a place where she wouldn’t feel like an outcast because of her Christian beliefs and the urge to do the Lord’s bidding instead of what her human heart wanted her to do. Francis wasn’t strong enough to resist and gave their family a bad reputation – or a normal one for a resident of Booty, Tabby thought.

Tabby was glad to be leaving it behind. She looked out the stagecoach window, staring at the scenery as it passed, not really seeing it. She didn’t finish her sister’s letter. The first paragraph was filled with self-pity and self-loathing, and Tabby didn’t want to put such negativity into her brain. She’d stopped feeling sorry for Francis when her sister hadn’t bothered to come to their father’s funeral five years ago.

With Agatha still sleeping peacefully beside her, Tabby kept her eyes out the window. How long would it be before they got to Tinker? She lifted her wrist and looked at her watch. It was almost noon. They’d been riding for nearly two hours. Just one hour or so left before they got to their destination. 

She was ready to start her new life in Tinker. She was anxious to leave the past in the past. She didn’t want to be linked with Booty in any way, though she feared she would never escape it. 

Tabby had gone to Leavenworth to train for her role as a teacher when she was twenty – six years ago. It wasn’t until then that she’d noticed how different it was in other towns. She grew to love the job and the children she worked with and found herself always excited to see what the little ones would accomplish that day. She loved watching their faces when they “got” something, seeing them learn and grow. It was the highlight of her life. 

An hour later, the stagecoach pulled into the station, and she shook her mother gently to wake her.

“We’re here, Momma,” she said excitedly. “We’re here. Let’s go see what our cottage looks like!”

Agatha stirred and sat up, blinking rapidly. She was soon wide awake, her excitement about their move returning. 

“I’m awake!” she announced hurriedly, quickly sitting forward and grabbing her bag, giving Tabby an anxious look. “Let’s go.”

Tabby was amused and giggled softly as she got down from the coach. The driver held up his hand and helped her mother descend. He must have thought she was young and strong enough to do it herself because he hadn’t offered her assistance. Tabby laughed inside, grateful that the man had at least thought of her mother.

“I’ll send your bags to the hotel if you’d like,” the driver said pleasantly.

“No, thank you, just leave them here. We already have a cottage to go to.” Tabby gave him a friendly smile, which he returned. He nodded and moved away from them to go around and get the bags from the back and roof of the coach. “We are going to look around but will be back for these things,” she said. “Will you keep them safe for us?”

The driver looked a little surprised, his eyebrows lifting. “Keep them safe from who? Nobody wants your stuff, lady.”

“Can you put them inside for us, at least?” Tabby asked gently. “Just to be safe?”

The man laughed but nodded. “Can tell you ain’t from around here. Yeah, I’ll put them inside. You come to get ‘em anytime you want.”

“I don’t understand,” Agatha whispered to her daughter as the two left the station. “Why would he not want to keep our things safe?”

“I guess he doesn’t suspect anyone would do that here,” Tabby replied, just as bewildered as her mother. “There are thieves everywhere. Surely Tinker isn’t an exception to that.”

Her mother shook her head, taking Tabby’s arm as they walked down the street, looking at the shops and people strolling around. 

The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming. She saw smiles on the faces of the people when they looked at her and her mother. They were strangers in town, though they’d come through a few times to get supplies. The folks of Tinker had never treated them like outsiders, even when they were just visiting.

The one strange thing Tabby noticed was how the children all seemed to be out and about, roaming with their mothers or friends, chasing a hoop down the middle of the street, or playing tag when no buggies or horses were coming down the main street. 

In Booty, and especially in Leavenworth, those children would still be in school. It was only a little after one in the afternoon. Why were they out? 

Tabby wondered how many changes she would have to make – or be allowed to make – while teaching in Tinker. She liked to think her job meant she could do things however she wanted. Still, her trainers at Leavenworth school had taught her there were rules and regulations for each schoolteacher, depending on what town they were teaching in. 

Tabby had plans, though. She already had a curriculum she’d written out and was anxious to teach the kids new things in a new way. First, she would have to see what the outgoing teacher was working on and what her system had been. 

Tabby would take it from there.

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“A Teacher’s Heart of Gold” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Tabitha Kinsgbury is eager to elude her past and sets out on a new journey, determined to make a change with her teaching in the small town of Tinker. Despite some resistance from the most regressive parents of the girls in her class, Tabby is resolved to make her curriculum work and give them equal opportunities. When she meets a single father of two of her students, Algie, she is immediately drawn to him and has thus more than one reason to want to succeed.

Will she be able to run away from the past that torments her and have a fresh start with an open heart?

Algernon Bronson has been having a hard time with his two children since his wife passed away in childbirth. It’s been five years but it is only now that he has started thinking of finding a woman to be his companion and the mother his children so desperately need. When the new teacher, Tabby, arrives in town, his world is shaken, and his views of what a good companion might be, change dramatically.

Will he give true love a second chance despite all the obstacles in his way?

Together, Tabby and Algie will work hard to win over the upset parents and make a success of her new teaching methods. But when Tabby’s past comes to haunt her, will their efforts be enough to overcome the resistance and keep her in town and in Algie’s heart or will she be once again fleeing with a broken heart?

“A Teacher’s Heart of Gold” is a historical western romance novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Get your copy from Amazon!