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    Impersonating the Teacher
    Impersonating the Teacher
    Impersonating the Teacher
    Ebook126 pages1 hour

    Impersonating the Teacher

    By Mildred Colvin

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    Can Tabitha find safety before her deceased husband's family force her into a marriage she doesn't want and cause certain death for her and her daughter?

    Tabitha Ryan suspects her husband's death in a carriage accident was no accident, but a cold-blooded murder of greed. Is it possible his step-mother is responsible? She doesn't want to take chances, especially since her five-year-old daughter is also at risk. A series of events takes her to a small town in central Kansas far from her St. Louis, Missouri, home where she hopes to find a safe haven. What she doesn't expect to find is a sense of security with a man who doesn't seem to trust her. More than anything, she'd like to turn her troubles over to him and rest in his strength and protection.

    Dan Vincent owns the feed store in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, and also is on the school board. When their teacher marries, he has to find another to take her place before school starts in the fall. Normally, that wouldn't be hard to do, but already one candidate has decided she'd rather get married than take the job and only his cousin Gloriana Parker from St. Louis seems interested. She isn't his first choice, but the children need a teacher. Then Mrs. Gloriana Parker comes and occupies the house on his property, but she isn't his cousin.

    Impersonating the Teacher is a story of stolen identity in 1873. Falling in love and helping your neighbor is as natural as breathing in Cottonwood Falls, even if the woman folks are helping won't tell them her real name. Grab a copy and feel the frustration of Tabitha and Dan as they fall in love in spite of their awkward beginning. This is book eight of Birthstone Brides. Enjoy each story of adventure and inspirational love. All are clean, sweet romances with heartwarming stories you'll enjoy. They include:
    1. Castles in the Sky
    2. Hometown Love
    3. Love Beyond the Fence
    4. Softly Comes Love
    5. Unchanging Love
    6. Tricked into Marriage
    7. July Wildfire
    8. Impersonating the Teacher

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMildred Colvin
    Release dateAug 3, 2017
    ISBN9781370726783
    Impersonating the Teacher
    Author

    Mildred Colvin

    Mildred Colvin is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother to three beautiful girls. She started writing when her children were young as they asked for stories. Not from a book. No! They were only satisfied when she made up stories. As the stories grew, she wrote some down and sent them off to magazines. Eight were published before her imagination turned toward love stories, which is what she enjoys reading.She has been writing Christian or clean and wholesome romance since 2001. Over the years several readers from pre-teens to older kids in their eighties and nineties have written expressing their interest in her books. She always loves to hear about one of her stories touching someone's heart. Her purpose in writing is to encourage, entertain, and bless someone else.She lives in the United States and sets her characters in the middle states from Texas to Nebraska and Iowa and reaching across Illinois to Colorado. She also has an Oregon Trail series, but the Great Plains states are her favorite setting.She is active in a very special critique group and has written and published over 60 books in both historical and contemporary themes, and plans to continue writing as long as God allows. He has been good in giving her many ideas for stories. Maybe more than she will be able to finish, but she enjoys each one.Please take a moment to visit her website at www.mildredcolvin.weebly.com, and sign up for her Romantic Reflections Newsletter to learn when new books are released. Also learn of promotions and free books through her newsletter.And take a look at her books. You might find something you don't want to put down.

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      Book preview

      Impersonating the Teacher - Mildred Colvin

      Impersonating the Teacher

      Mildred Colvin

      Historical Christian Romance

      Impersonating the Teacher

      Copyright ©2017 by Mildred Colvin

      All Rights Reserved

      Smashwords Edition

      Cover photo copyright © Paultarasenko | Dreamstime

      Scripture portions are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

      This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to events is entirely coincidental.

      No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means without permission in writing from its author except for brief quotations in printed reviews. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.

      DEDICATION

      To all who have discovered our Birthstone Bride series and are reading it all the way through! For you, I spend hours each day trying to make sense of the thoughts that roam through my mind as each of these characters and their stories take form.

      With Impersonating the Teacher, we are moving quickly through our series. Only four more novellas remain. Coming next month will be another by Linda Cushman titled Home by September. After that comes The Deputy’s Son. I hope you’ll enjoy them all.

      August’s Birthstone is Sardonyx.

      For the woman who is August born,

      May a sardonyx on her finger adorn.

      For without her rightful birthstone,

      She may live without true love all alone.

      Chapter One

      Chicago, Illinois, August 1, 1873

      "You want me to do what? Tabitha Ryan stared at her father-in-law and half rose from the chair in her in-laws’ parlor. She froze in place before pressing the back of her hand against her forehead and sinking to the plush softness of the cushions with her eyes turned toward the ceiling. I can’t believe you would say such a thing."

      Oh, Tabitha, your theatrics are so unbecoming. Harriet Ryan frowned. Her hands fluttered on her ample lap. There is nothing wrong with Harrison. Why, of our two sons, he is probably—

      Don’t you dare say Harrison is a better man than Adam was. Tabitha straightened, her fingers gripping the armrests on either side. She didn’t know why she goaded her in-laws with, as her mother-in-law called, theatrics, any more than she understood how she could stand up to them as if she had no fear. Because the truth of the matter was, the two people sitting across from her scared her to death. The runaway pounding of her heart confirmed her fear of their latest scheme to control her.

      Adam was a good son, but he’s gone. Nothing we say or do can bring him back, Tabitha. Paul Ryan spoke in a tired sounding voice. You need a husband and Harrison needs a wife. Virginia needs the firm hand of a father. We’ve discussed this enough.

      You are right. Tabitha looked around the well-appointed room from the piano against the far wall, past the brocade embroidered sofa, to the man sitting across from her. We’ve discussed this to its death, but I don’t see Harrison bearing gifts of love and asking for my hand. Where is your darling younger son?

      Harrison had an important meeting at the plant. He said he wouldn’t be home until late.

      Tabitha glared at her father-in-law. Adam had been gone less than a month when you let Harrison step into his place at the factory. We are still in mourning for him. How could you forget so quickly?

      Ryan Buggy Works is our livelihood, Tabitha. Paul stood and paced the Oriental rug spread before the fireplace. I’m unable to take the reins anymore. Thanks to Adam, you have—

      Paul, we don’t need to say anything more. Harriet quickly rose and went to her husband’s side. Why don’t we let Harrison talk to Tabitha about this? I’m sure he can convince her marriage is the best for everyone involved.

      When Harriet took his arm, Paul nodded, but his shoulders slumped. He turned to Tabitha. Will you do that, girl? Will you listen to him and consider this union? That’s all we ask.

      Tabitha saw the gray pallor to his skin and pity replaced the anger and fear he’d stirred within her only moments before. She stood and nodded. All right. I’ll listen to Harrison. I’ll think about what you’ve said, but I have to do what’s best for Virginia and myself. Please understand that.

      Marriage to Harrison is what’s best for you and Virginia and everyone else, too. If you weren’t so stubborn, you’d see that. Paul’s posture straightened and his voice rose into a frightening roar. His face became an unhealthy red as he glared at Tabitha.

      She held her position as she shrank inside from his anger. She tightened her fists, hidden in the folds of her black taffeta skirt, and pressed them against her legs. She couldn’t stay here much longer. But for now she needed to placate her in-laws.

      Oh, please, Paul, think of your heart. There’s no cause for anger. You took me by surprise suggesting I remarry even before my year of mourning for Adam is complete. Tabitha congratulated herself that her voice sounded steady and sincere. Why don’t you tell Harrison I will gladly speak with him tomorrow evening? I have committed myself to volunteering at the library tomorrow, so will be gone over the noon meal, but should be home before evening.

      I also have an engagement tomorrow. Who will watch Virginia? Harriet frowned at Tabitha, as if she made a habit of leaving her five-year-old child unattended.

      Tabitha smiled. Oh, Virginia will be going with me. You know how much she enjoys books. The library is having a reading for the children during the time I’ll be there. She’s looking forward to playing with the other children.

      All right, I’ll tell him. Partially mollified, Harriet took Paul’s arm, and they walked together out the door.

      Tabitha’s breath rushed out in a relieved sigh. What had she done? Bought a little time to make plans? Where would she go? How could she support herself and her daughter with no income and no skills to secure employment? Although she had a good education, she had no experience outside of the home. She’d been raised to marry well and take care of a home and family. Her husband should be supporting her and Virginia. But he couldn’t. How ironic that Adam had been killed by the very thing he loved.

      If only she could use the income he’d provided for her. With her and Virginia’s stock in Ryan Buggy Works, she should have enough to keep her comfortably for the rest of her life but all she had was in their joint account at the bank. Somehow, she was sure the Ryan’s would find a way to keep her from using the stock.

      She sank back to the chair so she could think. She had to get away. If she stayed here, they’d have her married to Harrison as soon as her year of mourning had ended. When that happened, her new husband would own her stock. As if a lamp illuminated her mind, she understood the urgency behind Paul and Harriets’s demand that she marry their younger son. They were afraid her stock would leave Ryan hands in case she remarried. They didn’t care about her and Virginia. They only wanted her stock. In the event of her death, the stock went to Virginia first and then to her father. Adam had made sure of that. But if she married Harrison …

      Her hands shook so she gripped them in her lap. Letting fear take control wouldn’t help. She had to calm down. The Ryans were not murderers. She and her precious child were in no danger other than being forced to accept their remaining son as their husband and father. No need to borrow trouble when more than enough had just been handed to her.

      She rose and walked quickly to the wide stairway leading to her rooms above, thankful when she didn’t encounter anyone in the halls. She found Virginia still playing with her dolls in the playroom.

      Tabitha stood in the doorway watching her five-year-old daughter set her baby doll in the miniature high chair and pretend to feed her. The doll’s porcelain features remained fixed and unresponsive to its mother’s care. Virginia didn’t seem to mind as she continued to press imaginary food against the doll’s painted lips.

      Tabitha dropped to her knees beside her daughter. Hi, sugar. What are you doing?

      Sarah Jane didn’t eat her dinner when we did. Don’t tell Grandmother. Large brown eyes so like Adam’s searched Tabitha’s face. She won’t like it.

      Grandma won’t like what?

      Virginia’s eyes moved upward and she shook her head. You know. If you don’t eat at the table with everyone else, you don’t eat at all.

      Oh, yes. That rule. Tabitha laughed at the totally annoyed expression on her daughter’s little face. She gave her a quick hug and kissed her cheek. Why don’t you and Sarah Jane finish so we can get to bed?

      All right, Mommy.

      Twenty minutes later, Tabitha snuggled her little daughter in the big double bed with her and told the story of Isaac blessing his twin sons. She told of how the younger son had deceived his brother and his father so that he could receive the birthright and the best blessing. Jacob had to leave his home and all that was familiar to go to a strange land because he lied and stole what was not rightfully his. There he prospered as he followed God and eventually made peace with his brother.

      Long after Virginia slept, Tabitha thought of the Bible story and wondered if she could make a new life for her child in

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