Page 13 of Second Start: Family
Hall talked louder. “Girls, this isn’t the time to discuss this. When you have someone to supper—”
“Oh, no, I can’t stay. I can see this was the result of … um, miscommunication.”
Hall stepped back, and left the new teacher to fend for herself against the tidal wave of protests from Molly and Lizzie.
He couldn’t blame the woman for wanting to get away. Hell, he was surprised she’d come at all considering their first meeting. It must have taken some gumption facing the bear in his cave, so to speak. Maybe she wasn’t the type to make a snap judgment, maybe—
Hall remembered what the house looked like when he’d left this morning. Nothing at this second meeting was likely to improve Kenzie Smith’s first impression of him as a father.
But he wasn’t in the least surprised when she raised her hands in surrender to Molly and Lizzie, and said she’d stay.
“I’d best take a shower. Girls, why don’t you show Ms. Smith around — outside.” He glanced at the teacher’s low-cut tan shoes and added, “But not by the creek.”
He would scoop up the worst of the mess in the family room and kitchen, shower, shave, and with some luck — a lot of luck — he would have clean clothes. Somewhere.
A half dozen strides away, he thought of another danger and added, “And don’t take her inside the corral.”
*
Kenzie followed cautiously while Molly and Lizzie moved with the certainty of being in their native habitat. They sped over the uneven ground, never watching their feet, yet unerringly bypassing both prickly plants and animal droppings.
Molly chattered about four reddish-brown horses that watched them from the far side of one fence-enclosed rectangle. She wove in their names, their parentage, their abilities, and their habits. She flung a casual arm in the direction of various buildings that formed a rough semi-circle on one side of the open area where Kenzie had parked.
Lizzie confined her comments to pinning down details — “Buster only bucked Dan off once. The other time was the Feltons’ colt.” — that her sister sketched out.
Kenzie hadn’t been to a ranch before. But she wasn’t merely satisfying curiosity. She was here to see two of her students in their home environment, which could only contribute to her ability to teach them.
Yet, when she’d taught at the Dalverston School, she hadn’t seen students’ homes. Except one. A former student by then. And she hadn’t been there to see the student.
Her footsteps echoed in the two-story entry hall. Pale green walls, sparkling white woodwork, light flowing down from the chandelier …
“Ms. Smith?”
She jolted.
Hall Quick stood a yard behind her. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
His words were light, but a frown tucked his brows together.
Twice now she’d jumped like the man was an apparition. He’d think his daughters’ teacher was afraid of her own shadow.
“Molly, Lizzie, have you fed the dogs?”
“But Dad—”
“It’s past time. Not nice to leave them hungry while you have fun.”
The girls rushed off.
Kenzie said, “I hope you don’t mind my accepting this invitation from Molly and Lizzie. I mean initially, and—” She tipped her head toward her car. “Before.”
“You didn’t stand a chance against those two.” His face shifted, almost reaching a smile. He moved past her, putting his hands on the top rail of the fence separating them from the horses. “Accepting an invitation, huh? That’s a nice way of saying being badgered to death. You’re quite a diplomat, aren’t you?”
That didn’t sound entirely complimentary.
She mimicked his position, moving her hands across the rail. “I wanted Molly and Lizzie to know I appreciated their hospitality,” she said. “Your girls are quite determined.”
“Yeah. They get that from their mother.”
