Angel turned to Mark. “Please go to the first and second grade classroom, and bring me their readers.”
The boy raced out of the room. Nate continued to run his finger around his collar. Miss Hathaway attempted to return to her papers, but seemed to be having a problem concentrating. Angel sat back, a slight smile on her face.
Mark returned in a couple of minutes with the two books. “Miss Glendale said I must bring these back.” He placed the books in Angel’s hands.
Angel pulled Mark close and handed him the open first grade reader. “Please read for me, Mark.”
His face a deep red, the child barely made it through the first page, stumbling and missing words.
Miss Hathaway nodded, and crossed her arms at her waist, a smug look on her face.
Angel closed the book, and addressed the teacher. “I want to take these two books home with me. I will work with Mark in the evenings.”
“You can’t take those books with you,” the teacher gasped. “The School Board only allows us a certain amount of money for supplies.”
“How much?” Angel said, narrowing her eyes at the teacher.
“How much what?” The teacher questioned.
“How much for the two books? My husband will buy them.” Angel glared at the flustered teacher with a look in her eyes Nate had only seen over a poker table.
“I would say twenty cents for the two books would be sufficient.”
Angel nudged him. “Pay her.”
Still stunned at how his sweet little Angel had handled the teacher, who would’ve scared him to death had he been alone, he jerked to attention. He fumbled in his pocket for the coins and deposited them in the teacher’s outstretched palm.
Angel stood and pulled on her gloves. She picked up the books, nodded at the teacher and marched out of the classroom. Nate and Mark jumped up and followed.
Angel stormed down the street, apparently forgetting they’d arrived in a buggy until he caught up with her, and grabbed her arm. He laughed, clasped her around the waist, and swung her in a circle. Then he kissed her right there on Main Street.
“Honey, you were wonderful!” He set her down and hugged her.
Angel’s eyes flashed. “I don’t know how you can laugh, Nate. That woman is probably the worst teacher I have ever run across. To say our child cannot learn to read. Really!”
He could have stood there and stared at her for hours. Chest heaving, cheeks flushed, she looked like the wrath of God. And she’d never seemed more beautiful.
Mark walked up to them, darting a glance at Angel every once in a while as if he feared her hat would erupt from her head. “Thanks for sticking up for me,” he mumbled in his stepmother’s direction, shoving his hands in his pockets.
/> Angel put her arm around his shoulders and hugged him close, the first time he’d allowed it. “We’ll work on it. Don’t believe anyone who says you can’t read.”
“Okay, son, you need to go see Mr. Conway and work out a way to pay off his window.” Nate pointed to the store across the street.
“Yes, sir.”
“And you’ll have extra chores at home for skipping school.”
The boy nodded.
“Come right home afterwards for supper, and then we’ll work on your reading.” Angel squeezed his shoulder.
“Yes, ma’am!” Mark said as he raced down the street in the direction of the hardware store.
Nate slung his arm around Angel’s shoulders. “Honey, I think you forgot we brought the buggy with us.”
“Oh, dear.” She laughed.
He took her arm and escorted her back toward the school.