“How did your lessons go today?” Jimmy asked as he shook the reins, getting River to start down the road. “Them kids mindin’ you all right?”

“Oh, yes. They’re wonderful,” Hope said, her smile growing as she thought about her pupils. “It was a lovely day. We made a lot of progress.”

“That’s good. I heard some of the folks at the store this mornin’ talkin’ about what a fine job you’re doin’. Made me smile.”

Hope wasn’t sure how she felt about a group of people standing around in the general store talking about her. While she was glad to hear it was positive, it still made her slightly nervous. It was one thing to think about her students going home each night and telling their parents what she’d taught them, but to think those same adults would join together to discuss her, well, she wasn’t sure what to think about that.

“Hope, you all right?” Jimmy asked, a tinge of concern knitting his brow together. “I meant it as a compliment, that everybody thinks the school board done good pickin’ you as the new teacher.”

“Oh, yes, I’m fine.” She hoped her smile reassured him. “That’s nice to hear.”

“I know you’ve always wanted to be a schoolteacher, and now you are one. And a good one.”

“Thank you.” Hope wasn’t sure what else to say. She could see the turn now; they were almost to Broadway Street. Turning left would take them to the downtown area where the new courthouse, the bank, and the general store Jimmy had mentioned all stood. The church her family attended, First Baptist, was also just a ways up the road to the left. To the right, there were lots of newer homes, all having been built after the war when so much of this part of town had been reduced to ashes. That was also the way Jimmy would turn to take her home, to the house her mother had grown up in, where Hope had lived for the last ten years while her mother helped take care of her ailing parents. Jimmy pulled the horse to the right, and Hope held in a sigh of relief that she was almost home. He was a nice enough man, but the compliments were making her uncomfortable, and Hope was hoping the conversation wouldn’t turn to anything more serious.

“We finished clearin’ the north field this afternoon,” Jimmy said, regaining her attention.

Realizing she’d been rude not to ask about his day, Hope replied, “Oh, that’s good to hear. I bet your father’s happy to have that finished.”

“Yep. At this rate, we should have everything harvested before the cold weather sets in.”

“Good. I’m sure we’ll need it. They’re sayin’ it’s supposed to be a rather cold winter.” Hope didn’t know what else to say about crops. Even though her daddy had been a farmer for years when she was younger, she’d spent most of that time inside with her mama and sister, usually with her nose in a book. She knew enough, she supposed, but she didn’t consider herself a farm girl by any stretch of the imagination, and the thought of marrying a farmer made her cringe. She’d be absolutely useless on a farm.

Jimmy pulled the cart to a halt out front of a large two-story brick home, which sat well up a small rising hill from the road. Hope gathered up her things, wondering why he was staring at her, and was just about to jump down from the seat without his hand when he said, “Can I call on you, Hope Tucker? That is… would you mind if I came around from time to time? We could go for a stroll in the park, have a picnic, somethin’ like that. I know how you like your books. Maybe you could… read to me, or somethin’. What do you think?”

Hope realized that her trepidations about getting in the cart in the first place circled around the conversation she was having at that moment. In her heart, she’d known it was just a matter of time before Jimmy Brooks asked to court her, and Hope had been thinking about her answer for more time than seemed right or normal. “I, uh…” she began, not wanting to hurt his feelings, while at the same time, she knew in her heart this wasn’t the best match for her, not that there was anyone else on the horizon. “I… I think, perhaps, you should speak to my daddy.” There—that answer should hold for a spell. Let him take it up with her father.

Jimmy’s eyes widened slightly, as if that wasn’t the answer he was expecting at all, but he nodded. “I reckon that’s a fair response. I ain’t talked to your daddy yet. Probably should do that.” He let go a soft chuckle, a mixture of embarrassment and likely admiration of her gumption. “But if’n he says yes, you’d go?”

Hope inhaled sharply. He was nothing if not persistent. “Of course,” she replied, knowing her father would say whatever she asked him to say. She just needed to speak to him before Jimmy Brooks had the chance. But then, she had a feeling her father wouldn’t be too quick to supply an answer anyway; he’d want to think on it, run it by her mother. Will Tucker wasn’t one for making rash decisions, especially not when it came to something important, like the hand of his eldest daughter.

Jimmy grinned so wide Hope thought she could see his back teeth. “Well, all right, then,” he said, slapping his hands against his denim pants. “I’ll call on Mr. Tucker directly.” He leapt down off of the cart and shot around to offer his hand, which she took, and Hope sprung out of the cart as quickly as she could. “It was nice seein’ you, Miss Hope.”

“You, too, Mr. Brooks,” she replied, not knowing what brought on the sudden formality other than nervousness. She gave him a little nod and then scurried up the drive, hoping he didn’t stand there and watch her the whole time, but when Hope was near the front porch, she turned back to look, and Jimmy was still standing next to the cart. He gave a little wave, which she returned, and then she darted into the house, closing the door behind her hard enough that the jamb shook.