Little House Lewd: Chapter 17

The drive back to the Brewster’s that afternoon was the coldest yet. It was so cold they could not speak to each other, but when they reached the shanty Mr. Wilder made a point to tell her he would see her Friday.

All week the weather only grew colder. Every morning Laura’s feet were numb by the time she reached the schoolhouse. She let the students bring their books to gather around the stove and keep as warm as they could, leaving their coats and hats and scarves on the whole day.

It was so cold each night in the bedroom that Mr. Brewster did not assault her. Even with all three bodies it was uncomfortably chilly under the pile of quilts, but it was warm enough to sleep.

Wednesday morning was almost unbearably cold in the schoolhouse. Snow blew in through the cracks and the warmth of the fire blew out them. Again, she let her pupils stand by the stove to study.

It was dinner time before the wind died down and the glowing hot stove was able to warm the room. She blew her breath above the seats to test how cold it was, and was relieved to see that she could barely see it. When she called the school to order she advised them to take their seats for the afternoon lessons.

They had all just taken their places when a loud knock came at the door. Laura’s heart sank down to her toes instantly, but she forced herself to go open the door. On her way she glanced through the little window but could see nothing.

“Mr. Williams!” she exclaimed in surprise, delighted to find a friendly face where she had expected the opposite. “Please, come in and warm yourself!”

This was the test of her teaching in this school. She was well acquainted with the procedure, having taught twice before, but this school was nothing like the others. Her previous schools had only small children who were always well-behaved and polite. This school had been a tribulation that only very recently showed improvement, and she wondered how they would act.

Each pupil sat straight and attentive in their seat. They bent studiously to their work when instructed. They did not speak without raising their hand and being called on. It heartened her to see that each was doing their best for her. Even Charles made a tremendous effort to stay focused, astonishing himself when he surpassed his previous best results.

Mr. Williams listened to recitation after recitation while the wind blew low and loud and the snow drifted through the cracks in the walls. Just before final recess he said he must be on his way.

“Would you like to speak to the pupils?” Laura asked.

“Yes, I would,” he answered grimly, his tone stopping Laura’s heart in her chest.

He stood up to his full towering height and looked at them all silently for a moment. Then, he spoke gravely, “Whatever else you do, keep your feet warm.”

His face broke into a warm smile. Then, shaking Laura’s hand, he was gone.

During recess while all the other pupils were playing outside Clarence dumped the remaining coal into the heater and refilled the coal hod. When he came back in he told her, “It’s getting colder fast. If you want to skip our evening lessons I won’t blame you.”

She was loathe to cancel. Her time with Clarence was such a shining point of her day that missing it felt like missing a meal when starving.

He saw her expression and, placing a finger under her chin, tilted her face up to look at him. As always when he did this her cheeks flushed and she became flustered, which distracted her just as he had hoped it would.

“Of course, if you have other lesson plans in mind for me, I would not object,” he teased, watching her go absolutely crimson and playfully bat his hand away.

Though neither spoke of it, they were both well aware of the effect he had on her. Embarrassed as she was, she could not help it. Thankfully, despite his teasing, he did not use her reaction against her, nor tease her meanly. He did not often hint at how their lessons had started with the intention of his getting salacious favors in exchange for keeping the unfortunate business between her and his uncle a secret, but when he did it was only ever playfully. Aside from the once, he had not pushed her to do any such things again.

“We will see about the after school lessons when the time comes,” she said authoritatively, though her pinkness diminished the seriousness of her tone.

All the rest of that afternoon the students took turns sitting and standing around the stove or moving about to keep their circulation up. Recitations were better than ever and they were quiet as mice as they studied.

When she dismissed school Clarence hung back.

“I’m not sure about us staying out late this evening,” Laura said. “It’s colder than ever now, and the weather looks like it may turn for the worse.”

He too was looking at the sky through the window, his brow set in thought. “I don’t like to say it but I do agree. I hate to miss our time together though.”

Laura sighed before she could stop herself.

“I admit, I hate to miss it too. Our lessons together are the best part of my day,” she lamented. “There are only a few more weeks left…”

His finger tipped her chin up, and she looked up at him with her eyes large and wide. He grinned, and quickly he pressed his lips gently to hers. As he leaned back she stepped forward and pressed them firmly together. She could not stop herself. Her arms hugged him tightly and she stood on her tip toes holding him to ger. Suddenly, her senses returned, and she nearly leapt away in shock.

Laura felt as if she had suddenly caught fire. Her heart beat in her ears in a deafening drumming beat. She stared at him with her hands over her mouth and unable to speak.

“I… I did not mean to do that!” she managed to say.

The grin on his face did all his talking for him. “You may do it again if you like!”

Playfully she slapped his arm. “Get home with you, school boy! Stop teasing your teacher!”

Together they closed up the schoolhouse and said their farewells. Laura was toasty warm the whole way back to the shanty.