Chapters (241)
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- Whatever Tomorrow Brings
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- The Taylor and Donovan Families1871
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- fifty-two
- fifty-three
- fifty-four
- fifty-five
- fifty-six
- fifty-seven
- fifty-eight
- fifty-nine
- sixty
- sixty-one
- epilogue
- Dedication
- The Taylor and Donovan Families—1871
- Prologue
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- epilogue
- Sean Donovan
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Visalia and Santa Rosa Families—1876
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- Epilogue
- Dedication
- Willits and Santa Rosa Families—1881
- Dear Marcail
- prologue
- one
- two
- three
- four
- five
- six
- seven
- eight
- nine
- ten
- eleven
- twelve
- thirteen
- fourteen
- fifteen
- sixteen
- seventeen
- eighteen
- nineteen
- twenty
- twenty-one
- twenty-two
- twenty-three
- twenty-four
- twenty-five
- twenty-six
- twenty-seven
- twenty-eight
- twenty-nine
- thirty
- thirty-one
- thirty-two
- thirty-three
- thirty-four
- thirty-five
- thirty-six
- thirty-seven
- thirty-eight
- thirty-nine
- forty
- forty-one
- forty-two
- forty-three
- forty-four
- forty-five
- forty-six
- forty-seven
- forty-eight
- forty-nine
- fifty
- fifty-one
- fifty-two
- fifty-three
- fifty-four
- fifty-five
- fifty-six
- fifty-seven
- fifty-eight
- fifty-nine
- sixty
- epilogue
- Books by Lori Wick
- About the Author
First of all, she knew that the children who had come to school deserved her undivided attention as well as all the instruction she could offer them. Second, she would dismiss a little early and pay a visit to Mr. Flynn. Marcail, after coming to these conclusions, settled down to the teaching at hand.
Mr. Flynn, I would be happy to stand before Mrs. Duckworth and the entire school board and attest to the fact that Dr. Montgomery was the soul of propriety while I was in his home.
I have no doubt that he was, Miss Donovan, but youve watched Mrs. Duckworth; youve seen the way she runs things in this town. You know that the hands of all the people whose buildings and businesses are owned by her are tied.
In other words, Marcail spoke with a sinking feeling of dread as his words finally became clear to her, you want my resignation?
Im afraid I do. He spoke with visible regret. I was coming to see you about it this afternoon.
And if I refuse? Marcail asked, telling herself not to cry.
Then the majority of your class will not be receiving an education, because they will be kept out of school as they were today.
Marcail had thought the way Mr. Flynns hands were tied concerning Sydney was awful, but this was atrocious. Her voice said as much when she spoke.
And if I went to Mrs. Duckworth myself?
As before with Sydney, it would only make matters worse.
Marcail sat in silence for a moment. Mr. Flynn could only watch her. At length she stood.
The word quit has never been a part of my vocabulary, Mr. Flynn, and I dont care to add it now. Im going to continue to teach at the Willits school whether there is one child in my class or 30. Maybe when the people in this town grow tired of having their lives dictated by one woman, theyll send their children to be taught. Its my hope that if enough of you take a stand, you can make a difference.
Marcail walked out of Mr. Flynns office without saying goodbye, wondering as she went if she could really hold to all she said.
twenty-one
Marcails emotions were in tatters by the end of the week. Shed had only six children to teach and was beginning to regret everything shed said to Mr. Flynn.
For the first time in her life she was honestly thinking of quitting. In fact, this idea pressed upon her so strongly she walked to the train station to check the schedule for southbound trains.
It was late Saturday afternoon, and even though she was low on flour, sugar, and coffee, she had not come into town for any other reason that day. She felt curious eyes on her as she walked, and nearly turned back home before reaching her destination.