She’d tried telling herself that none of it mattered. She’d lived with an empty marriage once. Surely, she could live with it again. But that was before she had fallen madly and deeply in love. Before she had known the joys of a real marriage.

Before she had seen Cassie Decker in Chase’s arms.

Neither Peggy Sue or Cookie seemed to think Chase’s absences strange. “It’s always like this during calving season,” Cookie assured her. “Don’t worry. It’ll soon be over.”

His assertion only made her wonder what excuse Chase would use then for staying away.

Her thoughts were dashed by the arrival of her students. Grateful for something to do, she called to Ginny and rushed down the porch steps to greet them.

Neither the twins’ father nor Alice’s mother had made mention of the newspaper article, but news traveled faster in town than it did out here in the backcountry. Sometimes it took several days before the newspaper reached the ranch.

Neither the cowhands nor Cookie had said a word, but they had to know. They had gone to town Saturday night as usual, where local gossip ran rampant.

The morning went quickly as Emily led her charges through classes in arithmetic and reading. While the others took turns reading aloud, Ginny listened quietly and took an active part in the discussion that followed.

Since it was such a beautiful spring day—neither too hot nor too cold—Emily decided to continue the lessons outside in the shade of a sycamore tree.

“All right,” she said, facing her students. “I want the girls to stand on this side and the boys on that side.” She waited for Ginny and Alice Riley to take their places opposite the twins.

“Did you all practice your spelling words?” All four children nodded, and Emily unfolded the list in her hands. “Are you ready?” she asked.

“Ready,” the children said in unison, though Eddie Benton looked less enthusiastic than the others.

Emily explained the spelling bee rules. She’d chosen simple words as a start. Since it was only the third lesson for Alice and the twins, she didn’t want to scare them off by making things too difficult.

“When I give you a word, say it, spell it, and say it again. Any questions?” None of the four raised their hands. “All right, we’ll start with Alice. Your word is ‘yellow.’” Alice was a pretty child with red hair and green eyes. She was also smart as a whip and spelled the word without hesitation.

Eddie was better at arithmetic than spelling, but he managed to work his way through seven and table. His brother, Adam, correctly spelled the word green but forgot the e in the word blue.

Ginny giggled her way through the words moon and earth with no hesitation. After an initial curiosity, the others had accepted her blindness and the four had become fast friends. It did Emily’s heart good to watch Ginny’s confidence grow as the others cheered her on.