Margaret Brownley - A Log Cabin Christmas: 9 Historical Romances during American Pioneer Christmases

Miss Parkers Class of 1885

When Jesus was born, Mary wrapped him in swatting clothes because of all the flies in the stable.
Priscilla, age 8

Maverick, Texas

S heriff Brad Donovan knew trouble was brewing the moment the three-member school board stomped into his office. Whatever was on their minds had to be pretty serious to bring them out in this wintry storm. All three men wore heavy coats covered in snow, their noses and ears red from the cold.

Head of the school board Tim Griffin battled to close the door against the blustery wind. Swinging his bulky body around, he pulled the woolen scarf away from his neck.

Elbows on his desk, Sheriff Donovan greeted him with a wary nod. What has she done this time?

It wasnt just a wild guess. The new teacher from Boston had been nothing but trouble since the board had hired her two months earlier. Lately, hed spent more time handling complaints about the schoolmarm than chasing outlaws.

Griffin practically sputtered. Miss Parker kept my daughter after school. He wore lumbermans pants and calf-high caulked boots. Hands in tight fists, he added, In this weather!

Donovan pinched his brow in an effort to chase away a fast-developing headache. It was the end of the day, and he was tired. The unprecedented storm had created one problem after another. All he wanted was to go home to the boardinghouse and sink his teeth into Mrs. Langleys venison stew. But judging from the mens solemn demeanors, hed be lucky if he arrived home in time for tomorrow mornings flapjacks.

Chuck Walters made a snorting sound. A blue knit cap covered his bald head to his eyebrows, his red beard almost white with snow. That woman aint got the sense God gave a woodpecker. Anyone who would steal pews from the Lords house aint to be trusted.

Donovan blew out his breath. She borrowed the pews. Far be it from him to defend the woman, but in all honesty, it was their fault for failing to order desks. Miss Parker moved the pews to the schoolhouse so her pupils would have something to write on. Shed paid the preachers son to move them for her, which didnt sit right with church elders. That had caused Donovan more trouble.

Chuck scoffed. Borrow, steal, whatever. She still aint got no right doin what she did. I had to stand for two solid hours on Sunday morn to hear the preacher tell us we aint nothin but sinners. Thats hard enough to take sittin down, let alone standin.

Thats nothing, Jake Penman added. A short man with a round face and an even rounder pouch, Penman was a shoemaker and barber. He liked to say he took care of a man from the top of his head to the tip of his toes. That mural her class painted should be outlawed.

Donovan blew out a stream of air. Not the mural again.

Youre just peeved cuz Judas looks just like you, Chuck said.

Its not just the mural, Penman argued. Miss Parker dont know beans about discipline. She lets the Madison boy run wild. As for the mural

I dont care about no mural, Griffin roared. I want to know what the sheriff is gonna do about my daughter.

Donovan folded his hands on his desk. The last I heard, keeping pupils after school is not a crime.

Maybe not, Griffin huffed. Miss Parker sent a note home yesterday saying she wanted to keep a couple of pupils including my daughter after school for rehearsals. Now theyre snowed in, and no one can get to them!

Donovan grimaced. No wonder the board was all up in arms. The original schoolhouse, along with pretty much the whole town, had burned down in the August fire. While the new school was under construction, classes were being held in an old miners cabin, away from the hammering and sawing that would interfere with learning. It was a drafty, isolated place that should have been condemned long ago.

Who else is out there?

Jimmy Madison and the little Jones kid, Griffin said. Mrs. Jones is frantic with worry.

Donovan could understand why. Five-year-old Brandon was the only family Mrs. Jones had left since she was widowed by the recent fire.

Chuck Walters chimed in, The road is completely blocked, and not even a mule can get through. Walters droopy mustache twitched. This sure is unusual weather. I aint seen nothing like this since leaving Minnesota.

Unusual didnt begin to describe the recent snowstorms. The Piney Woods area was known for its humid summers and mild winters. The most snow theyd ever had in the past was perhaps a few inchesnothing like theyd had so far this last month.

You have to do something, Sheriff, Griffin said. Ill not have my daughter spend a night at the schoolhouse with that that woman!

All right, Ill see what I can do. He stood, his six-foot-two form towering over all three men by at least four inches. Eager to get started before the last bit of daylight was gone, he plucked his Stetson off a hook and set it square on his head. He then shrugged his massive shoulders into his long duster.

Good luck, Walters said.

Donovan responded with a nod. He opened the door to a blast of wind, snow, and icy-cold air. Something told him he would need all the luck he could get.

Drat! Where were they?

Maddie Parker tried not to let her anxiety show, but the wind lashing against the outside of the schoolhouse was hard to ignore. What began as a few snow flurries had now turned into a full-fledged blizzard.