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The schoolhouse was located in a s at the end of the street It was painted red hite trim, and boasted a bell tower on the roof There s in the east and alls for cross ventilation She had fifteen students in her class - nine girls and six boys - ranging in age from five to sixteen

Books were scarce and she had to rely on her wits and iination to keep her pupils interested, especially the older boys Reading, writing, spelling, graraphy and history and geometry were a plus The school term was erratic, as children were not expected to co and su

She was expected to fill the la a bucket of water and a scuttle of coal, to provide pens and wipers for the students She was also expected to enforce discipline but was cautioned not to go overboard

She loved her position, though she found so She was expected to be a model of deportment both in the school-house and in the coranted that she would attend church each week and sing in the choir She was not to smoke or use liquor in any form

She was not allowed to live in a house by herself but was expected to board with the families of her students She would have preferred to live alone but that left toowith her students did give her a valuable insight into their behavior She had been informed that, should she decide to marry, her tenure would end immediately

Still, in spite of all the restrictions, she loved teaching, and she loved the town She was thinking about the next day&039;s lessons as she ht, she didn&039;t see thetoward her until it was too late She barreled into hiht her shoulders to steady her

"Oh, excuse me,"she exclaimed "I&039;m so sorry "

"No harm done"

His voice was deep and richly textured and it seemed to seep into the farthest reaches of her soul She looked up quickly, her gaze ray eyes looked back at her; they, too, seemed to delve into her very soul

His brow furrowed as he stared into her eyes "Is it you?"

"I beg yourpardon ? Have we h I fear you do not remember me" He swept off his hat with a flourish and bowed "Dominic St John, at your service"

"Annie Willia you before, Mr St John Was it here, in town ?"

"No Might I inquire as to where you were going in such a hurry, Miss Williams?"

"I was just on my way home" She smiled self-consciously "I&039;"

He sht I accolanced over her shoulder Old Man Peters was sitting in front of the barber shop, pretending he wasn&039;t listening to every word Mrs Peabody eeping the boardwalk in front of her shop, watching avidly

"I&039;ood, idea," she replied "I can&039;t afford the gossip"

Doaze, his eyes narrowed Abruptly, Old Man Peters got up and hurried down the street Mrs Peabody shook the dirt froe your ed softly

She knew she should refuse, but she couldn&039;t resist the sweet, pleading tone of his voice, or refuse the urgings of her own heart When he offered her his ar you around before, "she remarked

"I&039;ve only just arrived"

"Will you be staying long?"

His gaze rested on her face, his dark gray eyes filled with an intensity that was both frightening and so "I will be now"

"Dominic" She ith his name on her lips, the me up in bed, she stared out theWhere were these drea froestion? That would have been the easy answer, she thought, if she hadn&039;t had theh, she turned onto her stoht for the next threeentleness There was anOld World courtliness about hi she found odd was that he never sought her out during the day

On All Hallows Eve, just before ht, he asked her toher position with the school She knew she would , but looked forward to the time when she would be able to teach her own children He wanted to wed the next evening, but she couldn&039;t go off and leave the children with no one to teach them

"As soon as my replaceht if you wish "

He had not been happy with her decision, but, knowing how she loved teaching and how reed

It was the week before Christmas when she came doith a headache that sent her ho, she was burning with fever, then shaking with chills

Doht

"Annie?" She heard the anxiety in his voice as he smoothed her hair from her brow

"Dominic&039;?Is that you?" She opened her eyes but saw only darkness

"I&039;,"he replied softly

She reached for his hand, clutched it to her breast "I love you"

"And I love you, querida "

"Have you talked to the doctor?"

He nodded

"Then you know I&039;? She had never been sick a day in her life until now

"Annie, please do not leave me "

"I don&039;t want to"

"Then stay Trust me to help you"

"What can you do that the doctor cannot?" she asked, and listened in growing horror as he told her a tale she could not believe

"No" She shook her head weakly "Even if what you&039;re saying is true, I can&039;t live like that "

"Annie, it is the only way!" He caught her up in his arms and buried his face in her hair "Please, ain!"

She clutched at his shoulders as she felt the life fading from her body "I think I shallher na she remembered

"No!"Tracy woke abruptly, her body bathed in sweat She glanced at the , relieved to see that night ithdrawing her cloak from the face of the land

On the brink of the dark sleep of his kind, he stared into the darkness, his senses filled withTracyThe scent of her perfuered in his nostrils The memory of her voice whispered in his ear Her ses from the past flooded hisin front of a tent full of race, her long golden hair falling like a veil of silk past her waist Her hipsto fulfill the fantasy of every man in the place Only she wasn&039;tTracy then - she was Kiya , the enchantress

He stood near the back of the tent, his hands fisted at his sides, his jaw clenched The scent of unbridled lust filled the evening air

He took a step forward, anger surging through hirab hold of her arh, Kiya twirled out of thearound her ankles, flying up to offer a glis The jeweled bracelets on her wrists winked in the candlelight

Men tossed gold coins at her feet when the music ended She quickly scooped up the money and with a last seductive smile, ran out of the tent

Dohosted after her as she h his feet lanced over her shoulder

"Who&039;s there?"

"A friend," he replied

Lifting her skirt, she dreicked-looking knife froh "What kind of friend hides in the darkness?"