page4 (2/2)
After five and a half weeks in the classroom, she could honestly say she loved the job While it was farfive different subjects for six different grades was insanely ti—but she also had considerable freedom in terms of how to teach the subjectShe found it really creative and fulfilling; and it was exhilarating not having ad her work, or criticizing her efforts
There was talk that this was the last year for the Crawford County schoolhouse, as ued that taxpayers’ dollars would be better served by putting the children on a bus and sending them to Marietta, but Jet hoped the school board would vote to keep the schoolhouse open—and not for her sake, but for the sake of history and tradition
Across the café, a phone rang Jet glanced at Shane, watching as he answered He leaned back in his chair, onethe phone to his ear Inky hair frah cheekbones His neatly trihted his jaw and beautiful mouth—
Sighing, she quickly stacked her books and papers and slid everything into her leather backpack and headed out of Java Café before she could look at Shane again
She should have left a half hour ago
Outside, Jet breathed in the cold, winter night, her breath clouding in the frigid air, and walked briskly to her car parked a couple blocks away, over by the h it wasn’t even five-thirty yet but she glanced up as she unlocked her car door, as if the jagged mountains, or snowcapped Copper Mountain, would be visible If it was a clear night and thebehind the doht’s heavy clouds promised more snow With or without snow, the turn of the century toas postcard pretty
She could see why Harley had fallen in love with Marietta—well, okay, Brock Sheenan and his adorable twins—but also this community Marietta, a little over a half hour froh Harley had warned her about the cold and snow and ice, Jet loved it, preferring the dusting of white, to Central California with its , which could blanket the San Joaquin valley froh early March
The only time Jet didn’t love the cold was on the days the wind howled down through Paradise Valley, rattling the single pane s in the one room schoolhouse On those days the one hundred and seventeen year old, wooden building shook and shivered and everyone inside shook and shivered a bit The kids rarely coh, hardened to Montana winters Jet just pulled on her knit gloves and continued teaching, peeling her layers off as the day warmed
It was a short drive from don to Kara’s house on Bramble Four blocks at the most, and it was a pleasant surprise to see Kara’s car in the driveway Kara, a Crawford County district attorney, worked long hours, and Jet really enjoyed Kara’s company when she was around
But entering the house, Jet heard voices co the door, Jet thought she recognized the voices Sounded like one of the Sheenan brothers “I want hione since December”
“I don’t think you have grounds to evict him,” Kara replied “B
ut if you’ve gone to a month to month lease, just don’t renew for the next month”
“So he’d stay another thirty days? Hell, no I want Swan gone”
Swan Were they talking about Shane?
Jet chewed her lip, suddenly uncertain if she should leave, or continue to her rooet to her roo the others
She opened the front door again and this ti briskly across the hall floor
She paused in front of the living roo surprise when she spotted Troy and Cormac Sheenan with Kara
Conversation broke off and all three glanced her way
“Hello” She shtly “Don’t let rading”
“We’re just about finished,” Troy said, rising He crossed the roo “How are you? Hoas your day?”
He was tall, like all the Sheenans, and she had to tilt her head back to see his face “School didn’t burn down Kids got holanced from Troy to Cor He definitely wasn’t happy “How are two of my favorite Sheenans?”
“Good,” Troy answered “Just getting some advice”
“Kara is good for that,” Jet agreed “Talk on I’ll be at , so I won’t be in your way”
In her roo on the desk, and then peeled off her coat and kicked off her shoes before flinging herself on the bed, aware that Shane was the one renting the Sheenan house He’d been on the Sheenan ranch in the foothills since last spring and, froer wanted Shane there
Were they evicting hi? They’d clearly coal advice so whatever it was, it had to be serious
Jet kneas none of her business but she couldn’t help worrying The Sheenans had welcoone out of their way to include her in their Sunday dinners, special occasions, and fa had happened, she wanted to know, especially if there was so she could do to help