Hope Remains: A Hope Springs Fanfiction

Chapter 22

The evening was filled with laughter and music. Peter claimed nearly all her dances, only begrudgingly allowing others to dance with her. Finbarr stayed on the periphery of the merriment, Grady faithfully at his side.

"Hello, Miss Emma," Jeremiah Johnson said, stopping her as she made her way to Peter's side at the refreshment table. "How are you? I haven't talked to you in weeks."

Emma smiled, Mr. Johnson was much different now than he had been during the feuding days. He was much kinder, softer.

"I'm doing well, Mr. Johnson," she replied. "How are you?"

They exchanged pleasantries and after a few moments of idle conversation, Mr. Johnson said something that surprised her so completely, she found herself unable to move.

"I heard the preacher and his wife have moved to Laramie. Would you be interested in applying for the post of teacher?"

Her breath whooshed from her lungs and she blurted, "How did you know?"

Mr. Johnson chuckled softly, a hint of sadness entering his expression. "My daughter talked constantly of you when you were small. She told me often that you loved school and that when you played with dolls, you were always the teacher. I just wondered if it was still something that interested you."

"Marianne," she blinked, her breath catching in her chest. Her dear friend had passed away so long ago, yet it seemed like yesterday. She remembered her friend's sunny smile, her constant care about others around her. It seemed Marianne was caring for her still.

"I happened to think of it when my wife told me," Mr. Johnson nodded. "If you are interested, let me know. You're one of the brightest young things I've ever met."

"Thank you, sir," she breathed. "Thank you! I'll let you know. "

Emma felt like she was in a trance as she made her way forward once more. Her excitement about the teaching position mingled with indecision. She could go to Baltimore and become a teacher there, but how could she leave the people she cared about behind? She would miss Hope Springs and all the people here. But if she chose Hope Springs and things didn't work out with Finbarr... She groaned, resisting the urge to throw up her hands in helpless confusion. That confusion was tempered by pain at the memory of her friend. She missed her so much...

She watched Finbarr interacting with Ivy between dances, her heart warming as he allowed her sister to talk his ear off. He had always been extremely patient with Ivy, they had always been like brother and sister.

"Your sister switched partners on us," Peter chuckled, coming up behind her with a filled plate. "She said it was because she wanted to make a young man jealous, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she favors Finbarr over me."

His voice held no resentment. In fact, he seemed amused by Ivy's meddling. "Ivy reminds me very much of my youngest sister, actually."
"How many siblings do you have?" she asked as the musicians struck up a country waltz. Peter set aside the plates and took her hand gently in his, his melting smile making her heart flutter.

"There's four of us counting me," he replied as they stepped together into the dance. "I'm the oldest, then I have twin brothers—James and Gregory—then Caroline. She was rather doted on and spoiled by everyone growing up. She's my favorite."

"Everyone in our family feels the same way about Eimear," she said, glancing over to where her littlest sister danced in a circle with some of the other children, laughing and giggling and falling all over each other. "My parents weren't expecting to have another child after Sean."

Eimear had been a gift to all of them, especially Emma. There was fifteen years difference between them and she had treasured watching her little sister grow.