Hope Remains: A Hope Springs Fanfiction

Chapter 28

Emma locked the schoolhouse door on a still, yellow and orange evening, when the winds were drifting lightly in the spruces around the yard, and the shadows stretched long at the edge of the fields. She dropped the key into her pocket with a sigh of satisfaction. She had been a full-fledged schoolma'am for three days now and, so far at least, things were running smoothly. The O'Connor brood took up nearly half her class, Biddy's son reminded her strongly of Finbarr at that age. Quiet and reserved, with patience and wisdom beyond his years, and a quick and sunny smile.

Her smile widened, as it so often did, at the thought of Finbarr O'Connor. Even though the men had only left for the depot the morning she started school, it felt as though ages had passed since then. Something was different between her and Finbarr the night before he had left. There was something new and sweet, beyond mere friendship that she wanted to explore further. The remembered almost kiss they had shared sent her heart fluttering and pulse racing. As much as her choice to stay in Hope Springs had been about what she needed, that small bit of hope Finbarr had given her made her wonder if she had made the right choice in refusing Peter after all.

"Wait for us."

Mrs. O'Connor's voice interrupted her musings and she looked up to see her waving from the front of the mercantile. She walked toward where she and Cecily were loading crates into the bed of their wagon. Biddy appeared a moment later in the doorway, carrying a sack of flour.

"This is the last of it I think," Mrs. O'Connor said, setting the flour down in the wagon as Biddy handed it to her. "I called you over to offer a ride home, Miss Emma."

"More likely, she called you over to interrogate you about Finbarr," Cecily whispered helpfully to her, a smile tugging on her lips. "It seems quite a change came over him just before he left for the depot."

Emma was grateful Cecily couldn't see her blush as she turned to hide it from the other women. She wasn't certain she was ready to discuss the tremulous hope that had blossomed inside of her with anyone, much less half the women in the O'Connor clan.

"I'd love a ride," she said when her cheeks had cooled. "Thank you."

"Ah, it's no trouble for my future daughter-in-law," Mrs. O'Connor's gaze twinkled mischievously as she blushed again. "Climb in the wagon bed with Cecily."

"Why do I feel like a prisoner being taken to execution?" she murmured to Cecily as Biddy clucked to the horses, setting the wagon in motion. Cecily laughed softly, her gaze shifting to Mrs. O'Connor even though Emma knew she couldn't see her.

"I don't think it's an execution, Finbarr would be terribly disappointed if he came back and you were dead. More likely they intend to find out where exactly the two of you are headed."

Emma shook her head. "What if I don't even know that?"

"Then simply tell them that," Cecily shrugged. "It's not like when I was courting Tavish. They already adore you, so most likely they won't feed you to the wolves. At least not yet."
There was just enough dryness in Cecily's tone for her to know she was teasing her. Her lips quirked up as she settled back.

She had just begun to relax when a moment later, Biddy said, "Finbarr seemed quite happy when they left the other morning. What do you suppose brought on the change?"

Emma wished briefly that the wagon bed would open up and swallow her whole. She fought hard against the embarrassed blush stealing over her cheeks.

"It could be anything, I reckon," Mrs. O'Connor returned, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "Likely the fine weather."

"Likely," Biddy's grin was so wide, she wondered if her face might split in two. "Quite likely. And I don't reckon it has anything to do with a certain sweet schoolma'am seeing him off on her way to school."

"Not likely," Cecily drawled, casting Emma a teasing smile. "It was definitely the weather."

All three women laughed and, after several moments of blushing, she herself managed a laugh as well.

"We're just giving you a hard time, lass," Mrs. O'Connor said kindly. "That's what family is for, you know."

Emma chuckled even as her mind caught hold of one word. Family. The O'Connors had always felt like part of her family. Perhaps when she discovered what this certain something she had felt with Finbarr truly was they could be her family for real...

She shook her head, trying not to let her imagination run further away from her than it already had. Everything was so new and delicate between her and Finbarr, she hardly dared think about it herself.

"The children love having you as their teacher," Biddy commented, thankfully changing the subject. "I don't think my little ones have enjoyed learning this much...well...ever really."

"I'm so glad," she beamed with pride. "They are delightful in class."

Biddy turned herself to face her from the wagon seat, her bonnet shading half her face.

"I'm glad of it, otherwise I might feed them to the wolves. Wasn't that the expression, Cecily?"

Emma giggled, glancing at Cecily. Biddy had clearly overheard their conversation a few minutes ago.

"It certainly is," Cecily agreed. "A rather apt description if you ask me."

Biddy nodded, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "That's what I thought."

The wagon rolled on and the four women chatted easily about the children, school, the men's trip to the depot. Emma couldn't have felt more comfortable than if she had been talking to her own sisters.

"I sent Papa with a list of school supplies," she said, fingering her own textbooks. "I hoped he could bring us more braille writing equipment as well so we could teach anyone who wants to learn, adults included."

"Are you in earnest?" Cecily's mouth had gone slack. Cecily was rarely one to be surprised, so the mere fact that she looked so utterly pleased made her heart warm. She had been mulling this idea over ever since becoming a teacher. She wanted to make certain everyone could learn.

"Yes," she nodded. "I was thinking that maybe we could turn a corner of the mercantile into a lending library of sorts. I have a great many books, and I know you've transcribed quite a few. That way anyone who wants to read and learn can. Even in Braille."

Cecily threw her arms around her, kissing her cheek.

"You are wonderful!" she cried, an enormous smile on her face. "If Finbarr doesn't ask you to marry him, I will beat him over the head with my cane."

Emma laughed softly. "He hasn't...I mean...we aren't quite there yet, Cecily. Everything is so new, I'm not even certain of it myself."

"Details," Cecily waved away her comment with an airy hand.

"Finbarr will be so happy. He liked to read before the fire," Mrs. O'Connor chimed in. "Though since there aren't many braille texts here, he doesn't as often as he used to."

"That will change," Emma said with certainty. "We'll keep adding to our collection."

Finbarr was the reason she had the idea in the first place. He had been so frustrated by the darkness for so long, she had seen how Braille had opened up his world. As Papa had always said, reading was a gift. She wanted to be able to share that gift with everyone in Hope Springs, blind and sighted.

She looked out toward the road leading away from the valley. In just a few short days, the men of Hope Springs would be home, and then, she hoped, she would be able to find out if this blossom of hope could grow into something more.