Page 6 of Wind Valley

So maybe the wind was good for something, he thought.

They burst through the door, wind-nipped and laughing, as Gil and Ani looked up from the couch. Ani’s legs were flung across Gil’s lap, and he was massaging her feet while she held a pencil and a book of crossword puzzles.

“Did the temperature drop again?” Gil asked. His hair, much darker than Lachlan’s, needed a trim, his beard was growing out, and he’d never looked happier.

“The wind picked up.” Lachlan dropped his arm from around Maura’s shoulder. She shivered, and he wondered if he should have kept it where it was. “You guys remember Maura, right? Pinky’s granddaughter.”

Ani and Gil offered smiles and waves, clearly trying not to make a big deal about the fact that Lachlan had brought a woman home with him. Living with his twin brother was great—Lachlan loved it—but he’d early on had to set clear boundaries that his life was his life, and not up for comment from his overprotective ever-so-slightly-older twin.

“Office is this way,” he told Maura. She started to follow him, but Ani disentangled her feet from Gil’s lap and stood up. Her dark hair flowed over her shoulders in thick waves.

“Wait. I’ve been wanting to talk to Maura, actually. Do you have a second?”

Maura glanced at Lachlan in confusion. He shrugged, since this was news to him. “I’ll make us some tea. Go ahead.”

Maura toed off her snow boots and left them dripping on the rubber mat cluttered with various shoes and boots. In her stocking feet, she joined Ani and Gil in the living room, warily perching herself on the edge of an armchair.

Lachlan went into the kitchen to make tea, but he was still able to hear everything they said. He dumped a selection of tea bags in a bowl and grabbed two mugs, then brought all of it into the living room.

“Word around town is that you’re a teacher,” Ani said.

“That’s right. Mostly middle school lately, but I’ve also taught elementary.” Maura’s answer sounded wary.

“That’s perfect, then. You know I’ve been the go-to doctor in town ever since I came here. Even though I’m a pediatrician by training, that’s good enough for most people here. Better than the guy who used to be a vet tech, in other words.”

Maura smiled even as she glanced uncertainly at Lachlan. He shrugged again, unsure of where this was heading.

“Out here, people get excited whenever someone shows up who has special knowledge,” Gil explained. “You tend to get drafted into jobs you didn’t plan for.”

“What does this have to do with me?” Maura asked.

“Well, since the days of the copper mine, there hasn’t been a teacher here in Firelight Ridge. There also haven’t been a lot of kids. Sometimes there haven’t been any, except for the Chilkoots, who always homeschool. That’s the only option for people with school-age children.”

The tea kettle whistled, and Lachlan went back to the kitchen to fetch it. As he poured boiling water into his and Maura’s mugs, Ani continued.

“Anyway, this winter, we have five children in town besides the Chilkoots. I’ve met all of them due to various ear infections and cases of mumps. When their parents heard there was a teacher in town, every single one has asked me if there was a chance we could rope you into taking on some teaching. Of course that’s not why you’re here. You have a job, and for all I know you’re going back to it?—”

“I’m on leave for the entire school year,” said Maura. “Maybe longer.”

“Oh. Well.” Ani gave her a searching look. “Is that because you don’t like teaching, or…”

“No no, I like teaching.” Clearly, Maura didn’t want to explain further.

Lachlan stepped in. “Did these parents ask you to approach Maura?”

“No, but I thought I’d feel her out. So far, I’m not hearing a flat-out no.” She lifted her eyebrows. “If it’s a money question, I believe the parents would be willing to pool their funds, or work on a barter system, or really anything. They’re flexible and frankly, desperate. I can arrange a meeting if you’re open to the idea.”

“I…” Maura looked down at her hands, which were resting on her thighs, gripping them as if she was holding on to them for safety. Lachlan didn’t understand why this proposition would cause her distress, but it had obviously unnerved her. “Let me think about it, okay?”

“Of course.” Ani clasped her hands under her chin. “Thank you for even considering it. I promise these are all good kids, no troublemakers to be found.”

“And the parents?” Maura murmured.

Ani laughed and didn’t answer, but Lachlan could tell it was a serious question. The potential students didn’t alarm her; the parents did.

4

Once they’d stepped into Lachlan’s office, Maura immediately relaxed. Gil made her nervous, not because of anything he’d done, but because he had such an intimidating aura. She felt much more at ease alone with Lachlan.

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