The Maverick Makes the Grade
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Stella Bagwell
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Chapter One
Stacy Abernathy was pinning red and gold paper leaves to the edge of a bulletin board when a movement beyond the open door of her classroom caught the corner of her eye. The last bell of the school day had rung a while ago and the students had already exited the Bronco Elementary School building, so when she looked over her shoulder for a closer look, she expected to see a janitor or a fellow teacher. Instead, she spotted a fairly tall boy with a shock of dark blond hair and an olive-green pack resting against his back. He was clearly too old for her second-grade class, which would make him a student in Dante Sanchez’s third-grade group or Reginald Porter’s fourth-grade class.
Placing the remaining decorations aside, Stacy walked over to where the boy continued to stand just beyond the doorway.
“Hi!” he greeted her. “Are you a teacher?”
“I’m Ms. Abernathy,” she informed him. “What’s your name?”
“I’m Oliver Jackson,” he said with a grin. “I’m in fourth grade. Mr. Porter is my teacher.”
He was a cute kid, Stacy thought, with long, lanky limbs and bangs that fell over one eye. A spattering of freckles dotted the bridge of his nose while dimples dented both rounded cheeks. Because the school wasn’t all that large, she usually recognized all the students and could call them by name. This one was obviously a newcomer and with school only having started a few days ago, she’d not had a chance to acquaint herself with the new students.
“I see. So have you lost your way around the building?” she asked then gestured down the empty corridor. “The exit door to the parking area is at the opposite end of this hallway and around the corner.”
Shaking his head, he gave her another confident grin. “I’m not lost. I’m waiting on my dad and brother to come pick me up.”
Stacy discreetly glanced at the watch on her wrist. Apparently, something had happened to cause the child’s father to be late.
“Your father must be running late. Everyone will be leaving the building pretty soon and I wouldn’t want you to have to stand outside alone,” she told him.
The boy didn’t appear to be the least bit concerned over the prospect.
He said, “Oh, it’s not unusual for Dad to be late. See, he’s the new agribusiness teacher at Bronco High School and that makes him super busy. ’Cause ag teachers have all kinds of extra things they gotta do. He’ll be here any minute. I’m not worried.”
She’d not heard about the school district hiring a new agribusiness teacher. But that was hardly surprising. With Stacy working at the elementary school there were plenty of matters regarding the high school that she never heard about.
“Most teachers are very busy and I’m sure your father has plenty to do,” she replied while wondering about Oliver’s mother. Apparently, the woman’s schedule made it impossible for her to pick up her son from school.
“My dad’s name is Winston Jackson, but everybody calls him Win. And my brother’s name is Joshua. He’s fifteen and in ninth grade.” A smirk twisted his young features. “Joshua thinks he’s cool now because he’s in high school. But I can’t see he’s any different than he was this summer.”
Stacy kept her smile to herself. She knew firsthand what it was like to have older siblings. Being petite in stature and the baby of the family, she’d often been referred to as the runt. Most of the time the teasing hadn’t bothered her, but there had been occasions it had hurt.
“You know something, Oliver? Being a fourth grader is just as important as being a ninth grader. I imagine you’re about ten now. Right?”
Clearly impressed that she’d guessed his age, he said, “Yeah. How did you know?”
“Well, usually fourth graders are ten or somewhere close to it,” she explained.
He shifted his weight from one foot to the other and Stacy noticed the boy was wearing a pair of brown cowboy boots. The heels were the Western-slanted kind and the snub toes were scuffed. Oliver clearly wasn’t the athletic shoe type, she mused silently.
“Are you married?” he asked frankly.
Accustomed to young children asking personal questions, she gave him an indulgent smile. “No. I’m single.”
Surprise widened his green eyes. “What about kids? I bet you have kids.”
“I don’t have children of my own, but I consider my students as my children,” she told him.
“That’s not the same,” he pointed out then swiped at the hank of hair pestering his eye. “My mother died when I was only three. I don’t remember her. But I’ve seen pictures of her.”
Several scenarios had already gone through Stacy’s head about the mother of the Jackson family, but none had included the woman being deceased. The information caught her completely off guard. “I’m very sorry to hear that, Oliver. Then it’s only you and your brother and father living at home?”
“Yeah. Just us three,” he answered and then promptly asked, “Do you have a mother and dad?”
“Yes. They own the Bonnie B Ranch. That’s where I live—on the ranch in a cabin of my own.”
The word ranch caused his eyes to suddenly sparkle. “I live on a ranch, too! Dad’s named it the J Barb. He bought the place when we moved here a few months back. It’s not all built yet, but it’s gonna be good. We already have cattle and horses. But Dad is planning on buying lots more. He says you gotta have plenty of livestock to make money.”
So apparently the Jackson family hadn’t always lived in the Bronco area, she thought. But investing in ranching property implied the new agribusiness teacher was planning on staying permanently.
“That’s true,” she said, asking, “Do you like living on a ranch?”
A look of comical confusion swept over his face. “Gee, doesn’t everybody? It’s great. We’ve always lived on a ranch. Living in town wouldn’t be fun. Back in Whitehorn, I had friends who lived in town and they had to follow rules that were just awful. When we played in the yard we couldn’t yell ’cause the neighbor didn’t like kids yelling. And they couldn’t let their dogs out of the backyard. That was sad. ’Cause dogs like to run and explore.”
“Town life is different,” she agreed. “But not everyone is fortunate enough to live on a ranch.”
“That’s what Dad says. And he says land costs too darn much. That’s why we have to take care of it.”
Sounded as though Winston Jackson was teaching his boys to be good stewards of the land, she reasoned. That meant he was probably a wonderful agriculture teacher.
Oliver glanced down the hallway at the same time Stacy caught the sound of footsteps thumping against the tiled floor.
She followed the boy’s gaze and instantly caught sight of a tall man wearing a gray cowboy hat and black boots. His long legs were taking purposeful strides straight toward them and just as Stacy was thinking he had to be Winston Jackson, Oliver declared, “There’s Dad! Come on, Ms. Abernathy! I want you to meet him!”
Oliver scurried off and, not wanting to appear unfriendly, Stacy followed at a sedate pace until the three of them met in the middle of the wide corridor.
Standing proudly at his father’s side, Oliver quickly made introductions. “Dad, this is Ms. Abernathy. She teaches second grade. We’ve been ranch talking. She lives on a ranch, too. The Bonnie B.”
The moment Oliver’s father had walked up to them, Stacy had felt herself gawking at the man and now, as he extended his hand to greet her, she felt a wash of heat sting her cheeks.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Abernathy. I’m Winston Jackson—just call me Win. I hope Oliver hasn’t been talking your ear off. In case you haven’t already guessed, talking is his best subject.”
The man was a dream in the form of a cowboy. Well over six feet with broad, muscular shoulders and dirty-blond hair that waved around his ears and slightly onto the back of his neck. He was wearing dark trousers, a pale blue Western shirt and a bolo tie with a slide fashioned from a malachite stone. The green color matched his eyes, she thought and then immediately wondered why in the world she’d be noticing something so insignificant about Win Jackson.
“It’s nice to meet you, Win. And please, call me Stacy—everyone does—except for the students, of course.”
Those deep green eyes met hers and Stacy felt certain her heart skipped a beat or two. The strong reaction caught her by surprise. She was accustomed to seeing good-looking cowboys around town. After all, Bronco was full of them. But she’d never met one that struck her as hard as this one. Or could it be her erratic pulse was simply trying to tell her she’d gone without a date for far too long?
Thankfully, Oliver suddenly spoke up and interrupted her silly thoughts.
“Aww, shoot. Guess that means I have to keep calling you Ms. Abernathy,” he said.
Stacy gave the boy an indulgent smile. “I’m afraid so, Oliver. If the other students heard you calling me Stacy, it would cause problems. Because here at school I’m Ms. Abernathy, the teacher. Do you understand?”
She looked over to see Win was running a quick gaze over her face and Stacy decided it wasn’t the sort of look a man gave a woman when he was romantically interested. Instead, he appeared to be summing her up as a teacher and nothing more.
“Since I’m a teacher, Oliver gets to thinking he can get personal with other teachers. I’ll make sure he remembers you’re Ms. Abernathy,” he said.
“I won’t forget and slip,” Oliver told her, then looked up at his father and added, “Ms. Abernathy isn’t married. She doesn’t have any kids, either.”
Win scowled at his son. “Oliver, how many times have I told you not to be asking people personal questions? All of those things are Ms. Abernathy’s private business, not yours.”
Seeing a dejected look come over the boy’s face, Stacy quickly spoke up with a little laugh, “Oh, it’s okay, Win. I’ve lived in Bronco all my life. Everyone around here knows everything there is to know about me. Half of them could probably tell you what I ate for lunch.”
Her attempt to joke didn’t produce a chuckle from Win, but it did put a faint smile on his face.
“Thanks for being understanding about my son’s nosiness,” he said.
A nervous tickle suddenly struck her throat but she refused to clear it away. The last thing she wanted was for this rugged man to get the idea he was making her feel like an awkward teenaged girl.
“Oliver tells me you’re teaching agribusiness at the high school. How’s your new job going for you?” she asked politely.
“I’ve taught agribusiness for sixteen years; it’s old hat with me. But being at Bronco High School is a new experience. So far, I’ve not had any problems. Most of the students are obedient and attentive and the school administration has been great.”
It was sinful for a man to look as good as him, Stacy thought. He probably had a list of girlfriends as long as his arm.
Pushing that thought aside, she said, “Well, I hope you enjoy living in Bronco, Win. Naturally, I’m biased, but it truly is a great town.”
“It’s beginning to feel like home to the boys and me,” he said, placing a big hand on Oliver’s shoulder. “Come along, son. Joshua is waiting and we have lots of chores to do before supper.”
Oliver gave her a little wave. “Bye, Ms. Abernathy. Maybe I’ll see you here in the hallway tomorrow.”
Stacy gave the boy a nod. “You certainly might.”
“Good meeting you.” Win tossed the pleasantry at her before hurriedly bustling Oliver down the hallway.
Stacy watched the father and son until they reached the end of the corridor and disappeared around the corner. As she turned to walk back to her room, she couldn’t help thinking Win Jackson was certainly a hot hunk of cowboy, but he hadn’t seemed overly sociable.
And why would he be extra sociable with you, Stacy? You’re not exactly a glamour girl and, from the looks of the man, he can have his pick of women.
The mocking voice bouncing around in her head was suddenly interrupted by two female voices directly behind her. Turning, she saw Emma Garner, the first-grade teacher and teacher’s aide, Carrie Waters.
“Stacy! Who the heck was that?” Emma asked.
“I think I need to turn on the air conditioner!” Carrie exclaimed as she used one hand to fan her face. “It’s way too hot in here!”
Trying her best to appear cool and casual, Stacy said, “That was Win Jackson. He’s the new agribusiness teacher over at Bronco High.”
Carrie, a redhead who was all for having a night of fun, released a wistful sigh. “Oh my. He’s a dream in cowboy boots! But I’ll bet he’s married. The ones who look that good always are.”
Emma rolled her eyes. “The ones who look that good are always trouble—whether they’re married or not.”
Stacy said, “Win is a widower. That was his son, Oliver, with him. He also has an older son in high school.”
“A widower,” Carrie repeated soberly. “That’s terrible. Those poor boys.”
“I’d say poor Win, too,” Emma added thoughtfully. “To be a widower so young—I can’t imagine going through that kind of pain.”
“I can’t imagine it, either,” Stacy replied. “Losing his wife and the mother of his children had to be heartbreaking.”
“Wonder how long he’s been a widower?” Carrie thoughtfully voiced the question then looked to Stacy for an answer.
Stacy’s first instinct was to tell Carrie she had no idea how long it had been since Mrs. Jackson had passed away. The information was Win’s personal and private business. On the other hand, it was hardly a secret. Not with a talkative son like Oliver.
“From what Oliver told me, his mother has been gone seven years. Since he was three years old. He says he doesn’t remember her.”
“Heartbreaking,” Emma murmured. “I wonder if Mr. Jackson ever thinks his boys might need a mother in their lives?”
Stacy had been wondering the same thing, but she wasn’t going to admit it to her coworkers. Both women were often suggesting that she needed to date more. She didn’t want either of them to latch onto the idea that she might be interested in Win Jackson.
“Possibly,” she answered Emma’s question. “But he’s been single for a long time. It doesn’t look like he wants another wife or a stepmother for his sons.”
“What a waste,” Carrie replied.
“Everyone deals with loss differently,” Emma said with a rueful grimace. “And some people only have it in them to love once in a lifetime.”
Was Win Jackson in that category? Stacy wondered. Had he already used up all his romantic love on his late wife? The idea was disturbing. She would think a man like him would be full of needs and passion. But then, what did she know about a hot romance? Her limited encounters with men could be labeled lukewarm to cold, she rationalized ruefully.
Deciding it was time to change the subject, Stacy pointedly checked her watch. “Oh my, it’s getting late. I need to collect my things and head home.”
Minutes later, as Stacy drove away from the school parking lot and steered her little sedan in the direction of the Bonnie B, she tried not to think about Win Jackson. She even turned up the radio volume in hopes the blasting music would push his image from her mind. But it didn’t work. She kept seeing his rugged features with his faint crook of a smile and the calloused feel of his big hand as it had wrapped around hers. Oh, he was all man and then some. Just looking at him had filled her stomach with butterflies.
Yet the image of his sexy good looks wasn’t the only thing about Win going through her mind. She kept picturing him and his boys going home to an empty house, with only the three of them sharing dinner. In comparison, it almost made her feel guilty to be heading home to eat dinner with her parents and most likely a sibling or two.
But did that make her more fortunate than Win? At least, he’d been deeply in love once. He’d experienced marriage and, most of all, he had two sons. She didn’t even have a steady boyfriend. Maybe she should worry about her own love life instead of Win Jackson’s.
Two days later, Win stood in front of his desk as he presented questions to the class of twenty-two sophomores. It was the last hour of the school day and usually by now most of the students were too busy thinking about the bell ringing and what they were planning to do later that night than to focus on learning. That often created a challenge for Win to hold their attention throughout the hour. But this particular group was actually showing interest and he was making the most of the last few minutes.
“Okay, here is your next question. If a cattle rancher is hit by a drought that wipes out his hay crop, would it be more profitable for him to sell his herd and wait for his hay meadows to grow again before he restocks, or to purchase high-priced hay from another source and try to hang on to his cattle?”
Sitting at the back of the room, a girl with short brown hair was the first to thrust her arm in the air.
Win quickly acknowledged her. “Okay, Bethann, tell us how you’d handle this situation in the most profitable way.”
The girl said, “Well, Mr. Jackson, the answer will depend on the market price for cattle at the time of the drought. If the market is flooded and the rancher takes a huge loss at the sale barn, then purchasing the high-priced hay would be the best way to go. That’s the way I see it.”
“You are correct,” Win told her. “It all comes down to market prices. Not only for the cattle but also for the hay.”
A tall blond boy seated two desks away from Bethann let out a loud groan. “Aww, Bethann knew the answer ’cause her dad works on a ranch. How’s the rest of us supposed to know these things?”
“I knew the answer because I use my brain to think, Ralphy,” Bethann shot back at her classmate.
Win held up his hand to ward off the chuckles erupting around the room. “The answers were all right there in the two chapters you were assigned to read last night,” Win told the boy. “You don’t have to have a friend or relative in the ranching business to learn about ranch management. That’s why I’m here. To teach you.”
“Yes, sir,” Ralphy meekly replied. “I understand.”
Win glanced down at the notes he was holding, but not before he saw Ralphy send Bethann a sheepish grin that turned her cheeks a shade of pink. The exchange had Win remembering his days in high school and the juvenile attempts he’d made at flirting with the girls. That time in his life was long past and since Yvette’s death, he’d had no desire to flirt with any woman.
Until last night, he reminded himself. Until he’d walked upon Stacy Abernathy.
Nearly two days had passed since he’d met the second-grade teacher, yet her image was still far too fresh in his mind. Sparkling blue eyes, smooth ivory skin surrounded by golden-blond hair, lips the color of crushed strawberries. She’d been lovely and, for the first time in a long time, he’d noticed.
Damn it! He wasn’t in the market for romance. Other than her being pretty, he didn’t know why he was still thinking about the woman. Hadn’t he learned his lesson back in Whitehorn?
Purposely shaking that mocking question aside, he focused on the notes in his hand and was about to present another question to the class when the loud buzz of the bell interrupted his plans and he quickly dismissed the class.
As the students gathered up books and supplies and hurriedly filed out of the room, Win rounded his desk and began shoving a stack of test papers to be graded into a brown canvas duffel bag.
“Hey, Win. You haven’t forgotten about the meeting tonight, have you?”
Win glanced over at the open doorway to see Anthony Landers, Bronco High’s phys ed teacher and baseball coach. In his late twenties, with a head full of curly black hair and a constant grin, he was a likable guy, plus a hard worker. He had quickly grown into Win’s best friend in Bronco.
“Meeting? I guess I have. What sort of meeting?”
Entering the room Anthony pulled a folded paper from his back pocket and handed it to Win. “Didn’t you get an email about the meeting? I made a print of mine.”
Win quickly scanned the message then cursed under his breath. The meeting started at six tonight. That would hardly give him enough time to collect the boys, drive out to the J Barb, do the evening chores and then drive back into Bronco.
Handing the note back to Anthony, he shook his head. “If I did, I don’t remember it. Now I’ve got to figure out what to do with the boys while I’m at the meeting.”
“Oh, that’s easy enough. I’m leaving the gym open so any of the teachers’ kids can play basketball or volleyball while we’re at the meeting.”
Win let out a mocking laugh. “And who’s going to keep the kids from cutting the nets off the goals or scarring up the floor with hard shoes? Teachers’ kids aren’t always angels, you know. My two boys included.”
Anthony laughed. “Your boys are well mannered. No worries, though. A couple of teacher’s aides have volunteered to oversee things until the meeting is finished.”
“Thanks for letting me know, Anthony. I’ll send the boys to the gym. Do you have any idea how long these meetings last?”
“Usually not more than an hour or so. Just long enough to make you good and starved by the time you get home.”
“Yeah,” Win said wryly. “Joshua and Oliver will be complaining that they’re about to collapse from starvation.”
Anthony chuckled. “You’d probably have time to take them out for a quick bite to eat before the meeting. I’d go with you, but I have some extra things to do in the gym.”
Win shook his head. “I let them eat fast food last night. I don’t want them to have it two nights in a row.”
“Oh, to be a father. I’m glad I’m not there yet,” Anthony joked before turning to start out of the room. “I’ll see you at the meeting.”
The young man was about to disappear through the door when Win called to him. “Do you have another minute, Anthony?”
“Sure. You need a favor?”
Win walked over to where the other man stood. “Thanks, but no. I just have a question for you. Are you acquainted with the Abernathy family?”
Anthony chuckled. “That’s a mighty broad question, Win. The Abernathys are one of the oldest and richest families in the area. There are dozens of them around here, but I’m only slightly acquainted with them. They’re sort of out of my league, if you get my drift.”
“You mean because they’re rich? Are they snobby?” Win arched a brow at him while thinking Stacy Abernathy hardly came across as a woman with her nose stuck up in the air.
“Not the ones I’ve been around. Actually they’re all pretty down to earth. But—” He paused and shrugged. “I guess being around wealth reminds me of my own meager bank account. Anyway, why are you asking about the Abernathys? Do you have one as a student?”
Win felt like an idiot. “No. I met a teacher over at Oliver’s school by the name of Stacy Abernathy. I was just wondering about her—’cause Oliver seems to be overly taken with her.”
Anthony frowned thoughtfully then nodded. “Yeah. I’ve seen her at a few school events. She’s from the Bonnie B bunch of Abernathys. The youngest of the family, I think. She always came across as the quiet type to me. But then, I only know her casually. Mostly through school events. I’m more acquainted with her brothers since I run into them at Doug’s bar and other places around town. They’re all good guys.”
It didn’t sound as though the Abernathys put themselves above everyone else. But that didn’t mean he should be daydreaming about the pretty blonde teacher, Win told himself. “Well, you know Oliver, he can make anyone talk,” he said jokingly.
“Uh, is Oliver in Stacy’s class this school year?”
Win glanced over to see Anthony eyeing him with a curious look. “No. She teaches second grade.”
“Oh. Well, Oliver probably won’t have much contact with her then,” Anthony replied. “If that’s what’s worrying you—him getting too attached to a teacher as a mother figure.”
Grimacing, Win turned toward his desk and picked up his duffel bag. Oliver often asked if he’d ever have a mother, and Joshua, when he wasn’t trying to be cool, admitted he missed his mother and wished she was with them. Win understood it was a tough situation for both boys, but he couldn’t bring Yvette back. And he sure as heck wasn’t going to marry just to give his sons a stepmom.
Holding back a heavy sigh, Win said, “I’m not worried. But sometimes I wish he’d be more like Joshua.”
“And steer clear of females completely?” Anthony asked then laughed. “Sorry, Win. But I figure both your boys will make the most of their dating years.”
Win groaned at the thought. “You’re probably right. I might as well get ready for my sons to have their hearts broken a few times.”
“It’s a part of a young man’s growing pains,” Anthony replied. “At least, that’s what my dad always told me.”
Yeah, Win thought grimly. A man learned about falling in love. Then he had to learn all about losing it. As far as he was concerned, he’d had all the love lessons he could stand in a lifetime.
“So how does it feel having Joshua in your freshman ag class? I can’t imagine having my own child as a student.”
Win flashed him a pointed grin. “It’s not always easy trying to walk the fine line between teacher and father. But so far things have been going okay,” he said, then deliberately glanced at his wristwatch. “We’d better get going.”
“Right. Or I’ll be late for the meeting.”
The two men left the room together and, after parting company in the hallway, Win hurried out to his truck. With any luck, he could get to the elementary school and collect Oliver without running into Ms. Stacy Abernathy a second time.
The pretty blond teacher had made him uncomfortable in a way he’d not felt in years. He didn’t need that kind of temptation. Or the reminder that the days of him having a woman in his life were long over.
