The Cowboy Tutor

Mother pulled a clipping from her pocket and hesitated. “You must promise not to say anything.”

“Certainly.” Her curiosity grew to overwhelming proportions.

Mother unfolded the scrap of paper and handed it to her. “I placed this ad in a paper.”

Madge read the notice. Then she read it again. Mother had advertised for a teacher for Louisa. “It says nothing about marriage.”

Mother sat in Father’s chair—a sure sign of her mental state. Madge watched her closely. Was she hiding something?

“You know there are no eligible young men around. Most of them are in relief camps.”

Madge nodded. The government had created camps for the unemployed young men where they built roads, cut trees and did a number of labor jobs. The idea of work camps was fine. Give young men a place to sleep, food to eat and a job. Get them off the streets. But to her thinking, it only hid the problem. She bit her tongue to keep from saying what she thought of many of the prime minister’s political moves. Surely a smart man, a man from their own province even, could do something to stop this horrible decline.

Mother continued. “The rest are riding the rails, hoping to find a job somewhere or trying to avoid the relief camps.” She sighed long and hard. “I simply can’t stand by and let Louisa turn into an old maid, having to depend on her sisters to take care of her as she gets older.”

“Ma, she’s only nineteen.” She smiled as Macat jerked her head up and meowed as if agreeing with her.

“I was married and had her by that age.”

“I know.” Those were different times. Mother knew as well as anyone. No point in reminding her. “So the money…?”

“I used it to buy the ad for a tutor.”

“You actually found someone?”

“I did. A very nice man who starts today.”

Madge opened her mouth. Shut it with an audible click. Tried again. “You did all this behind my back?”

Mother smiled gently. “I felt I had to do something. I know we need the money for the payment, but I thought the wages from Mrs. Crebs and the other jobs you’ve picked up would be enough.” She paused a beat. “On my part, I can cut down on expenses. We don’t need meat as often as we’ve been eating it. We’ll trust God to provide and do our best to live wisely.” Her look begged Madge to understand.

None of them had expected Mrs. Crebs to be so miffed.

She squeezed Mother’s hands. “And this man you hired?”

“He seems ideal for Louisa—gentle, well-educated…. I know I can count on you to do everything you can to help me in this. But please don’t say anything to Louisa about my ulterior motives. You know how offended she’d be.”

Madge nodded, even though she felt as if she had hung her sister from a tree to be plucked like ripe fruit. “You’re sure he’s a good gentleman?”

“If he’s not, I will personally run him off the place with a hot poker.”

Madge chuckled at the sudden spurt of spunk her mother revealed. Sometimes she suspected she and Mother were more alike than Mother cared to confess. “I’ll do what I can to help the cause, but if I suspect he’s not suitable, I will be right at your side with another hot poker.”

The two of them laughed. Mother patted Madge’s hand. “I can always count on you.” Her expression faltered. “However, I didn’t expect my decision would come at such a bad time.”

Madge couldn’t bear to have her mother worried. “I’m sure things will work out.” She wouldn’t burden her mother with the fear rippling up her spine.

Mother nodded, accepting Madge’s reassurance. “Now I best get back to the kitchen before the girls wonder what we’re up to. By the way, the gentleman arrives this afternoon.”

Madge waited for her departure, then studied the funds in the can. How was she to pay the mortgage? She’d have to find another job, earn more money, perhaps speak to the banker about a few days’ grace. She rubbed the back of her neck. Where was she going to find someone willing and able to pay for any kind of work?

Lord, I can’t help but worry. The idea of the four of us being out on the street is enough to cause me concern. Lord, it’s beyond me to see how to fix this. However, I know You are in control. Please send an answer my way before we lose our house.

Maybe this tutor, poor unsuspecting man, might offer a future for Louisa. Madge giggled, picturing him. No doubt gray-haired and asthmatic. But Louisa would never pay a mind to such things so long as he was attentive and educated. She paused to pray he was everything Mother expected before she returned the can to the desk and closed the drop lid. Time to return to washing and ironing. She sat Macat on the floor and headed back upstairs with her pet purring at her heels.

A while later, dinner over, she hung about waiting for the arrival of the expected man.

Louisa had primped and put on her best dress. She had gathered up her favorite books. “I’m going to ask him if he’s read these. That way I’ll know what we can talk about.”

Madge never quite understood Louisa’s fascination with books and ideas. Since she was small, Madge preferred to be outdoors. It turned out to be a good thing she’d followed her father relentlessly, begging to help. After his death three years ago, she stepped into his role and took care of the chores and so much more. They’d had to let most of the land go, but Madge had insisted they must keep enough for a milk cow and her calf. Again, she wished she’d kept a horse, as well. But looking back was useless.

Sally shoved aside the stockings she had been carefully darning. “I’m going to the garden to see if I can find any greens left after that last blow.”

Mother stopped her. “Sally, I want you to meet this man first.”

Sally sat back down with a soft sigh. Madge wanted to make her face life squarely. Why was Sally so shy? Seemed Madge had gotten too much boldness and Sally none.

“Very well, Mother,” Sally murmured, twisting her hands and looking so miserable Madge had to quell her frustration. At least Mother didn’t relent and let her go, as she often did.

Mother pulled aside the curtain. “He’s coming.” She sat down and feigned disinterest.

Not prepared to pretend she wasn’t filled with curiosity, Madge planted herself in front of the window. Macat climbed to the ledge to join her. “He’s driving a Mercedes Roadster. About a 1929 model, if I’m not mistaken. Makes our old Model A look as pathetic as it is. He must have washed his car before he left town.”

“Madge, get away from the window. He’ll think we’re spying.”

“Mother, I am spying. And if he thinks we shouldn’t be interested, well… He’s getting out now.” She laughed aloud. “And he’s wiping the dust from the fenders. If he figures to keep his pretty car dust free he’ll have a full-time job.”

Louisa hissed. “Madge, stop staring. He’ll think we have no manners.”

“No. He’ll think I have no manners. You’d never give him reason to think it of you.”

Louisa giggled.

Madge didn’t have to look to know her pretty sister had blushed becomingly. Everything Louisa did was pretty and becoming.

“I couldn’t stand to work with a man who wasn’t clean and tidy,” Louisa said.

“Well, this one is downright fastidious. And he’s headed this way.” Madge turned from the window. But only to move toward the door to invite the man in. And give him a good once-over before she allowed him to spend time with her older sister.

She waited for the knock, then pulled the door open. The man before her sported a beard. His hair was short and tamed. His dusty suit hung on his body as if he’d recently lost weight. His subdued coloring supported the idea. He seemed faintly familiar. As she stared, he turned away and coughed.

“Excuse me, ma’am. I’m here to tutor Miss Louisa.”

“Have we met before?”

He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Didn’t I run into you on the sidewalk a week ago? Literally.”