The Lawman's Lessons

Choose one of the two men, or take the return ticket and head home. It wasn't much of a choice. Celia had worked and studied so hard to have a school of her own. And she had known that they might be a little upset. She knew exactly what they had wanted. It was stated very clearly in the advertisement and she could probably read and write better than anyone one of them.

Jackson sure never planned to marry, and how could he when his name would be a disgrace to his bride? So why had he fought so hard to keep her from marrying the other man? He could have shrugged it off and gotten out of there, but he just couldn't do it. The new school teacher needed someone who would stay on her tail and teach her a lesson or else she'd run right into danger.

But he'd have to be honest with her and tell her about that no-good scoundrel who had sired him. She at least had a right to know he was illegitimate - that the man who fathered him had left his mother alone to fend for herself. Then if Celia could handle that, well, they could work the rest out. Besides, there weren't any other good choices and she simply couldn't be without a husband.