A Teacher’s Journey to Love (Preview)

Chapter One

Alvera

“What was that?” 

My eyes popped open as I was jostled from one side of the carriage to the other. It was an abrupt and startling way to wake up but one I had grown accustomed to over the past several weeks. 

Slowly my eyes focused on the small wooden carriage that emerged in my sleepy haze. Two faces emerged through the blurred vision. My traveling companions, with whom I had the pleasure of making the trip, seemed unaffected by the shifting and rattling of the bumpy ride. 

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and tried to stretch out the aches and pains. How I longed to be out of the confinement of the carriage. But traveling from North Carolina to Dunsmuir, California, was a long trek. One I certainly wouldn’t want to do again anytime soon.

With my heart pounding in my chest, I searched for the danger as the wagon jolted me wildly from one side of the narrow seat to the other. In the back of my mind, I wondered why I hadn’t just ridden a horse. After all, it would have been a lot less painful on my backside. Then again, on a horse, I wouldn’t be able to sleep for fear of falling off.

A strong breeze played with the hem of the wool curtains allowing just enough of the icy air to chill me to the bone. Drawing my shawl over my shoulders, I tried to cling to the last bit of warmth that I could.

“Oh my,” I said as I drew back the curtain to expose the outside world. Wonder and amazement held me captive as I beheld God’s creation. Tall majestic trees with trunks bigger than the carriage stretched out for miles. I couldn’t help but wonder if the carriage driver was in awe of the scenery or if he’d come this way so often that the beauty was lost on him.

“Close the curtain,” the woman sitting across from me grumbled. “You trying to have us catch our deaths?” 

Mrs. Barker a suiting name for the narrowed face woman with fine wrinkles and a husky male voice. She’d been in the carriage before I had started my long journey. She also happened to be one of the least friendly people I’d ever met. 

I closed the curtain all but an inch and peered out into the wild. In the corner of my eye, though, I noticed the scowl on her face and tried not to let her damper my joy or excitement. The younger girl beside her shrugged and gave me an apologetic stare. 

Over the course of the journey, I’d learned they were traveling to California to meet with Mrs. Barker’s father. When they asked why I was heading out to California, their eyes widened, and their mouths clamped shut. The only time they spoke to me was to scold me. But now that we were so close, I ignored them and peeked through the small inch between the curtains. 

Through the gaps in the trees, I could spy the gray slope of the mountain we had trekked up. A part of me couldn’t help but wonder how much longer we would be stuck going up the mountain. I longed for the day we would start heading down the face of the mountain or at least get a different glimpse of where we were on our trail to California.

Anticipation rolled through me like monstrous storm clouds eager to dump spring showers. The carriage rattled again, and I could only pray that we didn’t lose another wheel or endure another broken axle going up the bumpy mountain pass. It was bad enough that we had lost a week going through the plains of Oklahoma, where we had lost not one but two wheels and had to put a horse down. Deep within me, I knew that we were close. Even the air seemed to grow thicker from the salty sea.

I took a long deep breath and shifted my weight to ease the aches in my back. All I could do was count the minutes until I could stretch my legs. I prayed we would finally be there the next time the carriage stopped. Fear mingled with excitement within me. I had dreamed of this for so long, and now that I was finally here, seeing it all with my own eyes, little bumps rose and scattered over my entire body. A smile played at the corners of my lips as the carriage descended the steep slope.

My eyes widened as a huge green valley appeared nestled at the base of the mountains through the tall trees. It was so easy to see the tall grass speckled with various colors of red, yellow, and orange. There were even bits of purple scattered throughout the valley. I could easily imagine myself frolicking through the wildflowers, and I longed for the day when I could gather them in my hands and smell their sweet perfumes. It felt as if butterflies had assaulted my stomach as I heard the drone of rushing waters growing closer.

I popped my head out of the window and rapped my hand on the side of the carriage to catch the driver’s attention. The hefty man leaned down and glared at me. 

“I do hope we see the waterfall,” I whispered. “I read there was one in the mountains.” 

“Yes,” Mrs. Barker snapped. “But I doubt a woman of your stature would ever be able to get to it.” 

“So, you’ve seen it?” I asked eagerly. Mrs. Barker peered at me through the slants of her eyes as her lips remained taut. 

“No. Only a fool would make the hike up the mountain. And I, unlike you, am no fool.” 

“I’d like to see it,” the young girl chimed in. 

“You shall not. I didn’t raise you up to be a trollop. Now sit up straight. I don’t know how many times I’ve got to tell you, Victoria, ladies should be seen, not heard.” 

I rolled my eyes and kept my attention on the left side of the carriage. “The clouds might be covering it up.”

“Pity,” Mrs. Barker said. 

“How many times have you taken this trip?” I asked her. But Mrs. Barker merely huffed and shook her head. 

“I don’t know what repels me the most. The lack of self-control on your part, Ms. Macalister, or the fact that you think  you can speak to us.”

“I don’t understand why you’ve had a chip on your shoulder since I got into the carriage. We’ve been stuck in the same box for weeks. Paid the same amount for the ticket, yet you think you’re better than me. Why?”

“We are better than you, dear. Or did you not learn that lesson in the orphanage you clawed your way out of?” Mrs. Barker’s voice cut like a knife, and I leaned back in my seat, stunned by her rudeness.  

I pulled my head back, trying not to feel the tinge of irritation, and strained my ear to catch some sound of the water crashing against the rocks. I wanted more than anything to catch a glimpse of the waterfall, but for now, I resigned myself to just the sound. My heart drummed in my ears as I shifted in my seat. I moved to the left side of the seat and pulled back the curtain as the roaring waters grew louder and louder. My eyes popped open as I caught a glimpse of a faint rainbow in the mist. The mighty waterfall tumbled down the face of the mountain, and it was as if I was stepping into a fairytale. A grin was plastered on my face, and I knew everything was exactly as the brochure said it would be, even without seeing all there was to see. 

“Will you please sit still,” Mrs. Barker snapped. “The ride is bumpy enough as it is without you moving from one side to the other.”

I tried to sit still for her, but I couldn’t. My mind raced and danced with expectations of what Dunsmuir would be like. I had envisioned a place that was pristine and peaceful. One that had every opportunity to live a life I chose. Although I had been raised not to have any expectations, I still had them. I still had hopes, dreams, and wishes to be fulfilled. And if there was one thing that the orphanage taught me, it was that through prayer, all things are possible.

Yet as I looked out of the small window and beheld the grace and majesty of all that was before me, I could never have dreamed up such a wonderful place. No books or lectures, or even paintings, could capture the beauty and grace of God’s green earth. In my heart of hearts, I knew that this was it. This was the place I had been dreaming about, and I was determined to make Dunsmuir my home.

The small town emerged on the horizon. Everything I had read about and been told about the place was true. A smile tickled the corners of my lips, and I didn’t care that the carriage was rocking and thumping along the beaten path. All that I cared about was that I was finally here.

My foot wrapped wildly on the floorboard as anticipation swelled within my chest. It seemed like it would take forever to get out of the carriage. I pulled in a long deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I reached for my carpet bag and pulled out the tattered piece of paper I had read at least a million times since I started my journey. The ad was simple and straight to the point. But there was only one line that I locked my eyes on, one line that sparked this journey. One line that would change my destiny.

Teacher wanted – Dunsmuir, California

“Ms. Macalister,” Mrs. Barker growled. “Will you please calm yourself? I swear this trip was like riding in a carriage with an animal. Clearly, your upbringing was flawed and undisciplined.”

“Say what you want,” I said with a smile. “We’re nearly there, and believe me, I’ll be just as glad as you are to exit this carriage.”  

I kept my eyes locked on that one line until the carriage finally rattled to a stop. My heart felt as if it was clogging my throat. I dared to take a peek out the window and found all my hopes and ambitions tanking like a rock.

“Driver, why have we stopped?” Mrs. Barker asked as I noticed that we had made it down the steep slope, yet the town was nowhere to be seen.

“Horse slipped its shoe,” the husky voice announced. “It’ll take us a few hours to get it fixed.”

“Unacceptable,” Mrs. Barker grumbled to Victoria. A brilliant idea popped into my head, and I shoved the tattered paper back into my carpet bag. There was no way I would stay in the carriage and wait when we were so close. Carefully I climbed out of the carriage. My legs wobbled under my weight as I tried to stand upright. It felt good to be able to move around again. 

I glanced down the path that cut through the tall trees. The road seemed easy enough to follow. 

“How much further till we get to the town?” I asked the heavyset driver as he climbed down from the carriage. 

“Not much further, maybe an hour or so ride,” he answered with an arched eyebrow. “But, like I said, we need time to take care of the horses.”

There was no way I would wait for him to fix the horses’ shoes. I rolled my shoulders back and took in a deep breath. The exercise would do me good, especially after being stuck inside the carriage for as long as I had. 

“Would you mind retrieving my trunk?”

“You’re not planning on walking there, are you?” he asked as he stopped next to the horse to unfasten it from the carriage. 

“And what if I am?”

“Suit yourself, miss. I’ll fetch your trunk.”

I waited patiently for the driver to retrieve the trunk from the top of the carriage. With the leather straps secured around it, I began walking with my trunk dragging behind me. The path was clear, and the air was fresh and crisp. Determined to reach the town, I started the three-hour trek into town, grateful to be rid of Mrs. Barker. Birds sang high in the trees, and the way that the wind rustled through the leaves was like a symphony that no musician could ever capture. Peace and joy came over me as I walked. Even though I was a stranger to the land, I didn’t fear the unknown. Sure, wild animals could roam these isolated roads, but I had faith that no harm would come to me. 

The day stretched on, and the sun drifted through the cloudless sky. Although my leg muscles ached from trekking so far, I wouldn’t let it get me down. With the town in sight, all I could do was smile and count down the minutes until I could step foot in my new home. The blue sky peppered with puffy white clouds stretched out towards the heavens. In the depths of my being, I knew this wouldn’t be like any other place I’d been before. Sure, North Carolina was gorgeous with its tall trees and open fields. But it didn’t have the same ambiance or wildness. Perhaps it was because North Carolina had already been colonized. On the other hand, California was still new and fresh and filled with opportunities for anyone brave enough to make the trek out West.

I finally reached the town when the sun kissed the canopy of the trees and exhaled. I glanced at the road behind me, and a sense of pride swelled within my chest. I knew it was just one of the many obstacles I would face. Still, I conquered it with determination and perseverance.

Slowly a new world opened up before me. Little wooden shops lined both sides of the dusty street. To my right, I spied the tavern and the blacksmith. To the left was a small corral with several horses grazing in their pens. There was a Sheriff’s office and buildings with signs indicating the apothecary and the barbershop. The town was busier than I had anticipated, and as I walked down the street, I noticed the people’s eyes on me.

Seeing as I had no idea where I was going, there was only one place I could go for directions: the Sheriff’s office. I walked to the office and stopped at the wooden boardwalk to peer inside the dusty windows.

“Good day. Is there anyone here?” I called as I searched for any signs of life within the building.

“If you’re looking for the sheriff, you’d have better luck at his house,” a soft voice said behind me. I turned quickly and smiled. The woman behind me wore a dusty floral dress that looked as if it needed to be washed. Her dark hair was pinned back into a tight bun.

“Thank you,” I said as I extended a hand to her. The woman’s grip was firm yet delicate. “I was actually looking for the schoolhouse. I was told to meet the mayor at the schoolhouse for employment.” 

“You’re to be the new teacher?” she asked. Shock etched her round face as she guided me suspiciously.

“Yes,” I answered, suddenly feeling a bit nervous. “Of course, there is the possibility that I’ve come all this way for nothing.”

“I don’t believe that God works in coincidences,” the woman said with a light chuckle. “I’m Kate, by the way, Kate Miles.”

“Alvera Macalister,” I said as I noticed the meekness about Kate that seemed to mirror my own. “And will you have any children at the school this year?” I asked.

“You’ll be teaching my son, Micky. And I give you permission right now that if he acts up, you may punish him whichever way you see fit.”

“I don’t believe that will be necessary but thank you.”

“Well, the school is just down this way. You can’t miss it,” Kate said and pointed down the center of the road to the left. “It’s not much. But it will be nice to have the children going back to school. The last teacher quit due to family business back east about two months ago.”

“I see,” I said, readjusting the leather strap around my hand. “You’ll have no issue like that come up with me, I assure you.”

“No family then?” Kate asked as I followed her down the road.

“Afraid not, but have no pity on me. It has served me well for some time.”

“You’re a lot younger than we were expecting,” Kate said.

“I can assure you that I am more than capable of performing the duties. I am proficient in English, Math, and Latin.”

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine here,” Kate said with a smile as we stopped at the small dusty school. Kate was right. It wasn’t much of a building. Four simple walls, a bell tower, and two dusty windows were all that greeted me. I noticed a smaller building in the back that I could only assume would be my new home.

“As I said, it’s not much.”

“It’ll do.”

“There’s going to be a gathering tonight in the town square. You should come. It’ll be the perfect way to introduce yourself and get to know the town folk.”

“Oh, I don’t know,” I answered, feeling anxiety creeping through me. I had never been invited to parties or meetings living at the orphanage. But I quickly realized that I was no longer stuck under the obligations or rules of that establishment. Out here, I could make my own choices and decisions without the harking of the nuns.

“That’s sweet how you think that was an invitation,” Kate said. “You do realize that everyone knows that you’re here. So you can either come to the gathering and talk to everyone, or you’ll have folks coming up this way wanting to talk to you.”

“Well, since you put it that way, I suppose I will be seeing you at the event tonight.”

“Good choice,” Kate said. 

“Mrs. Miles,” a loud voice called from the road, catching my attention. Kate turned her head and nodded as a round, jolly-looking man approached the school. His legs looked far too short for his body, and it was clear by the way he was coughing that physical exertion was not something he was used to doing.

“Mayor Bradley,” Kate said as she rushed to the mayor’s aid. “What is it I can do for you?”

The man lifted one chubby little finger and pulled in long deep breaths. He finally stood upright and smiled. “For starters, you can introduce me to the new schoolteacher.”

“I’d be delighted to,” Kate said. “Alvera Macalister, this is Mayor Bradley Godfrey.”

Bradley’s eyes looked over me as if to assess whether or not I was fit for the job. He cleared his throat and quickly glanced at Kate before returning his attention to me. “I must say we were expecting… Well, someone different.”

“I assure you I am more than qualified for the position,” I said.

“Feisty one, aren’t you.” Bradley chuckled and gave a small shrug. “Would you like me to give you a tour of the town to better acquaint yourself?”

“Thank you, but that won’t be necessary,” I said. “I think I’d like to explore myself. After all, not all who wander are lost.”

“Just so you’re aware, your quarters are in the back of the schoolhouse. It’s just a bed, a basin, and a hearth, but it should suffice,” Bradley said, rubbing the back of his neck with his handkerchief. 

“I am sure that it is more than adequate,” I said and smiled brightly, eager to get roots down. 

“Welcome to Dunsmuir,” the mayor said, leaving me to my own devices. 

The first week was a bit of a struggle as I made the place my own. With what little money I made, I would put curtains up to liven up my new home. Little by little, I made the schoolhouse more presentable and settled into my role as teacher. It wasn’t as hard as I had expected it to be. Perhaps all those years at the orphanage made it easier to adjust. 

By the end of the first month, I had learned the children’s names and picked up on their quirks. And while the town consisted of more people than I had imagined, I found myself fully immersed in the fabric of the community. There wasn’t a face I didn’t recognize or a name I didn’t know. 

The days turned into weeks and the weeks to months. Slowly I began to notice small changes in the children’s attitudes and spirits at school. A small prick of concern grew in my heart and began to fester as the children started showing up to class with less and less. First, it was the blisters on the children’s feet due to the socks being worn down. Then it was the lack of food that came in children’s lunches. Not even in the orphanage where I had grown up had I experienced such diverse circumstances. It seemed as if each new week brought more woes. And I knew I couldn’t just stand idly watching the children suffer.

But when the students started missing classes, I realized just how concerning the situation had become. In the depth me, I knew that I had to do something other than pray for these poor children. Action needed to be taken, and I had to get to the bottom of the problem if I was going to address it. The only thing I could think to do was ask the parents directly what was going on. There was only one person I knew who would give me a straight answer. 

“Thank you for meeting with me, Mrs. Miles,” I said as I poured tea into Mrs. Miles’s cup. “I hope I haven’t pulled you away from anything.”

“Of course not,” Kate said. “But you should know by now you don’t need to be all formal with me. You may be the teacher, but I’d like us to start being friends too.”

“All right,” I said, swallowing the lump clogging my throat. I wasn’t entirely sure how I was going to explain my concerns. But I knew I had to try. “I know I have only been here for about six months now.”

“Yes, and it’s been lovely. You’ve done a great job teaching Micky to read.”

“That’s fantastic, but my concern now is the children’s health. I’ve noticed several of the children developing coughs and illnesses. I’ve also noticed the blisters on their poor feet, making it nearly impossible for them to run and play. Hardly any of the children bring food with them anymore.”

Kate nodded her head and leaned back. Her attention drifted to the open window as she heaved a heavy sigh. “Most of the town works for Pemberton Mining Company.”

“That should be a good thing, should it not? Considering that there is constant work.”

“The work is not the problem,” Kate said. “It’s the money that the men are getting paid. It’s not enough to make ends meet anymore.”

“How so?”

“The guys haven’t received a pay raise in years, and the situation is getting more and more delicate. Not to mention the things that should be easy to get, like socks, are becoming harder and harder to come by. And just seeing a doctor takes a large chunk of my family’s income. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure I’m not the only one dealing with this. Many of the families here are,” Kate explained.

“I have noticed Micky’s coughing has gotten worse. It sounds deeper. At first, it was light, but now, it’s gotten so bad that it’s turning his voice hoarse,” I said as I reached for Kate’s hand. It pained me to see her and some of the other mothers struggling with basic needs. “Is there anything we can do about this?”

“No,” Kate said, holding back tears. “We don’t have the money to get him to a doctor. And prayer can only go so far. What we need is a miracle. And not just for my family but for the entire town.”

“I see,” I said and gave Kate’s hand a tight squeeze. “We will figure something out.”

“I don’t see how. Not unless the mining company starts paying the guys more money. And let’s not even discuss the possibility of the town going bankrupt. If there’s no money flowing to the other businesses, then people will stop settling here. We’ll end up fading away.” 

“I will not let that happen,” I said sternly. Although I didn’t know what I would do to help these people, I knew I had to do something. 

“It’s awfully sweet of you to want to try. But it’s not like the men can storm into Pemberton’s and demand a raise. No one can change the way the mine is run.” 

“The mine isn’t our main focus right now,” I said. “Right now, we need to focus on the children’s needs. We need to come up with a way to raise money so that we can buy the socks, books, and other things that they need. Back in North Carolina, when the orphanage needed funds, we would do bake sales or offer services.”

“A bake sale could work. I’m sure there are several farmers around that could donate goods to help us make the treats and bread,” Kate said as the tears in her eyes slowly dissipated. “Although I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high. The supplies we need for a successful bake sale might be too much for anyone to afford.”

“Then we will need a lot of prayers, and we will take it one bit at a time. I have some money aside that I could use for the baking supplies. However, I admit I’m not much of a baker.”

“That part you can leave to me and a few of the mothers,” Kate said.

“Then it looks like all we need to do now is get the mothers together and see what they can make with the supplies that we have. We are going to help our children,” I promised Kate. “Come hell or high water, those kids will get new socks.”

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“A Teacher’s Journey to Love” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Alvera Macalister is excited to finally live in a town where she can teach and help her students. As a kind-spirited young woman, she cannot help but want to fight for them when she notices that most of the students are living in poverty and hardship. A friend she makes along the way, the charming botanist named Zachariah, proves to play a crucial role in overturning the town’s exploitative mining company, but also in her heart’s awakening…

Should she be trusting a man she just met with a mission so sacred,though?

Zachariah Pemberton has always been different from his whole family and never wanted anything to do with his father’s mining company. Instead of confronting him, he decides to live a simple and secret life. When the kindest and most beautiful woman he has ever met comes to town and decides to overthrow the company, he feels inspired and finds the reason he was looking for to do so.

How will he ever make his two identities work without losing himself?

Alvera and Zachariah’s bond grows stronger as they both find a purpose to keep going in each other. But how will Zach keep his word to Alvera while at the same time being loyal to his own family? Will Alvera be able to see in him the man she fell for after she knows the whole truth? Will the lies they chose not to see catch up with them, or will their love conquer past mistakes?

“A Teacher’s Journey to Love” is a historical western romance novel of approximately 80,000 words. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Get your copy from Amazon!