Lola Adams was tall, with strawberry-blonde hair that hung well past her waist when it was let down, which it wasn’t presently, but the wind caught loose tendrils and whipped them from the bun atop her head, and Hope was careful not to walk too close to her friend for fear of getting entangled in her tresses.

“I don’t quite understand what the problem is,” Lola said quietly as they headed toward her carriage. Sunday meeting was over, and most everyone was headed to a nice meal with friends and family, these women included. Most Sundays, Hope’s folks headed out to Aunt Margaret and Uncle Arthur’s home after church, and since Lola had married their grandson, Ben, she would also be there. Lola had been Hope’s best friend ever since her family moved to Lamar when she was still wearing pink bows in her hair, and if Hope felt able to confide in anyone in the world, other than her mother, Lola would be that person.

“What do you mean?” Hope asked, not sure what she’d explained so poorly that Lola didn’t follow. “Jimmy wants to court me, and I am not interested in doing so.”

“But… why not give him a chance?” Lola urged, stopping short of her carriage and looking past Hope for a moment to see Ben talking to his Uncle John. “How do you know you don’t like ‘im if you haven’t given ‘im a chance?”

Hope was a little surprised to hear her friend say that. She thought her advice would be similar to what her mother and sister had told her a few days ago when Jimmy had first asked if she’d like to see him. “Lola, I already know Jimmy well enough to be sure I don’t have that sort of feelings for him.”

“He’s a good man. You could build a house out there near his folks. Then you wouldn’t have to teach school anymore.”

Hope’s eyes widened. “Why would you say that, Lola? You know how much I love my work.” Her friend had been there with her the entire time Hope was taking her exams and waiting to hear whether or not she’d scored high enough to even qualify to become a teacher. She’d been there when the superintendent of schools was considering her application and when Hope had earned the job.

“I know you do, Hope. I’m sorry. I’m not trying to be quarrelsome. It’s just… you always dreamt of going to a place where students really needed a teacher. What did you call it? Unsettled territory? Wild and dangerous? I had a feeling at the time you wouldn’t actually ever leave Lamar. I guess I’m just trying to say, teaching might not be exactly what you thought it was. You certainly haven’t gone off into any lawless place, looking for poor wretched children to help. Which I’m thankful for.” Lola reached out and touched her arm, and Hope considered snatching it away as each word burned her ears more and more. “I just think it might be time to settle down and have a family and let those dreams go.”

Hope studied Lola’s face for a while, not sure what to say. She’d had no idea her friend thought she’d given up on her dreams by taking the position in their hometown. “I still think about all that, Lola. I do think, someday, maybe I will go somewhere else, somewhere I can really make a difference. But these children need me, too. This might not be the lawless, wild place I spoke of when I was younger and didn’t know the world so well, but these kids still need a schoolteacher.”

“Yes, of course they do, Hope. And they’re very blessed to have you.” Her friend smiled sympathetically, and Hope wasn’t sure if she was sorry for what she’d said or that she’d hurt her feelings, but she wouldn’t have time to press it further as Ben had arrived and Lola would be headed out. He spoke to Hope briefly, and she forced a smile, not sure what he’d even said. “We’ll see you at the farm.”

With a nod, Hope backed away so Ben could turn the carriage and noted her father sitting alone in their own cart, likely waiting for the girls to all stop chatting and get in already. Hope headed over, wondering whether she wanted to confide in him at this moment or not but knowing for certain he’d find a way to make her feel better.

Will Tucker didn’t say much unless something needed to be said. Hope was fairly certain he would’ve rather stayed out on their farm where he didn’t have to see many people if the choice had been solely his, but when her grandfather had offered him a position at the bank, and her grandmother fell and broke her hip, everyone had agree that moving back to Lamar was best for the whole family. Of course, he was able to learn banking quickly and had ended up with Isaac Pike’s job as bank president as soon as her grandfather was ready to retire. Now, both of her grandparents’ health was poor, and they didn’t leave the house even on Sundays for service. Her mother worked tirelessly to care for them, and Hope didn’t feel bad about leaving the farm at all, except for on occasions like this when she saw her father so uncomfortable. Crowds were certainly not his forte.

She pulled herself up into the seat next to him. “Hope, I would’ve helped you up.”

“It’s okay, Daddy,” she said, secretly glad she’d managed to sneak up on him. “You don’t wanna talk to the townsfolk today?”

He chuckled and leaned back slightly against the wooden slats that made up the back of the driver’s seat. “Not anymore today. Are you okay? You look troubled.”

Hope scooted over, and her father put his arm around her, just as he would’ve done if she was still six years old and lost a doll. It was comforting to Hope, so she felt inclined to tell him the truth.