Engaging the Competition Read Online Free PDF Page A

passed without his glasses for her, she could certainly step back inside a schoolroom for him.

    Stuffing his worthless spectacles into his vest pocket, Harrison cursed his dependency on them as Charlie’s vague form worked at hitching her horse to a wagon.
    He rubbed Dante’s neck. Horses might wander home on their own, but if he got in the saddle, would Dante go directly home with nothing more than a few general cues?
    There shouldn’t be much traffic on a Sunday, and surely roads were wide enough for him to see, if he squinted. He could avoid the main thoroughfares, and the clatter of wheels over brick should signal an approaching vehicle. Dante wouldn’t be stupid enough to step into traffic. Surely they could get home together—slowly.
    He took his hand off the stall gate and forged into the open area of the barn, scanning the ground, hoping to see obstacles before he ran into them. Once his hand touched the opposite wall, he trailed his fingers along its surface and cautiously made his way to Charlie. “I shouldn’t need to inconvenience you with a drive into town. I think Dante and I can get home all right.”
    â€œBut you can’t see.”
    â€œI can see fuzzy shapes and colors and light. And I’m sure I can remember the turns to get home.”
    â€œBut what if you take a wrong turn?”
    He stared at Dante’s dark shape across the barn, noisily munching on the oats Charlie had given him. “I don’t think we’ll be as bad off as that.”
    â€œHow many fingers am I holding up?”
    He frowned at Charlie. Her face was so much a blur, all he could see was a vague bit of red for her mouth and two dark spots for her eyes. He couldn’t even tell where her hands were. “I can’t even guess.”
    â€œThen I’m driving you home.”
    â€œMaybe you could just ride to the edge of town with me. Don’t trouble yourself with the wagon.” He could still sit a horse confidently—able to see or not. He didn’t need to be babied.
    â€œWhat’re you trying to prove, Gray?”
    He lifted his eyebrows at the use of his surname. Only other men called him that.
    What was he trying to prove? More like what was she trying to prove. “I’m trying to save you the inconvenience.”
    â€œNonsense. This will be nothing compared to having to lose a few days of work to help you teach.”
    â€œThat’s just it.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t think you can help me for—”
    â€œAre you saying I’m not smart enough? I know I wasn’t good in school like you were, but surely I can—”
    â€œNo, I know you’re smart enough to help. It’s just that my glasses aren’t the kind to be sitting on a shelf somewhere. They actually have to make them. I doubt they’ll be here within a week.” Of course, he could buy glasses from one of the stores in Teaville, but spectacles sold from boxes had long ago become inadequate. Why waste the money if she could help?
    She straightened from whatever she’d been doing. “How long?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’m guessing at least two weeks.” He squinted, trying to get a hint of her expression as she stood silently in front of him. He wished he didn’t need her that long, but how could he teach without help? He could let the grading pile up until his glasses arrived, but then he’d get too far behind. He could lecture and make the students read aloud, but there’d be no way to hide that he had to get two inches away from anything to see it. He could pat down the length of the chalkboard to find his chalk, but could he write legibly if he couldn’t see more than a word or two at a time? None of his students were troublemakers as far as he knew, but if someone wanted to get away with sleeping or cheating, they’d have an easy time of it.
    â€œWhen will you know for