Engaging the Competition Read Online Free PDF Page B

sun. “Beatrice was born smart. I just work hard.”
    The girl was delusional if she thought she wasn’t smart, but if she really did have to work so hard . . . “Then why are you taking the hardest courses?”
    Lydia shrugged. “I like a challenge.”
    Charlie huffed. There were far more enjoyable challenges to be had.
    â€œYou should find something you enjoy reading, Miss Andrews.” Beatrice brushed back her wayward red hair. “One of my cousins loathed reading until he found Gulliver’s Travels . Then he wouldn’t stop. Sometimes you just have to find something to spark your fancy.”
    The only reason Charlie had ever wanted to read was to impress Harrison, but that had been years ago. She looked over to where he sat huddled with a group of boys near the window. Well, it used to be a window, but now it was boarded up since the storm had blown a tree limb through it.
    With his fingers steepled in front of his mouth as he listened to his students discussing whatever essay topic he’d given them, she recalled the times he’d helped her figure out what to write when her mind had blanked after being assigned a composition. It was hard enough being older than everyone in the class, but to have to rely on a younger boy’s help to get a passable grade . . .
    She’d once tried to memorize a poem he’d liked in grade school, but by the time she’d gotten halfway through, the Christmas program was over and she had to abandon the task to keep up with the rest of her schoolwork. She never understood why Daddy insisted she finish school when she was educated enough to help around the farm.
    â€œSo that’s what sparks your fancy.” Beatrice giggled.
    â€œWhat?”
    Lydia tipped her head toward Harrison’s group. “Him.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice. “I don’t blame you. Without his glasses, he’s handsome.”
    Charlie dropped her gaze to the quizzes she was supposed to be grading and straightened them. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m an engaged woman.”
    â€œOh, that’s too bad.”
    â€œNo it’s not.” Beatrice elbowed Lydia. “Mr. Gray’s still inthe running for you then.” Beatrice’s eyes glittered and she leaned overto whisper. “Lydia’s a sucker for men who quote literature, and Mr. Gray can’t be much older than us, right?”
    Beatrice peeked over Lydia’s shoulder but dropped her gaze the second Harrison looked their way—even though she must know he couldn’t see past his hands without his glasses. “My brothers are probably his age,” she whispered to Lydia. “My own folks are eleven years apart.”
    He was definitely within eleven years of them, close enough for husband material once they left school. The realization ruffled Charlie’s feathers more than an engaged woman’s feathers ought to be ruffled. It didn’t matter if he married ten years younger or ten years older. Not at all.
    â€œWho’re you marrying, Miss Andrews?”
    Charlie finished checking a quiz before answering. “August Whitaker.”
    â€œOh, the Whitakers.” Beatrice frowned. “They’ve got a kid in almost every class. Haven and Dawn are meaner than two boy bullies put together. My sister’s scared of them though she’s a head taller than both.”
    Lydia scrunched her mouth. “Cash is often in my classes, and he’s never been pleasant.” She glanced at Charlie. “But I’m sure they can’t all be bad eggs.”
    Charlie realized she was pinching the bridge of her nose and released it. She didn’t know much about August, but he was definitely nicer than Royal. Not that she expected him to be her dream come true or anything. But what if she just hadn’t ever seen the mean side of him before?
    Lydia and Beatrice resumed