Previously

As the wedding day approached Bette grew increasingly unhappy. Her last summer at the farm unwed and free of societal constraints should have been full of joy but everyone knew of her heavy heart especially Maize and Clara who dearly loved Bette. After much discussion they decided it was time to come clean and tell Bette the truth about who her real mother was, her father’s true nature and that she had an older sister who could help her establish another life where her father would have no power to force her to do anything she didn’t want to do. What Bette learned on that fateful day changed her forever from a woman resigned to her fate to a force of nature in charge of her destiny.

“Good morning Ti – Miss Kennard.” The entire class swiveled their heads around at the sound of that commanding voice. After a brief pause Tina found her voice “Good morning. Children please welcome Sheriff Porter.”

“Morning Sheriff Porter,” the class responded in unison.

Bette unleashed her most winning smile, but truth be told it was more for Miss Kennard’s benefit than putting the children at ease. She walked to the front of the classroom and sat herself on Tina’s desk and faced the students. Tina could smell the leather, the soap, and the horse, once again she found herself at a loss for words. Tina swallowed even though her throat was suddenly dry. Bette’s finely tuned hunting instincts told her that her decision not to play fair this morning was working.

“Good morning class. I’m most pleased to be visiting you today. I believe we have a lot of important things to talk about and then I expect you’ll have some questions for me.” (Bette knew that the children had to write three questions as a homework assignment.) “But first, Jimmy can you get me some water, I’m mighty parched from my ride here this morning.”

As Bette talked to the class Tina distinctly heard some things that were her benefit as well. Bette talked about how stealing was wrong in the eyes of the law even if you gave away what you stole to someone else no matter how badly they needed it. Tina hated how even in this open frontier the wealthy ranchers grew wealthier and everyone else seemed to struggle over scraps. She had students who lacked proper clothes, shoes and nourishment, died from illness and who were orphaned and it broke her heart. She didn’t think what Helena Peabody was doing was morally wrong. A little redistribution of frontier wealth was just what the doctor ordered in her book and she didn’t care what the law said. It was wrong for people to go hungry while others horded their wealth.