Truthfully Shade had not actually told her about the school marm but Clara was at the ranch three days a week so word got around with the help and even Nettie chattered something about a teacher being there but hoped she could keep learning stuff from Clara. That made young Miss Redmond feel good. Clara hadn't thought much about the visit really, maybe the school marm was visiting a lot of the ranches and farms outside of town canvassing the locality to see if potential students were about.

But Charlie wasn't done yet, instead he seemed eager to tell her something else. He had apparently overheard Mr. Thornton talking to the teacher about ..... picking her up for the dance on Saturday????????? Alright, that was news!

Clara tried to look impassive but her eyes probably gave it away, that was upsetting news indeed. Shade had never even mentioned the dance to her but Clara had figured that he was still too early into his recovery to attend anyhow so she also had never broached the topic.

"Oh? He did? I mean yes....I believe you. I just ..." she paused, for one of the very few times in her life at a loss for words.

"Why did you feel it necessary to tell me this, Charlie?" she suddenly asked. Was he trying to upset her? And why would he do that after she had forgiven him for their first encounter at the hotel.

Charlie was beginning to feel a bit uncomfortable and he shifted uneasily. "All I wanted to do was help. I figured that if things were to change...and I'm not saying they will, it would concern you and you could at least start thinking of something else to do just in case."

He brushed his hand through his hair, "Maybe, it's not what I thought it was. Maybe, he's just being nice. After all, the teacher is new in town and since he's an important fellow around here, well you know...maybe he's just making her feel welcome."

Not sure if he was making things right or not, Charlie smiled apologetically, "I'm sorry, if I have upset you in any way. I just thought you should know."

Something else to do? What did he mean by that? And if this was helping her, he had a strange concept of helpful. Clara had to take into account he might well be sincere and used her self control not to snap at him. Plus, the reality was it was Shade she was shocked by.  Was the man even going to tell her about taking this school marm as his date for the dance? It seemed he did not even think enough of her to be informed of such a thing?

Now Charlie started to back track on his statement, apparently feeling like he needed to defend his new employer. And, truth be told, if Clara was in her usual logical state of mind, she would no doubt have conceded his points as possibilities. But the young lady was not in a mood for it at the moment.

Glancing up at Charlie he was smiling at her.

"I'm sorry if I have upset you in any way. I just thought you should know."

Clara frowned, "You have not. I am fine, thank you."   It was an unconvincing lie.

"You have your work to do and so do I. Good day, Charlie, hope you do not get rained on," she spoke calmly enough then spun about and headed back toward the well, determined not to start crying, that would be a most childish thing to do.

Charlie stood and watched Clara head back to the well. The way she was walking, seemed a bit off. Her remark about feeling fine didn't ring true either. Finding out that you could be losing your job would make anybody a bit upset. Maybe he was wrong in telling her about what he had heard.

For most of his life, he had only been exposed to a limited number of people. He wished his brothers had been around a lot more while he was growing up and he could have learnt how to deal with those outside his circle from them instead of their father. Father, had only allowed him to socialise with the families of the boys he went to school with. Even when he went to college, he had been more interested in escaping its confines than improving his social skills.

Now that he was living and working with people from vastly different backgrounds than his, he was beginning to realise that he had a lot to learn. Every time he talked to Clara, he seemed to make a mess of it. If he didn't start learning to be more tactful in his conversations, there would be a lot more trouble ahead.

Picking up the handles of the wheelbarrow, he started pushing it towards the main house. Learning to be more tactful meant that he was going to need help from his brothers and that he would have to tell them about this latest run-in with Clara. In a way, he dreaded having to tell them but if he was ever going to make friends, it was something he needed to.