The calamity Janes Read Online Free Page B

sues me, I’m holding you responsible.”
    “I’m not concerned,” the English teacher said with a blithe expression.
    Ford crossed the high school gym. By the time he reached the table, Emma was sitting all alone, her expression glum.
    “I’ve been commanded to dance with you,” Ford told her.
    She gazed up at him, her expression startled. “Commanded? Now there’s a gracious invitation, if ever I heard one.” She might be an uptight workaholic, but Emma was even more attractive up close. For a brief moment Ford was grateful the English teacher had sent him on this mission of mercy. He suspected though, that Emma was going to do her very best to see that he got over that benevolent feeling.
    “Mrs. Hawkins,” he said, nodding in the teacher’s direction.
    To his surprise, a smile spread across Emma’s face,softening the harsh lines of her mouth and putting a sparkle into her eyes. “She does have a way of getting what she wants, doesn’t she? She actually managed to nudge me into reading Shakespeare. I hated it, but she never once let up. Eventually I began to like it.”
    “She must not have had to nudge too hard,” Ford said. “From what I hear, you were a terrific student. I’m Ford Hamilton, by the way.”
    Her expression cooled considerably. “Ah,” she said, “the new owner of the paper. I’ve heard about you.”
    “Nothing too damning, I hope.”
    “So far no, but then you’ve only been here a few weeks. I’m sure you haven’t done your worst yet.” She stood up. “Thanks for asking me to dance, but I have some old friends I need to see.”
    She brushed past him and headed straight for the hallway. Ford stared after her, wondering what he’d said to offend her. Or was it nothing more than the fact that he owned the paper?
    “Ms. Rogers?” he called after her.
    She hesitated but didn’t turn around. Refusing to talk to her back, he walked over and stepped in front of her.
    “When you have a few minutes, I’d like to speak with you,” he said.
    Her expression remained cool. “About?”
    “What or who motivated you when you were at Winding River High. I’m hoping to talk to all of the major success stories from your class. I think there might be some lessons in what drove you to succeed.”
    Her gaze narrowed. “What’s your measure of success, Mr. Hamilton? Fame? Money?”
    “Both, I suppose.”
    “Then we have nothing to talk about. You see, thepeople I view as successful from our class are the ones who are doing what they love to do, who are happy with their lives. For instance, my friend Karen. She’s not famous, and she probably has very little savings. But she’s working a ranch she loves with a man she adores. That’s success, Mr. Hamilton, not what I do.”
    Before he could respond, there was a scuffle of some kind across the gym. A man who looked as if he was probably drunk was tugging on the arm of a woman, while another man looked as if he might intervene. Only after a subtle nod from the woman did the second man back away with a shrug. Finally he turned and left the room.
    Beside Ford, Emma tensed. He glanced down and saw genuine worry on her face. “You know them?”
    “Of course. Everyone in Winding River knows everyone else. Sue Ellen was in my class. Donny was a year older. They were high school sweethearts.”
    “They don’t look so happy now,” Ford observed. “Would they qualify as one of your success stories?”
    “I really couldn’t say. I haven’t kept up,” Emma replied frostily. “Look, Mr. Hamilton, I wish you luck with the paper. I really do—Winding River needs a good newspaper. But I’m not interested in being interviewed.”
    “Not even for the sake of inspiring a student?”
    “Not even for that,” she said firmly. “Now you really will have to excuse me.”
    “Has the media given you a tough time, Ms. Rogers?” he asked, halting her in her tracks. “Is that why you won’t take five minutes out of your busy schedule to talk