He turned at her words when she reentered the room, then smiled. "Maybe not."
He took in her physique, already preparing to obey her request to abstain from her body sexually until she gave word otherwise. Still he could steal a final kiss while the kids were busy getting into the treats Mrs. Beckett had brought. He moved close, double checking that they were alone and unobserved, with no windows in the room and her drawn in as the door shut. He drew her into a deep and passionate kiss, held it for some time, then released it and her before straightening her hair, then gently nudged her back out to her mother, where the teachers were thanking the elder Beckett lady profusely.
Ezra effectively abandoned Samantha and pounced on her brothers, demanding hugs and quickly a game of 'Tackle Ezra' formed, all the kids trying to bring him down.
The principal, a squaw ten years older than Marcia Beckett, smiled at the visitor. "Thank you Mrs. Beckett. I must ask that you blame me for your daughter's disobedience. I cornered Ezra once and made him promise to bring her out as soon as possible, and well you know how he keeps a promise."
She turned and whistled and the game froze. "WILLOWFOOT GET OVER HERE!!"
Ezra slithered free and trotted over instantly, not even breathing audibly. "Ma'am?" He towered over both women, but he stood at erect attention waiting for orders.
"Bend down."
He obeyed instantly.
She grabbed his left ear lobe. "Did Samantha ride your bike here?"
Ezra lied effortlessly, sounding entirely sincere. "No ma'am. In fact I offered and she declined." The principal twisted a bit and he spoke hurriedly. "She knew she was in trouble at home but my invite to the school was weighing on her so she decided to go. But she wasn't going to risk her father's upset at riding my bike....I could put her bike into your vehicle Mrs. Beckett."
The Principal pinched a bit harder. "And why were you late? You arrived after she did."
Ezra smiled weakly. "I went for a ride out on the old highway. Threw a slab and whipped off the chain. Had to take the back wheel off to get it back on, then limp to my uncle's shop."
"Which uncle?"
"Kilton."
She rolled her eyes. "He's never there."
Ezra smiled sheepishly and she laughed. "You idiot. Why didn't you insist on giving Samantha a ride?"
"Have you ever argued with her? She refuses to lose. And I didn't want to make trouble. Mrs. Beckett has invited me to a function and it felt rude to disrespect her by getting her daughter into trouble."
"Still would have been polite and quicker."
Ezra shrugged. "Better late and safe than quick and causing a problem. besides I don't have a spare helmet. Chief Beckett is requiring them now." He looked at Mrs. Beckett. "A wise call Mrs. Beckett."
The kids had gathered around Samantha now and were showing her all the goodies her mother had brought, as well as their recent gifts. Many were from the Willowfoots, most from Ezra, though the kids didn't know that.
The Principal shook Ezra who allowed it calmly. "Now the next question. What did you say to invite Samantha?"
"I told her about how the girls all made her several get better presents, and wrote her dozens of cards, but they couldn't send them." his eyes cut to Mrs. Beckett and he smiled. "My mom told them that Samantha was away in a special hospital where the gifts would be nice but might make her sick."
The principal nodded. Ezra sensed the intent and went on. "And that the boys had done the same but also had done a lot of work around the school that they wanted to show her. I did give her the most recent card...I see it there in her backpack. Ow!"
The principal scowled. "How?!"
"It's lime green! How can i miss it!"
She blinked then looked at Samantha's backpack and sure enough a huge lime green card festooned with decorations and the signatures of her students was clearly visible.
Ezra rubbed below his ear and her hand. "Whatcha jerk for? i was behaving."
"I thought you had gone snooping."
Ezra arched and eyebrow at her. "Do i look that stupid to you? My mama would skin me alive, staple the skin back on backwards then make me bath in lemon juice for even thinking about it." The teachers nodded, the kids made sounds of wonder or revulsion at the idea. Of course Ezra had put the card into the bag, but true to his word he had not snooped. Even his girlfriend had a right to her privacy. The card was just protection.
The Principal slowly nodded and released him. he turned to Mrs. Beckett. "This is my fault Mrs. Beckett. I let my mouth get away from me. Please don't punish Samantha. You can have my head on a platter instead....or she can give it to you."
Fauna had arrived. She was in a gorgeous white and blue sundress, and though still the beauty she had been at Samantha's age,yet for all her beauty and seeming demure nature she seemed ready to explode. "EZRA WILLOWFOOT!!"
He gulped. "Ma'am?"
His mother marched up to him, grabbed his shirt yanked him down to face her and snarled. "Did you turn your bike over on the old highway!?!"
He shook his head. "No ma'am. Almost but i managed not to."
Her eyes flashed. "Were you wearing your helmet at the time?"
"Yes ma'am."
"I see. So why was it in Kilton's shop?"
He gulped again but explained his story. "I'm sorry Mama.. i guess I forgot it. I was real late and-"
"Shut it." She glared up at him then looked at the Principal. "Did he get right to work?"
The woman nodded and Fauna sighed, her anger evaporating as he smacked the helmet into her son's chest and released him. "You forget it again and i'll staple it to your head."
"Yes ma'am."
"Good. Now go away. Marcia!" Fauna beamed and hugged her old friend, kissing her cheek, then positively glowed when she spotted Samantha. "Samantha Beckett you come here! You look wonderful!" She wrapped the petite blonde in her arms and delivered a bone creaking hug.
Ezra had been given his orders and dutifully went back to the kids where the game resumed, his sisters, minus the sleeping baby in the car, joining. With the slight advantage he was sprinting about the field dodging and ducking them, leading a merry chase.
The Principal looked on at both scenes. Helen Rawbill had helped raise Ezra. They were not true blood as Helen came from Arizona but had married into the tribe her, wedding a very distant cousin to the Willowfoot clan. She had taught Fauna when they were both young girls, and had been in the woman's wedding, and had been one of the first people other than his parents to hold infant Ezra. She was his beloved Aunt Helen and he didn't dare break a promise to her.
Of course she had a feeling that it had been much more the handsome young brave rather than the call of the children that had drawn the beautiful Beckett girl, but she could understand that. They made a fine couple, no matter what their respective couples might think. Helen never would, and never did, speak to anyone about what she saw, but she could tell that Ezra was in love with Samantha Beckett. And more importantly that Samantha was at the very least falling in love with Ezra Willowfoot.