Linda Ford (5 page)

Chapter Four

R
ebecca resisted the temptation to glance back at the cowboy. She ignored the way the skin on the back of her neck twitched, as if aware of his stare. If she encouraged him in any way, he would run roughshod over anything she suggested. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

Heidi bounced along at her side. “Are we gonna keep the baby?”

“Until arrangements can be made.”

Gabriel’s fussing swelled into desperate wails.

“He’s hungry. We got to hurry.” Heidi broke into a jog, the basket dragging against one leg.

Rebecca lengthened her stride as her heart alternated between determination to prove she could take care of the baby and fear that she would fail.

Failure was not an option.

Her hurried steps bounced the baby and he stopped fussing.

When they reached the Wrights’ house, the teacherage that was spared in the fire that destroyed the school, they were greeted by Holly and Mason’s son, who was playing outside. Redheaded Liam was one of the boys Rebecca had brought from New York. As soon as he’d arrived, he’d quickly grown close with both the schoolteacher and the sheriff, who had officially adopted him just days after their recent wedding.

“Hello, Miss Sterling,” he called. “Hi, Heidi. Whatcha got?” He indicated the basket at Heidi’s side.

“A baby.” Heidi pointed to little Gabriel in Rebecca’s arms.

Liam ran to Rebecca’s side. “A baby? Where’d you get him?”

Holly came to the door. “Did I hear you have a baby?”

Rebecca nodded as Gabriel wailed. “His name is Gabriel and he’s hungry.”

“Bring him in.” Holly ushered them into her small living room. The whole tiny house was not even the size of the ballroom in Rebecca’s father’s home, and yet it comfortably housed three very happy people. Rebecca marveled again at how little it took to satisfy this sweet woman. There was no doubting her happiness. She seemed to glow from within.

Rebecca bounced to quiet the baby, but he wouldn’t be lulled.

“What do you need?” Holly asked.

“There’s milk and a bottle in the basket.”

“I’ll get it ready.”

Heidi handed Holly the items. “Can I go play with Liam?”

“Of course.” Rebecca knew the girl missed the other orphan children, who had all been placed.

She and Liam ran outside.

Rebecca watched Holly carefully as she washed the bottle and rinsed it with scalding water from the kettle simmering on the back of the stove. Then she filled the bottle with milk and set it in a bowl of hot water. “Why do you do that?”

“You’ve never cared for a baby?” Holly asked.

“No.”

“I’m warming the milk so he doesn’t get a tummyache.” She took the bottle from the water, wiped the outside dry and shook a few drops of milk onto her wrist. “I’m checking to make sure it’s the right temperature. Here, let me show you.”

Rebecca held out her arm and Holly dropped milk on her wrist.

“Does it feel comfortably warm?”

Rebecca nodded.

“Then here you go.” She handed Rebecca the bottle. “Make yourself at home.” They both sat on the couch.

Rebecca remembered everything that she’d seen Heidi do and rubbed Gabriel’s little cheek. He turned toward her finger and she offered him the bottle, grinning as the baby sucked eagerly.

“How do you know about caring for babies?” she asked her friend.

Holly chuckled. “Aren’t schoolteachers supposed to be experts on everything? Besides, I helped care for babies when I was younger. Now tell me about this little fellow.”

Rebecca repeated the story of Colton finding him at the orphanage site. “Gabriel was crying when I came and Colton begged me to make him stop.” Strange how they had gone from him asking for her help to him trying to take over. Apparently, she’d made a bad impression when she hadn’t realized the baby needed a new diaper. Now he didn’t seem to think she was capable of doing anything useful.

A quick knock sounded on the door and Charlotte Reed burst into the room. “What’s this about Rebecca finding a baby?” The woman’s strawberry blond hair was a bit windblown and her porcelain skin was flushed. Clearly, she’d rushed over as soon as she heard the news.

“How did you hear?” Rebecca jostled Gabriel, who had stopped eating after only a few ounces.

“Likely he needs burping,” Holly said.

Rebecca knew what to do from watching Heidi. She cradled the baby to her shoulder and patted his back. He rewarded her with a gentle burp. She could do this. She could care for this baby. She turned back to Charlotte and repeated her question.

Charlotte chuckled. “I stopped at the store. Mr. Gavin told me. His wife was all atwitter about the news.” She bent over the baby. “He’s so sweet.”

Rebecca smiled down at Gabriel and her heart gave a strange tug. Would she ever have a baby of her own? Once she’d dreamed of it. Before she was left at the altar with her hopes dashed.

“Where’s Sasha?” Holly asked.

“She’s playing with the others.”

Charlotte had fallen in love with the raven-haired four-year-old orphan the moment she laid eyes on her when Rebecca and the children had first come to town. She’d persuaded her husband, Charlie Miller, to agree to take in the child, but then he’d died suddenly, leaving her a widow and Sasha’s placement in jeopardy—the policy of the Orphan Salvation Society didn’t allow for a single woman to foster a child on her own. Fortunately, Charlotte had persuaded Wyatt Reed, a new arrival in town, to marry her so she could keep the little girl. It hadn’t taken long for Wyatt to fall in love with this quiet, gentle woman—and with the little girl they had formally adopted. In fact, Wyatt had become so committed to the cause of helping orphans that he’d taken on the appointment as U.S. marshal so he could track down and rescue the children Felix Baxter had endangered.

Rebecca allowed herself a moment of rejoicing in knowing all the children she’d brought west had been placed in good homes with loving families...all, that is, except Heidi.

“Give us all the details,” Charlotte said, bringing Rebecca’s thoughts back to the present.

Rebecca repeated her story about the baby.

“Are you going to keep him?”

Both ladies leaned closer, waiting for her answer.

“The note his mother left asked for him to live at the orphanage, so I’ll care for him until it’s finished. Though it would be ideal if we could locate his mother and help her.”

The pair nodded. “So you’ll take him to the hotel?”

“No. I’ve agreed to go to the Hayes ranch.”

Charlotte gasped, “Why?”

Rebecca laughed at her friend’s surprise.

“See this quilt?” She repeated Colton’s story. “He’s convinced it means the baby is part of the Hayes family and insisted that, as a relative, he would care for the baby.” She shook her head. “We’ll share the baby’s care and he’ll help with building the orphanage.”

Her friends stared at her in disbelief.

Then Holly chuckled. “You’re going to live with that big, handsome rancher?”

Rebecca’s cheeks burned. “Not in an indecent way. His parents live in the house, too.”

Holly's cheeks flushed red. “Of course. That’s what I meant.” She brightened. “But Colton Hayes? By my calculations the man is twenty-eight years old and not married. It amazes me. I would think every mother in the county would be parading their daughters before him.”

Charlotte asked to hold the baby, and Rebecca relinquished a now-content Gabriel to her. Charlotte snuggled him close. “I guess Colton has his hands full with his parents. Neither of them is well. Have you noticed how gentle he is with them when he brings them to town?” She sighed expansively. “He’s so devoted to them. Such a sweet man.”

“Not that sweet,” Rebecca muttered. Her friends turned to stare at her. “We argued,” she said.

“About what?” Charlotte asked.

“He thinks he has to tell me what to do. That I’m nothing but a spoiled little rich girl.”

Holly patted her hand. “Well, you are a rich girl.”

“My father is rich.”

“Same thing.” Holly waved her hand in a calming gesture. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. You’ve done a good job of looking after the children and getting them placed.”

“All except Heidi.” How could she leave this child in the orphanage? For that matter, how could she leave her behind? Over the weeks of the trip west, she’d grown close to the child who had lost her parents in the fire that left her scarred. Despite her misfortunes, Heidi had a sweet spirit. But she had grown extremely shy, her tender heart wounded by the horror and shock many didn’t bother to disguise when they saw her face.

“I wish I could take her back to New York with me. I might be able to persuade my father to give her a place in the household, even if it is just as a helper in the kitchen. At least she’d be with someone she knew rather than in an orphanage full of strangers.” It wasn’t what she wanted for Heidi. The child deserved to be part of a loving family. “But I’m sure Jakob is trying to find her.” Rebecca had been opposed to separating the pair, but Mr. Arlington had dismissed her concerns. And Heidi had been so determined for her brother to find a family. She hadn’t had the heart to tell the girl about the telegram that had reached her, informing her that Heidi’s brother had run away from the family they’d placed him with so that he could rejoin her.

Booted steps sounded in front of the house. Even before he knocked and Holly opened the door, Rebecca knew Colton had arrived to take them to his ranch.

A frisson of doubt skittered up her spine. Why had she agreed to this arrangement? Her alarm swelled until she almost choked. How would his parents react when she arrived with Heidi and the baby?

“Good day, ladies.” Colton favored them all with a smile that brought in sunshine and joy.

“Colton Hayes,” Holly said. “You take good care of this baby and be nice to my friend.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Rebecca didn’t know how to interpret the look he gave her. Was it challenging? She bristled at the thought. “We’re working together.” She hoped everyone understood her meaning. She would not let Colton order her around, make her decisions or take away the chance for her to finish the task she meant to complete.

“Heidi is out playing with the others,” she told him. Maybe he would take the hint and go call her.

“Yes, ma’am.” He ducked out the door.

Charlotte kissed Gabriel then tucked him into the basket. “Goodbye, sweet baby.” She hugged Rebecca.

Holly hugged her, too. “If you need any help, remember that I’m the teacher. I’m an expert on most anything.”

The three women laughed as they headed out the door to where a buggy waited. As soon as Rebecca stepped outside, Heidi ran to her and grabbed her free hand.

Colton took the basket holding Gabriel and set it on the ground, then faced them.

Rebecca turned to Heidi. “Honey, we have to get into the buggy.”

Heidi looked up, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.

Rebecca caught the child’s chin. “I thought you wanted to go.”

Heidi nodded, but the way her eyes darted toward Colton, Rebecca guessed she hadn’t realized that they would have to ride in a buggy with him.

“Come along. I’ll help you up.” She eased the little girl toward the buggy and helped her onto the backseat. Heidi hunched down in the corner farthest from the driver.

Rebecca turned to find Colton at her side, offering his hand to assist her. To refuse would be rude and surely cause her friends to wonder why she wouldn’t accept this gesture of goodwill. But his nearness made her insides flutter. Only because he was so big, she told herself and placed her hand in his. It was a work-hardened palm. He held her hand gently as he helped her up and tucked her skirts inside. He smiled. All normal. What any gentleman would do.

But her heart swelled, caught at her lungs and hung on for dear life, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She checked on the baby, using the time to will her heartbeat to return to normal, then sat up straight and waved to her friends and the children.

But despite her efforts, her heart continued to beat in a rapid tattoo and her breathing required far more attention than normal.

Colton lifted his hat to the ladies, then flicked the reins. “We’ll go by the hotel so you can pick up your belongings.”

“Of course. Thank you.” She’d been so consumed with other things that she had not even thought about the logistics of moving to the ranch. Now she shifted her thoughts to what she needed to do. She’d lost most of her possessions in the fire at the school where she and the children in her charge had stayed as they waited for more permanent arrangements after the train robbery ended their journey. The ladies of the community had kindly provided her and Heidi with the necessities and a few dresses. The skirt and shirtwaist she wore had been given to her. Charlotte, an expert seamstress, had tucked and adjusted each item until it fit perfectly. Her best dress was an emerald-green one Charlotte made. The woman was a wonder with a needle. She was making plans to open up a seamstress business.

They reached the hotel, a simple wood-framed, two-story building. Nothing like the places she’d stayed in with her parents on their travels, but it had proven adequate.

Colton jumped down and hustled around to help her. Then he reached up for Heidi. But the child shrank back.

He studied her for a moment. “I won’t hurt you.”

But when she continued to withdraw, he dropped his hands. “Have it your way.”

He lifted the sleeping bundle from the basket.

Heidi waited until he stepped aside before she climbed down.

Rebecca reached out to take the infant.

He shook his head. “I’ll watch the baby while you get your things.”

“I can manage.”

He sighed heavily. “Are we going to have this argument every time I try to help?”

Some perverse little corner of her mind wanted to say yes. But she realized how childish that would be. “Of course not.” She turned toward the hotel. Was that Miss Ward in the lobby? Her neck muscles twitched. Could she possibly avoid her?

At least when they were at the ranch, Miss Ward wouldn’t be able to follow Rebecca around, terrifying Heidi and dispensing her litany of complaints and concerns.