A Bundle of Complications

Groomed for high society, Rebecca Sterling now has a new mission—to help the orphans coming to Evans Grove. Yet just before she’s due to return to New York, she faces two unexpected challenges. There’s the tiny infant abandoned on her orphanage steps…and the big, gruff cowboy who found him.

Colton Hayes knows nothing about babies and even less about pampered socialites. But as he and Rebecca work together to watch over little Gabriel, he comes to care deeply for them both. What can a rough-and-ready cowboy offer a woman made for city living? Except, perhaps, the dream dearest to both their hearts—a family built on faith and love.

“What about it, Miss Rebecca?” Colton asked.

“The orphanage may be your responsibility, but I’m the one who found this child—that makes him my responsibility.” The baby nestled in the crook of his arm. Before Rebecca or Heidi could stop him he grabbed the basket and headed for his horse.

“Besides, you don’t fool me. You don’t know any more about caring for the baby than I do. At least I have my ma at home to help.”

Rebecca stared at the retreating back. Technically the child was not her responsibility. But she couldn’t let him go. She shared something with the child—abandonment. She wanted to give the baby the care and love he deserved.

“Wait.”

He stopped, and turned slowly. “I’m taking this baby home.”

“I accept your offer. I think it would benefit us both to work together.”

He continued to study her without any change in his expression. Then he nodded. “Very well. Come along, then.”

Rebecca picked her way across the rough ground. Was it possible she’d agreed to work with him? Live in his house?

ORPHAN TRAIN:

Heading west to new families and forever love

Family Lessons—Allie Pleiter, April 2013

The Marriage Barter—Christine Johnson, May 2013

The Baby Compromise—Linda Ford, June 2013

LINDA FORD

lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everything—a theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her stories—her concern for children and their future. She and her husband raised fourteen children—four homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.

The Baby Compromise

Linda Ford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

—Philippians 4:13

This story challenged me. It was because of the help of my critique partner, Debora Dale, that it has structure. Debora, with her wonderful grasp of story and her ability to sort out the tangled elements, lent her hand and guided me through the morass. I owe her a debt of gratitude. I can’t wait to see her stories published and on the shelves for all of you to enjoy.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Linda Ford for her contribution to the Orphan Train miniseries.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Evans Grove, Nebraska

Late May, 1875

One day. He could spare one day away from home. He owed it to the people of Evans Grove to help with the construction of the town’s new orphanage. A single day wasn’t much, but it was something. The orphans rescued from the clutches of Felix Baxter deserved a safe place to call home.

But still, twenty-eight-year-old Colton Hayes paused at the door as he planted his favorite black cowboy hat firmly on his head.

“Ma, Pa, you’ll be okay until I get back?” He didn’t like to leave them alone.

“Those poor children need the orphanage as soon as they can get it,” Pa said. “You go do what you can to help.”

“I’ll try to make supper.” Ma had her long-suffering tone down to a fine art. Not that she didn’t have cause. Bearing him late in life had overtaxed her heart. From a young age, he’d done all he could to ease her burden.

“Don’t worry about it, Ma. I’ll make something when I get back. You two just take care of yourselves.” He’d be hungry after a day of work, but he had pork chops in the icebox. He’d learned long ago to boil potatoes in their jackets to save time.

“Pa, you need anything?”

“I’m fine, son.” And to prove it, he pushed up from his chair.

Before he could hobble more than a step, Colton leaped forward to take the cup from his trembling hands. Since his accident three years ago, Pa lived in constant pain that made walking almost impossible.

Knowing his stupidity had caused Pa’s injuries twisted Colton’s insides. He silently vowed yet again to take care of him the rest of his life.

Colton filled the cup and carried it back to the table beside Pa’s chair. “I’ve left soup on the stove. Ma, can you see that Pa gets a bowl of it?” He really should stay home and make sure they were both safe.

Ma sighed. “I ’spect I can manage, though I’ve been feeling poorly these past days.” She pressed a hand to her chest.

Colton studied her. Did pain deepen the lines on her face?

She waved wearily. “You go ahead. We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be back later.” Still he hesitated, torn between his parents’ needs and the building project. “Seems we should help the community as much as we’re able,” he said, reminding himself why he’d made the commitment away from home. “After all, God spared us from the devastation of the flood.” A storm in the spring had caused the nearby dam to break, flooding the town, damaging many of the homes and businesses, and causing several deaths. Then, in hopes of ensnaring more children for his child-labor schemes, Baxter had started a fire that destroyed the school. Thankfully, his attempt to implicate the local orphans so the citizens of Evans Grove would send the children to Greenville had failed. The townspeople were pulling together to rebuild. Colton owed it to them to lend a hand.

Pa settled back in his chair with a muffled groan. “God truly spared us.” He lifted his hand in a half wave. “You go help out where you’re needed.”

Colton closed the door quietly, then turned toward town. One day to work. Then he’d be back home, taking care of his responsibilities.

He swung into the saddle and rode the few miles to town. He passed familiar homes, called a greeting to Mr. Gavin as he passed the general store. Like many of the homes and businesses in town, it still bore the mark of the high water of the flood.

He continued onward to the raw frame of the orphanage. Once it was finished, it would be a two-story structure with bedrooms upstairs for the children and staff. Rooms on the main floor would be used for daytime activity.

Strange. No one had arrived to work yet. He understood that men had volunteered and were scheduled to show up on specific days. Just as he had signed up to work today.

He studied the shell of the building. Wasn’t there supposed to be a stack of lumber nearby? Bought and paid for by the generous, yet anonymous, donor funding the project? The gift had everyone talking and guessing as to who the donor might be.

It would be interesting to know who had enough money to fund two building projects—both the orphanage and the school. But unless men showed up to work, the money would benefit no one.

He slipped from his horse, tied the reins to the nearest post and continued his inspection on foot.

As far as he could tell, there’d been nothing done since his last visit to town three days ago. He scratched his head. Moreover, it appeared as if someone had tried to knock out part of the framework where the front door would be. Was there something wrong with the work? He examined the braces and could see no flaw in the construction. Strange.

He circled the building to the back and stared. Someone had left a basket in front of the doorway. Laundry, by the look of it. Who would do that? And why? This whole thing was beginning to feel wrong.

He crossed the distance and squatted by the basket. Looked like... He lifted the first item. Bedding? Small bedding. What on earth?

The laundry in the basket moved. He jerked, almost losing his balance. Sucking in air to steady his twitching nerves, he gingerly plucked at the items. A cotton flannel square and then a quilt wrapped around—

Colton stared. A baby? He jolted upright and gave the surroundings an intent stare. Where was the mother? He saw no one nearby except Mr. Gavin sweeping the sidewalk in front of his store. Colton opened his mouth to call to him and demand if he knew anything, but he was too far away.

The baby made a mewling sound.

Colton squatted by the basket again. “Who are you?” He’d never seen such a tiny human before. He didn’t know much about babies—anything, really—but he suspected the infant couldn’t be more than a few days old. He touched the incredibly small, pink cheek. So soft. So warm.

Who did this baby belong to? He poked his fingers around the swaddled infant, looking for clues to the young one’s identity. He found a bottle full of milk, but nothing more.

Nothing except—

He examined the quilt bundled around the baby and realized that he recognized this pattern. No one made it but his grandmother. She said she’d dreamed it after Grandfather died. She called it “flowers of life.” Triangles of dark fabric formed the bottom half of the diamond and then a maze of bright fabric formed the top half. He had no idea how she managed to create such a beautiful design—one that looked like flowers growing from dark soil. No one else had ever managed to duplicate the pattern accurately. She had made this quilt—and she only gave quilts to family. That meant the baby belonged to the Hayes clan. He considered the relations who lived nearby.

Cousin Amelia lived in Evans Grove, but she was in Kansas visiting her sister. Although she had put on weight lately, he’d seen no indication that she had been expecting a baby. She certainly hadn’t mentioned anything to anyone. Colton might not get into town very often, but news like that would have reached him no matter what. Children were something to celebrate in Evans Grove, especially after so many had been lost to the flood. No, the child couldn’t be Amelia’s.

He had cousins in Ohio. Perhaps one of them had come to visit and something had happened. If Ma and Pa had been healthy, the mother might have left the baby with them instead of at the unfinished orphanage.

A fierce protectiveness filled his chest. He would take care of this little one until the parents returned. He reached into the basket, thinking to scoop the baby up, then hesitated. Wasn’t there a special way to hold tiny babies? He’d heard women mention it when they handed their infants to others, but he couldn’t recall their exact words. Something about holding its head. But how should he hold it? Up? Down? To the side? Was he meant to hold the baby from the head or support it from the neck? He pulled his hands back to his knees. He knew how to care for baby calves and foals. He’d seen baby kittens born, watched brand-new puppies. Once he’d even saved a nest of pink mice, only to watch them grow into troublesome rodents. But a human baby! He had no idea what to do.

Standing, he again looked around, hoping the mother had slipped away on an errand and would now be returning on hurried feet.

But only a pair of cowboys rode down the street. A wagon approached from the north side of town. Somewhere he heard a door slam. And distant voices laughing.

“Hello?”

The only answer came from the basket, a little squawk.

The baby’s face wrinkled up like a prune and a thin cry came from the tiny mouth.

Colton’s heart turned warm and soft. This lost or abandoned or forgotten baby was somehow connected to Colton and, as such, would receive all the care Colton could provide. Remembering the admonition to watch the head, he cupped his hands under the bundle and lifted it to his chest, hoping for the best.

“You’re safe now, baby. Don’t cry.”

The wee face smoothed. The lips puckered into a little rosebud, and the baby opened watery blue eyes to consider Colton.

Colton’s protectiveness grew fierce. Whatever had happened to this baby’s mother, he would find her. In the meantime, he would protect the baby and take care of it.

At that moment, the baby screwed up its face and cried—a sound like a mournful cat. So weak and pitiful Colton wondered if something was wrong.

“Don’t cry.” He cradled the baby against his chest and jiggled the little bundle.

“Don’t cry. Please, don’t cry.”

But the wails intensified. The baby sounded distraught.

What was he to do with such a tiny baby? Colton remembered the bottle and grabbed it. Stuck the nipple in the crying mouth.

The baby choked.

Colton’s face turned cold. His heart forgot to beat. In his ignorance had he drowned the wee mite?

* * *

Twenty-three-year-old Rebecca Sterling reminded herself to keep a cheerful smile and a hopeful heart as she headed down the street toward the orphanage. She was the one who had received the anonymous check, so she was the one in charge of the orphanage-building project, and she was determined to make it a success.

True, she knew nothing about building, but a year ago, she had known nothing about finding homes for orphan children, either. Her assignment with the Orphan Salvation Society—a New York–based organization that rescued orphaned city children from the streets and found families for them out West—had changed that in a hurry. Now all but one of the orphaned children placed in her care had been settled with families. The last child, ten-year-old Heidi Strauss, was at her side as they crossed the street to the orphanage building site. Half a block later, Rebecca’s heart sank and her smile faltered when she could see that no lumber had been delivered.

“No more wood,” Heidi announced.

“So I see.” No lumber. Things gone missing. Boards destroyed and made to look like an accident.

Someone didn’t want her to succeed at getting the orphanage built. Rebecca fought against her feelings of frustration. They were running out of time. The specially appointed U.S. marshal would soon return with the rescued orphans who’d been forced by Baxter into virtual slave labor for unscrupulous miners and farmers all over Nebraska territory.

The children deserved more than rescue. They deserved a warm place to live where they would be welcomed and protected. She intended to see that they got it. The orphanage would be built. Somehow.

She tucked her chin toward her chest in a sign that anyone who knew her would recognize as a sign of stubbornness. Whoever was at the root of her troubles would soon learn that Rebecca Gwendolyn Sterling expected people to do as she asked.

Her chin sagged. Here in small-town Nebraska, the name Lawrence Sterling III didn’t carry the weight it did back in New York. Few people here had heard of her father. Fewer knew or cared that he was a rich importer of European goods.

She again drew her chin back. She would not accept defeat.

Through the framework of the building, a dark figure lurched from side to side.

“Someone’s there,” Heidi whispered as she tugged on Rebecca to stop her.

Rebecca jerked to a halt and clung to Heidi’s hand. Was he the one responsible for the mischief at the site? Or was he there to help?

Realizing that she was alone except for the small girl, who squeezed her hand hard enough to numb her fingers, Rebecca glanced around, but saw no one. No one to help her...but no one to aid the intruder, either. There was only one of him, after all. No reason to be all trembly inside. She’d had enough of delays. If his intention was anything but working on the building...

A horse whinnied as she and Heidi trod past him.

A cry reached her ears. A thin wail. She stopped and listened. “What is that?”

Heidi listened, too. “It sounds like a baby.”

“Must be coming from an open window.” She moved on until she reached the corner of the framed building, where she paused to study the man. A big man, broad at the shoulders. Something stirred within her. A sense of recognition and more—a sense of eagerness and curiosity.

Nonsense. She pushed away everything but caution and determination. Whoever he was, whatever he was up to, she had a job to do on this building. It was time everyone involved realized that she was in charge and would not relent until her job was done.

“Come along,” she murmured to Heidi, who hung back, afraid of the man. Rebecca led her forward.

At that moment, the man turned.

Rebecca recognized him—Colton Hayes, a cowboy she’d seen in church, in the store, riding down the street, driving a buggy with an older man and woman she’d been informed were his parents.

Her admiration of the way he gently helped his parents from the buggy was her justification for why she’d studied him so intently. Noted his strong build, his thick black hair. The few times she’d seen him without the black cowboy hat he now wore, she’d noticed that his hair dipped in a wave. Today he wore a soft-looking blue shirt and denim trousers faded across the thighs, darker at the seams.

Surely he wasn’t the one responsible for the mischief.

Not a tall, handsome man like that.

He considered her across the distance. Too far for her to see the color of his eyes, though she knew they were as green as emeralds.

Rebecca Gwendolyn Sterling, have you taken leave of your senses? Staring shamelessly at a man? What would your father say? She scolded herself in her mother’s voice and words. Her mother had died seven years ago, yet Rebecca still heard her and listened to her. But that was not to say that she always followed what she knew would be her mother’s advice. If she heeded her mother, she would demurely approach the man and speak quietly and gently. Perhaps ask if he needed assistance. Instead, she lifted the hem of her navy blue skirt and stepped quickly and confidently across the rutted ground. She circled the corner and approached the man. Heidi followed on her heels, trying to be invisible behind Rebecca’s skirts.

“Am I ever glad to see you,” the rancher said at their approach.

She jerked to a halt. Confusion clouded her thoughts. What on earth did he mean? And what did he have in his arms? Something alive, if the movement inside the quilt indicated anything. The cry she’d noted before came from that bundle. The squalling intensified.

“What is that?”

His crooked grin seemed both amused and desperate, which didn’t make any sense. She couldn’t imagine this big, bold man uncertain or desperate about anything.

“It’s a baby.” His voice carried a definite note of tension. “A crying baby. I tried to give it a bottle but nearly choked it to death.”

“I see.” She didn’t. Why did he have a baby?

“Perhaps you can help.”

“Me?” Her voice squeaked and she swallowed hard, forced calmness to her words. “What would you like me to do?”

“I don’t know. Something. Anything.”

She closed the remaining distance and looked at the small, scrunched-up face. Two little fists quivered beside the red cheeks. “It’s very tiny.”

“I figure it can’t be very old.”

“Is it a boy or girl?”

He shook his head as he continued to jiggle the infant. “I don’t know.”

“How can you not know?”

He chuckled. “Maybe because I haven’t seen anything more than the bit that’s not wrapped up.”

“You mean to say—”

“I found it here in that basket. Can’t you make it stop crying?”

He expected her to know what to do? Of course he would. After all, as an agent for the Orphan Salvation Society, she was deemed an expert on children. Only one problem. Until her father had signed her up for this trip, she’d had very little to do with children except in the company of their mothers or older sisters. Never had she even seen a baby so tiny.

Still she told herself, I can do this.

She would do this. She’d prove to her father and everyone else—herself included—that she wasn’t simply a fancy lady from New York. She was capable.

He held the crying infant out to her.

Her heart thumped so hard she thought he might hear it. She sucked in a steadying breath. Hoping her arms wouldn’t shake noticeably, she took the baby. It was incredibly tiny. Somewhere deep in her being, a protective ache made itself known and she cradled the bundle close.

Heidi stood on tiptoe to peek around Rebecca’s shoulder. She pulled aside a corner of the quilt to look at the baby. “Oh, sweet,” she whispered. Then, as she realized Colton could see her, she ducked back out of sight.

Colton heaved a sigh that Rebecca took for relief. Obviously, he thought she could take care of the little one.

“Very well.” She could do this. “What does it need?”

He shrugged, though it seemed more like a gesture of uncertainty than lack of concern. “Beats me. But I suppose it’s hungry.”

“Then hand me the bottle, please.” She indicated the nursing bottle he held in one hand.

He did so. His fingers were long and firm-looking. A workingman’s hands. Hands that would grip life with an unrelenting grasp.

She pulled her thoughts back to reality and the heart-wrenching wails of the infant in her arms. She rocked. “Shh. Shh.” But the cries did not abate. What was wrong? What should she do? Steeling her face to reveal none of her fears, she shook the bottle then tipped the nipple into the open mouth.

The baby choked.

She jerked the bottle away. Oh, dear God, please don’t let this little one die. At that moment she wished some of her deportment lessons had been forgone for instruction in child care. But, of course, she was expected to follow her mother’s example and let her future children be raised by wet nurses and nannies. Rebecca recalled her nanny from when she was about five. When Miss Betsy left, she remembered crying for days until her mother had forbidden any more tears. Then she’d cried in private, often disappearing into a closet and shutting the door, hiding in the darkness.

Her arms tightened around the baby. No child deserved to know such loneliness and isolation, if it could be avoided. A child belonged in a home where he or she would be loved and valued.

Heidi tapped Rebecca’s shoulder and whispered so softly Rebecca strained to catch her words. “Maybe the baby needs a dry diaper.”

Rebecca stared at Heidi. How did this child know more about infants than she, a grown woman, did? She stilled a sigh. Because Heidi had been taught from an early age to be practical rather than ornamental.

The girl smiled. “Maybe there’s one there.” She indicated the basket, but didn’t move.

Rebecca understood that Heidi didn’t want Colton to see her. The poor girl was terribly self-conscious about the burn scars on her face and arms, especially after they’d kept her from gaining approval from any of the families looking to take in one of the Orphan Salvation Society children. But their time together had left Rebecca feeling very close to Heidi and very protective of the sweet, quiet girl. If she couldn’t find a home for Heidi, the child would live in the orphanage and Rebecca would have to return to New York once she was done here. If her father would allow it, she would take Heidi back to New York and keep her so she wouldn’t have to go to the orphanage. But even if Father did approve, the Society would insist the child be placed in a two-parent family. And anyway, her father would absolutely refuse. Rebecca prayed daily for a loving home for the child and did her best to ignore the ache in her heart at knowing she must say goodbye to Heidi.

She edged toward the basket to consider the contents, letting Heidi follow in her shadow.

Thankfully, Heidi reached around her and searched through the items. “I found one.” Her voice remained low, not wanting Colton to hear her. “And here’s a note.” She handed the piece of paper to Rebecca.

Her heart quivering, Rebecca unfolded the page.

I’m so glad there’s going to be an orphanage where my little boy can be safe. Please take good care of my darling. His name is Gabriel.

She pulled the baby close to her heart. The orphanage wasn’t ready, but she’d take care of this child until it was. But now she had Heidi and the baby in her care. And an orphanage with stalled construction. The baby cried and she jiggled it in a vain attempt to soothe it.

It was a lot to manage. She drew in her chin. But she would do it.

Chapter Two

Rebecca handed the note to Colton, felt his concern even before he read the words.

Heidi tugged at Rebecca’s arm. She bent to catch the child’s soft words. “What does it say?”

She told Heidi that the baby had been left behind.

Little Heidi’s big brown eyes filled with shock. “His mama and papa are gone? Are they dead?” Sorrow hollowed out each syllable.

“I don’t know what’s happened to them.” A number of possibilities came to mind, but none she wished to share with a ten-year-old, especially one who knew all too well the agony of losing her parents.

“Poor little baby.” Heidi reached out and tenderly stroked the tiny cheek.

The baby stopped crying long enough to swallow hard, then began again. He sounded so distressed that Rebecca’s heart threatened to weep in response.

Heidi offered her the diaper.

Rebecca simply stared.

“You want I should do it?” Heidi’s voice carried more eagerness than Rebecca had heard since shortly after they left New York. At that time Heidi had been full of hope for a new, loving family. But at every stop, people had seen her scarred face and turned away.

Perhaps helping care for the baby would ease Heidi’s hurt. “If you’d like.”

Heidi didn’t have any younger siblings, yet she knew what to do. Were some people born with that knowledge? If so, what was she born for? Her mother’s voice answered, Rebecca Gwendolyn Sterling, there is no greater privilege than to run a home, entertain guests and be an asset to your father’s station in life. And when you marry, provide the same for your husband.

The lessons she had learned about maintaining flawless etiquette, organizing superb dinner parties and dressing to the most fashionable degree were all well and good in New York, but here they proved utterly useless. She couldn’t help but wonder if those lessons were truly any more useful in the big city. Certainly her fiancé had found her lacking, despite her rigorous training to be a high-society hostess. She shoved the thought away. She’d vowed not to think about Oliver once she boarded the train on this trip.

At her father’s request—insistence, really—Rebecca had left New York two months ago with thirty children. As an agent under the auspices of the Orphan Salvation Society, she had assisted the late Mr. Arlington in placing children at the various towns in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska. They had been on their way to Greenville—the final stop on their itinerary—when tragedy struck.

She tried to stop the horrifying memories from filling her mind, but they came with brilliant sharpness. The holdup of the train. The bandits making impossible demands. The children crying. The chaos that broke out when the thieves couldn’t open the safe and then the shock of a gunshot echoing through her head and heart. Her mouth still grew parched at the memory. Poor Mr. Arlington. His life ended a few miles from Evans Grove. But good had come even from the darkest of days, since the loss of Mr. Arlington had caused her and the children to settle—temporarily at first—in Evans Grove. If they’d gone to Greenville, most of the children would have ended up in Felix Baxter’s orphanage, farmed out for slave labor. Instead, nearly all the children had found good homes in Evans Grove. All but Heidi, who looked as happy as Rebecca had ever seen her with little Gabriel to care for.

Heidi spread a blanket on a clean board and indicated that Rebecca should put the baby down.

Colton moved closer, peering over Rebecca’s shoulder as Heidi tenderly folded back the quilt until the baby lay exposed in a white flannel gown.

Rebecca could not believe how tiny he was.

Colton whistled. “You ever see such a small baby?”

Heidi jerked back at his voice. She gave Rebecca a pleading glance before the baby’s cries drew her attention back to him. Rebecca let out a gust of air, thankful that Heidi hadn’t gone into hiding the way she often did with strangers.

She answered Colton’s question. “Never.” A fierce protectiveness filled her heart. She tore her gaze from the baby to Colton’s face and blinked at the way his green eyes glistened. As if he found the sight of the baby as incredible as she did. For a heartbeat she let herself share the sense of pleasure and possibility with him. Though she couldn’t have explained either if anyone asked.

She shifted her attention back to Heidi, carefully memorizing everything the child did. Rebecca might be inexperienced when it came to caring for babies, but she had proven over and over that she could learn new things very quickly. She’d learn how to care for this tiny newborn and provide for his every need.

Heidi put a dry diaper on the baby, then swaddled him in the quilt. She pulled at Rebecca’s skirt, urging her closer so she blocked Colton’s view. Then she sat cross-legged on the board, took the bottle from Rebecca’s hand and began to feed the baby. She indicated that Rebecca should lean closer and she did. “You have to wait until he stops crying so he won’t choke.”

Rebecca filed that information alongside the steps on changing the baby and swaddling him in a blanket. Then her brain raced with all the things she needed to do. “He’s going to need fresh milk. I’ll speak to Mr. Gavin about it. At the same time I’ll ask where the building supplies are. I’ll arrange for a crib or cradle to be put into our room at the hotel.” Somehow she’d care for the baby and oversee the orphanage construction at the same time. How hard could it be? She turned back to Colton to assure him that she could manage.

But she did not see approval in his face. She saw resistance. He opened his mouth, but she wouldn’t let him voice his argument. She might be a city girl, but she could handle a lot more than people gave her credit for.

“The orphanage should have been finished by now. That’s obviously what the mother of this little boy expected.” She tipped her head toward the note he still held. “As the person responsible for the building project, it’s only reasonable for me to care for him until he can be safely sheltered under this roof.” She indicated the building under construction.

He shook his head. “Not this baby.”

She stared at him. What did he mean? Was he suggesting that she wasn’t up to the challenge?

She tipped her chin and rallied her defenses.

* * *

“This baby belongs with me.” Colton forced himself to ignore the shocked hurt in Rebecca’s eyes.

Her cheeks flared pink. “He’s your son?”

His face burned and he hoped he didn’t turn the color of a bonfire. “No.”

“Then I don’t understand what you mean.”

“You see the quilt?”

From the way she looked at him, he knew he wasn’t making any sense.

“It’s my grandmother’s. Or rather, my grandmother made it.” He stumbled over the words. When had he ever had such a hard time explaining a simple thing? Never. But with Rebecca’s wild-flax-flower blue eyes on him, he could hardly think straight. He felt clumsy and way too big before her daintiness. Though she was tall for a woman, she still had to tip her chin to meet his eyes. Which she did, her expression was patient, serene and yet downright challenging. No doubt she wasn’t used to having her decisions disputed.

She might be a rich, city girl and he only a nothing-special kind of cowboy, but this baby wasn’t going to an orphanage if he had anything to say about it. “The quilt proves he’s connected to the Hayes family, and I aim to take care of him.” He let out a sigh of relief when she didn’t point out that the quilt might have been passed on to someone outside the family, though he detected a flicker in her eyes that might indicate she wondered at the possibility.

“I’m sorry, but I have to ask how you intend to care for a baby. You’re a—”

“A cowboy. I know.”

“When I got here a few minutes ago, you didn’t know what to do with him. You appealed to me to help make him stop crying.”

“True. But I’m sure I can manage. My ma will help.” At least, she’d be able to give advice. “He’s family. I have an obligation.” Caring for a baby would stretch his time to the limit. Already he struggled to keep up, always torn between the demands of the ranch and the care of his parents. But he’d find a way to make it work. He wouldn’t accept any other possibility. He had a duty to this child, and he was determined never to fail in his family duties again.

She smiled, making it even more difficult for him to figure out his thoughts.

A tiny thread of suspicion made its way up to his brain. Was her smile meant to disarm him?

“I admire your sentiment.” Her tone didn’t quite match her words. “But it’s clear as glass that the mother intended the baby to be cared for in the orphanage. That means I am the one who should care for this baby until the building is finished.”

“Then what?” Surely there was more in the baby’s future than being raised in an institution. There were already too many children who didn’t have loving homes. A fact that tore at his insides. He wouldn’t leave an abandoned kitten to fend for itself, and the thought of abandoned, orphaned children seemed as wrong as a yellow sky. He couldn’t take in all the children who would eventually come to stay at the orphanage...but he could take in this one.

“He could be raised in the orphanage or maybe placed in a foster home or adopted,” Rebecca replied.

A moment ago he’d feared that his face was turning red. Now the blood rushed from it. “No. I’ll take him home. He’ll be safe with me.” He wouldn’t contemplate the baby going to strangers.

Little Heidi had fed the baby the milk and burped him. He now slept in her arms, the fingers of one hand curled around her index finger. Asleep he didn’t look like such a challenge.

Heidi saw him watching her—or, more correctly, the baby—and ducked behind Rebecca’s back. He understood Heidi’s shyness, having seen the scars on her face. They marred an otherwise beautiful child, but he didn’t find her appearance off-putting, especially given her sweet way with the baby. Since she hid behind the curtain of her saddle-brown hair and kept her face turned down, he guessed she thought otherwise. Someone should tell her to let people see her big brown eyes more often and they’d forget about her scars.

He returned his attention to Rebecca. The pretty blue eyes had become brittle granite. He took a step backward and tried to sort out his thoughts. He didn’t know the rules of arguing with a pretty city girl. All he knew was that he intended to personally see to the care of this infant and he’d brook no argument.

She turned to the little girl. “Come along, Heidi. We’ll go to the store first.”

Before she could take a step, he planted himself in her path. “Now, wait just a minute.” He tried to form a plan, mount a convincing defense, but her steady consideration of him and the way she held her head high left him scrambling for reason. “Look, maybe we can work something out.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “What do you have in mind?”

He didn’t have anything concrete planned, but perhaps they could share the responsibility. The idea immediately appealed to him. “There’s plenty of room at the ranch. You and Heidi and the baby could live there. I could help care for the baby and make sure he’s okay.” As he spoke, the idea took shape in his mind. “You wouldn’t have to stay at the hotel any longer.”

Rebecca smiled, though the brittleness remained in her eyes. “That’s a lovely idea.”

He heard the but before her smile faded.

“But I have to stay in town to see why the materials haven’t been delivered. I have to make sure this building is complete before the orphans come to live here. Wyatt will return any day with children.” Wyatt Reed was the newly appointed U.S. marshal charged with tracking down the orphans Baxter had hired out. The marshal had recently married Charlotte Miller and they’d adopted Sasha, one of Rebecca’s young charges. If Wyatt hadn’t discovered how Felix Baxter was getting rich by hiring out orphans from earlier trains, those poor children would still be suffering. “It makes me angry to think how the children have been mistreated.” Felix had robbed those children of any chance at a normal life.

Colton jerked his attention to the frame of the building beyond her shoulder. The only thing he could offer was his help. “I came here this morning to pitch in on the construction.” An idea took root and blossomed. “If you take care of the baby at the ranch, I could do more work on the orphanage.”

The doubt that clouded her eyes did not clear.

He had to convince her. It was the only way he could think to get her to give up or at least share the care of the baby. “I’ll take over supervision of the construction work. Personally see that this building gets completed in a timely fashion.” Surely a few words in the right ear and an occasional trip to town would be sufficient. The task wouldn’t require much time away from the ranch. It was the ideal solution.

But she shook her head. “I am not prepared to abdicate my task to someone else.”

He got the clear feeling that that was her final word on the subject. Was there anything that could be said to change her mind?

Chapter Three

“Miss Sterling.”

Rebecca barely managed to bury a sigh at the imperious tone of the woman approaching her. She’d avoided her at the hotel dining room, but it didn’t look as if she could escape her now. Miss Beatrice Ward was not a woman to be ignored. From the beginning, she’d opposed the presence of the orphan children in Evans Grove. Every time Rebecca encountered Miss Ward, with her helmet of silver hair and steely-gray eyes, she had to endure yet another lecture about the folly of keeping the orphans in the community.

“Riffraff,” she’d said in a public meeting. “Mark my words, we’ll suffer a rise in crime rate with these hooligans around.” And every time something went awry, she blamed the orphaned children. The idea of constructing an orphanage to provide for even more orphaned children had sent her into a frenzy. But this time, she’d changed her strategy. Instead of speaking out against the children directly, she sought to block the building instead, saying there needed to be ordinances and building codes in place first. She insisted that Evans Grove should aim higher than basic wooden structures. Delay after delay ensued, thanks to Miss Ward.

Now her plan of attack had shifted to questioning God’s approval. Honestly, if Rebecca once again heard the woman warning, “The lack of success is surely a sign from God that the plan should be abandoned,” she would forget her polite upbringing and tell the woman exactly what she thought of her constant interference.

As Miss Ward neared, Heidi clutched the baby to her chest, bolted to her feet and pressed herself to Rebecca’s side, as if hoping she could disappear into the folds of Rebecca’s skirt.

The poor little girl was certain everyone stared at her scarred face. Over and over again, Rebecca had assured her that people would love her despite the burn scars. But they’d seen plenty of evidence to the contrary on this trip. At each train stop, the children had been examined and several chosen. Heidi had started the journey with her brother, Jakob. The sturdy fourteen-year-old boy had been an ideal candidate for placement, but he had stuck stubbornly to his sister’s side, wanting them to be placed together. Each time couples would approach the pair, the sight of Heidi’s disfigurement drove them away. It had reached the point where Heidi tricked her brother into getting placed on his own so that she wouldn’t hold him back from finding a family. Now she was all alone and still without a family willing to give her a chance.

Rebecca shot a glance toward Colton. What did he think of Heidi’s scars? She couldn’t bear to see this child rejected time and again because of something she had no control over.

Colton watched Heidi as she shivered at Rebecca’s side. Was it her imagination or did his expression reveal tenderness? Tenderness that made her heart tug at its moorings.

“She’s frightened of Miss Ward,” he whispered.

Rebecca nodded. She wanted to pull Heidi into her arms and reassure her, but she’d learned not to offer Heidi too much in the way of comfort. The child simply withdrew. It had grown worse since her brother, Jakob, had been placed with a family in Iowa. Heidi herself had arranged for the other children to keep Jakob and her apart until someone chose to take him. It wasn’t until the train pulled away that Jakob realized his little sister wasn’t staying with him.

Rebecca would never forget the silent tears that streamed down Heidi’s cheeks as she watched her brother standing alone on the platform calling for her as the train with the remaining orphans pulled away. Rebecca had hugged her and tried to console her, but since that day Heidi—shy and self-conscious even with her brother at her side—had pulled back even further into herself.

“Miss Sterling.” Beatrice Ward steamed closer. “We need to talk.”

Rebecca glanced toward the store. Perhaps she could hurry away to find out why the materials hadn’t been delivered.

The older woman stepped directly in Rebecca’s path, making escape impossible.

Little Gabriel whimpered.

Miss Ward’s eyes narrowed. “What is that I hear?”

Colton took the baby from Heidi. Rebecca felt the little girl trembling at the man’s nearness.

Colton moved to Rebecca’s side, the baby ensconced in his arms. “Miss Ward, meet little Gabriel.”

“Gabriel?” She squinted at the bundle and sniffed. “I don’t recall anyone around here having a new baby by that name.” She shifted her gaze, stared at the basket nearby and swallowed hard enough to be audible. Slowly, as if it hurt, she brought her gaze back to Colton and the baby. “He’s a foundling, isn’t he? Another one. Soon this town will be overrun with the likes of these.” She swept her hand to indicate the baby and Heidi, who pressed into Rebecca’s back. “It has to stop.”

Rebecca smiled gently, hoping it would disarm the woman, even though what she really wanted was to unleash the onslaught that burned at her throat and scalded her tongue. “Evans Grove is fortunate to have these children in their midst. Each of them has proven to be an asset.”

“They are street urchins.”

“All with good hearts.”

Miss Ward sniffed. The older woman fixed Rebecca with a scowl. “They don’t belong here, and neither do any other ruffians. You must cease construction on that...that poorhouse.”

Rebecca gasped. “It’s not a poorhouse. It’s an orphanage.”

“It’s the same thing, isn’t it?”

“Not at all. And I will not order the construction stopped on your say-so.” Not that it required an order from her. The construction had ground to a halt of its own accord. Or as a result of someone else’s efforts. She suspected that Miss Ward might be behind it, but she had no proof.

Miss Ward looked ready to eat Rebecca for a midmorning snack. “I suspect they do things differently in New York. I don’t suppose they give consideration to what others in the community want. Nor do they consult God in their plans. That’s the only reason I can think that you haven’t considered all the warning signs God has sent your way. This is not His will. Shouldn’t you heed such things?”

No matter how many times she heard this warning repeated, it never made any sense. “I don’t think I should blame God for vandalism, mischief and the failure on the part of man to deliver supplies as agreed upon.”

“Mark my words. If you refuse to listen to God’s warnings, nothing but disaster will follow. And if you suspect monkey business, perhaps you need look no farther than the hooligans you brought to town.”

Rebecca could do nothing but stare.

“Miss Ward.” Colton spoke softly. “It might interest you to know that I’ve offered to supervise the building of the orphanage. Miss Rebecca and I were discussing the details of our agreement when you came along.”

Rebecca gaped at Colton. Realizing that her mouth hung open, she forced it closed.

Miss Ward sniffed again. “It’s plain that she’s hoodwinked you. But don’t think you can manipulate God to your own desires.” She stormed away.

Rebecca stared after her. If only she could avoid ever seeing that woman again. Unfortunately, she and Heidi were forced to run into her every day, since Miss Ward also lived at the hotel as she waited for her house to be repaired following the flood. How nice it would be to live where Miss Ward and others couldn’t stare at Heidi as she took her meals.

Mr. Hayes was offering her a way out, but she couldn’t take it, could she? No, of course she couldn’t. Supervising the orphanage building was her responsibility, and if she couldn’t fulfill it, how could she ever prove to her father—and herself—that she could complete a difficult job?

* * *

“What about it, Miss Rebecca?” Colton asked, trying to read her expression. It remained calm and unruffled, giving him no clue to her state of mind.

“The funds for the orphanage building were sent to me. Overseeing the construction is my responsibility.”

“I’m only offering to help you.”

“I prefer to see my obligations through. That includes personally seeing that this building is finished. I’d do better to simply take the baby and stay with him at the hotel.”

Heidi tugged Rebecca’s skirt. “Oh, please, Miss Sterling. Do we have to stay there?”

Colton shook his head. “The orphanage may be your responsibility, but I’m the one who found this child, and that makes him my responsibility.” The baby nestled in the crook of his arm. Before Rebecca or Heidi could stop Colton, he grabbed the basket and headed for his horse.

“Besides, you don’t fool me. You don’t know any more about caring for the baby than I do. At least I have my ma at home to help.” Best thing he could do was take little Gabriel home to her now. He’d only come to town to help with the orphanage building, and given the lack of materials, it was clear that no work on that could be done today.

As he rounded the corner, he saw again the damaged door frame. He knew it was deliberate. Would the person or persons responsible take the vandalism further? Did Rebecca know she faced opposition that resorted to this kind of destruction?

If he left her to deal with this on her own, would she get in over her head?

He clamped down on his teeth. He couldn’t babysit her. He had his hands full. Literally. But if harm came to her, he would live with it hanging around his neck.

Just as he did with his pa’s injuries.

* * *

Rebecca stared at the broad back of Colton Hayes. Technically, the child was not her responsibility. But she couldn’t let him go. Yes, she wanted to prove herself capable, but that was only part of her reason. She wanted to protect the child. Not from the big-booted cowboy. Colton also wanted to protect the baby. But she’d seen how crippled his parents were. Who would hold Gabriel and rock him? Who would kiss away his tears? Could they? Would they? Her heart squeezed out an answer. Even if they did, she shared something with the child—abandonment. She was grown-up, yet it hurt beyond words to be rejected. Her fiancé had eloped with some seamstress just days before their wedding. This baby had been abandoned by his mother. Neither was right, and she would do what she could to make it better for Gabriel. She’d give him the care and love he deserved.

“Wait.” The word rang with more pent-up emotion than she normally revealed.

He stopped, turned slowly and regarded her through the framework of the building. “I’m taking this baby home.”

“I accept your offer.”

He snorted. “I might have changed my mind.”

“A gentleman would not do that.”

“I’m no gentleman. I’m a cowboy.”

Although his words were softly spoken, she didn’t miss the harsh note. Did he intend to make her beg?

She considered her predicament. On one hand stood her father with his high expectations. Would he see it as a failure on her part if she let someone oversee the day-to-day construction work on the orphanage? On the other, there was this helpless baby. If the construction of the orphanage had been finished on time, there’d be a safe place for him to stay. It was her fault that there wasn’t—and that meant it was up to her to see to his care, whether the cowboy saw it that way or not.

Very well. She’d prove to everyone that she could handle any challenge. “I think it would benefit us both to work together. An infant would be a lot of work for your mother. I’ll help—” She practically choked on the word. “I’ll help with the baby and accept your help on this building.”

There. She’d spoken the words with as much apology and pleading as she could. And never before had it taken so much effort. “A business arrangement. But I insist on being involved in all decisions regarding the orphanage.” She saw his protest coming and hastened to add, “Just as I’m sure you wish to be involved with all the decisions regarding Gabriel.”

He continued to study her without any change in his expression. Then he nodded. “Very well. Come along, then. We’ll go to the mercantile first.”

“Finally,” Heidi murmured. “I was afraid you’d let him leave.”

Rebecca took Heidi’s hand as they picked their way across the rough ground. Was it possible that she’d just agreed to work with him? To live in his house?

“So how will this work?” she asked the cowboy. “How will we divide the responsibilities?” she clarified when he looked at her questioningly. “I expect to do my share.”

“I would expect nothing less. You can take care of the house while I get this building up. It benefits us both. I can be in town working here without worrying about my parents. And I can keep Gabriel safe.”

“You mean we can keep Gabriel safe.” She fell in step at his side as they returned to the street.

“Of course.” He struggled to hold the baby and the basket as he reached to untie the horse. The animal didn’t care for the arrangement and tugged back on the reins.

“Whoa,” Colton ordered. “Settle down. It’s just a baby and his bed.”

His words did nothing to calm the horse.

Rebecca let Colton struggle for a moment, enjoying his predicament. If this provided any indication of how well he’d manage on his own, he should be thanking her for agreeing to join forces with him.

He shot her a look.

She saw no gratitude in the way his eyes flashed, nor in the hard set of his mouth.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

She wiped all amusement from her face. “I’ll take the baby.” She reached out to do so.

He drew back.

“I thought we were going to work together,” she reminded him.

“That’s what we agreed.”

My, my, didn’t he sound gracious? But she took the infant without further comment, leaving him with the basket. He quickly untied the horse and they began the journey toward the store.

He walked so close at her side that it made her aware of his size, his rolling gait and something beyond the physical. A sense of strength and confidence. Her skin felt his nearness in a way that alarmed her and she moved aside.

“You aren’t planning to run away with the baby, are you?”

She sniffed, realized it sounded like Miss Ward and vowed never to do it again. “Oh, yes. It’s always been my dream to be chased down by a horse-riding, big-booted cowboy.”

He stopped, lifted one foot and examined it. “My feet aren’t that big.”

“If you say so.” She continued on her way. It took him only two steps to catch up.

“You’re just sore that you didn’t get your way.”

He made her sound like a spoiled child. “I am not.”

Heidi giggled. “You’re quarreling.”

Rebecca clamped her lips together and shot Colton a look that dared him to continue this.

He grinned. Did that glint in his eyes suggest a challenge?

They turned down Victory Street. A lone cowboy rode past, greeted Colton by name and tipped his hat at Rebecca.

Something burned at her thoughts and wouldn’t be quenched, despite her best intentions. Was he like her father, doubting her abilities? “Do you think I can’t manage on my own?” If so, she would prove him wrong.

He raised an eyebrow at her, but didn’t answer. His eyes were like hard bits of rock chiseled from a quarry. Only an accident of birth made them the unusual green color.

“Just because I’m a city girl doesn’t mean I’m incapable of caring for a baby.”

“Don’t recall saying you were.”

They reached the mercantile, forcing her to keep her retort to herself. Besides, as Heidi had pointed out, this was childish quarreling.

She shifted the baby to one arm and brought her thoughts to the task at hand—getting the building supplies delivered as promised. No workers would come unless there was material—though she suspected Miss Ward had been spreading her belief about God’s displeasure with the project among the townspeople. Perhaps some of them believed her.

Oh, and getting a regular supply of milk for the baby. See, she wasn’t a bit incompetent.

With Heidi clinging to her side, Rebecca stepped into the store. She breathed in the smell of coal oil and leather. From past experience, she knew that when she moved closer to the counter she’d catch the scent of licorice and cheese and hundreds of other things more pleasant to the senses.

Colton paused to tie the horse to the hitching rail and set the basket on the bench outside the door, but he reached her side before she made it to the counter. She stuffed back annoyance. Did he think she couldn’t handle things without him?

Without giving him a chance to take over, she spoke to Mr. Gavin. “Sir, I thought we had an agreement. You promised that the supplies would be delivered to the building site this morning.” He’d given his word several times, but something always prevented him from keeping it. “I was just there, and there are no supplies.”

Mr. Gavin raised his craggy eyebrows and gave little Gabriel a look rife with curiosity. She saw the flash of inquisitiveness in his eyes before he thought better of asking about the baby and turned his attention back to her.

“Miss Sterling, I’m doing my best. Unfortunately, I’m at the mercy of the suppliers in Newfield.”

Rebecca understood that. Newfield was the largest town to the east. A distance of approximately twelve miles, if she wasn’t mistaken. She could have walked that far and carried the boards back one by one in the time since she’d placed the order. “Is there not a regular train?” The question was rhetorical. Everyone knew there was. And although Evans Grove wasn’t a regular stop, whistle stops could be scheduled whenever deliveries needed to be made. Furthermore, she knew supplies regularly came from Newfield by wagon. “The work cannot proceed without lumber.”

Mr. Gavin made noncommittal noises. “I’m not responsible for the delay.”

Colton leaned on the counter, all relaxed-looking, as if he had no concern about this stalemate.

So much for working together.

He shifted slightly, turned his attention to the storekeeper. “Guess there’s not much you can do about it, then?”

Mr. Gavin shook his head. “Not a single thing.”

“Suppose I could take a wagon to Newfield and bring back supplies. Likely I’d have to make more’n one trip.” He spoke in a leisurely, unconcerned way. “Come to think of it, I could buy up supplies for the ranch at the same time.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” Mr. Gavin all but sputtered. “I’ll send a wire again today. Whatever the reason is, this delay is unacceptable.” He turned back to Rebecca. “Your supplies will be here tomorrow. I personally guarantee it.”

Colton banged a fist on the counter. “Good doing business with you.” He considered Rebecca, dropped his gaze to the baby. “We’ll be needing a few other things.”

Rebecca would not let him take over. “We need a regular supply of fresh milk for little Gabriel here.”

“You got another child?” Mr. Gavin asked. “How’d that happen?”

Rebecca silently sought Colton’s advice. They hadn’t discussed how to handle this situation.

Colton grinned.

She blinked. The man could charm the paper off the wall with a smile like that. Then her caution sprang to life. What was he trying to charm from her?

But he’d turned back to the storekeeper. “Found this baby on the doorstep of the orphanage. He’s only a few days old. You haven’t seen any woman around town who might have given birth, have you?”

Mr. Gavin’s mouth hung open. He managed to shake his head without bringing his lips together.

“I suspect the mother is ill or injured, unable to care for the baby.”

Rebecca hoped the explanation was that innocent. But she knew of many other possible reasons. A baby out of wedlock. A runaway young woman. But she understood Colton’s desire to protect Gabriel from gossip and speculation, especially if he truly believed the little one was related to him.

The storekeeper continued to shake his head.

Again, Colton dropped a fist to the counter. “Well, let us know if you see anyone like that. Now, about the things we need for the baby.”

The man scurried to get the milk that Rebecca asked for. “There’s daily delivery so it’s always fresh.”

“We won’t be needing more than this bottle,” Colton said. “I can provide milk at the ranch.”

The storekeeper looked disappointed at the loss of a daily sale.

Colton must have noticed. “The baby will need a few other things.” He glanced around, as if looking for baby supplies. He spotted a nursing bottle and grabbed it. “Put it all on my bill.”

“Excuse me.” Rebecca kept her attention focused on Mr. Gavin, afraid that if she looked at Colton her annoyance would boil over in a most unladylike way that would shock her father if he could hear. “I am the agent for the Orphan Salvation Society and as such am authorized to pay for expenses on behalf of children in my care. Therefore, you may add it to my account.” She pulled the bottle closer.

Colton straightened like someone had jammed a steel rod down his spine.

She would not pay any attention to his indignation, nor would she let his size intimidate her. Just because she’d agreed to their compromise did not mean he would always get his way. She’d stay at his house, as they’d decided, but she’d pay her own way...and Gabriel’s, as well. She turned and headed out the door, clutching the bottle of milk in her hand.

Heidi followed.

“Rebecca Sterling.” Colton’s voice carried a large dose of command.

Rebecca saw the uncertainty in Heidi’s face. She almost relented simply to ease Heidi’s worry. But neither that nor the echoing voice of her mother inside her head reminding her to always act like a lady was enough to induce her to respond to Colton’s call.

As she reached the wide step, she heard his boots clatter across the floor toward her.

On the nearby bench she sat beside the baby’s basket, pulled Heidi down on her other side and, with a rigid spine, waited.

Colton Hayes had to be the most annoying, most domineering man she’d ever met. But nothing he said would make her change her mind. She would not relinquish her measure of control in this situation to live on Colton’s charity. She’d pay her way when money was called for, and when it wasn’t, she’d figure out how to earn her keep. Everyone would sooner or later acknowledge that Rebecca Sterling was a capable young woman.

The door opened with a squawk of protesting hinges then slapped shut.

She did her best to pretend she wasn’t aware of Colton standing a few inches away, though the air pulsated with his annoyance. Instead, Rebecca kept her attention on the tiny baby in her arms. He was so sweet and innocent, filling her heart with a protectiveness like nothing she’d ever felt before.

She wouldn’t let him down. She wouldn’t.

* * *

Colton stared down at Rebecca’s bent head. Her shiny blond hair had been wound into some kind of roll around her face, allowing him plenty of chance to admire her slender neck. Though how he could so dispassionately do so while his insides boiled defied explanation. “Has anyone ever mentioned how annoying you are?”

“Never.” She didn’t even dignify her response by glancing his way.

“Well, someone should have.” Though he supposed rich girls were allowed to act any way they wanted without incurring correction. “Seeing as he’s a member of my family, I will pay for this baby’s needs.”

She lifted her head and fixed him with one of those hard blue looks.

He tried again. “We agreed to share the work.”

She lifted one shoulder in a dismissive gesture. “Yes, we did.”

He let his breath out in a long, exaggerated sigh, hoping she would understand how difficult she was being.

She ignored him.

Smiling, Heidi sat on the edge of the bench, glancing from one to the other as they talked. She’d forgotten to hide her face. The kid was enjoying the quarreling, as she called it.

He caught Rebecca’s eye and tipped his head to indicate Heidi.

Rebecca gave a slight nod to inform him that she saw, and for a moment Colton forgot his annoyance, lost in the pleasure of Heidi’s amusement—and something as fragile as butterfly wings that hovered between himself and Rebecca.

Then he noticed the baby bottle in the basket, and all he could think about was the discord between them.

He leaned against the hitching rail and studied the three people he’d invited into his life—Rebecca, who seemed bound and determined to challenge him at every opportunity; little Gabriel, who was tucked into her arm as content as anyone had a right to be; and Heidi, who suddenly ducked out of sight behind Rebecca’s shoulder. Fierce protectiveness clutched at his throat, and he was filled with the sense that none of the three had anyone but him to watch out for them.

Nonsense, of course. He’d heard tell that Heidi had a brother trying to track her down, and he imagined that Gabriel’s ma would come back for her son sooner or later. He also knew Rebecca had family back in New York. And she’d made it abundantly clear that she did not welcome anything from him. So why did he feel that it was his job to look after them all? Why would he want to, with all his responsibilities to the ranch and to his parents?

Even trying to see to their needs would be difficult. He already recognized that sharing the care of the baby at the ranch could prove to be more difficult then he’d initially thought. Would Rebecca resist every move he made, demand to be in control? His skin crawled at the thought.

“We’re in this together,” he said with as much patience as he could muster. “That’s what we agreed. Why don’t we cooperate and make it a pleasant arrangement?” She should find the idea appealing, but he knew when she looked at him that she had no intention of cooperating.

“If you mean I should give in to all your suggestions, the answer is no.”

“No? Just like that?”

“Mr. Hayes, I did not come west to sightsee. I came with a job to do. And I am determined to do that job. I will not turn my responsibilities over to a—” She paused as if to consider what to say and her gaze drifted toward his boots. “Anyone.”

“A dusty cowboy with big feet, you mean?”

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Admit it.” She lifted toward him one dainty foot, clad in a beautiful brown leather ladies’ boot. “Yours are pretty big.”

In comparison to hers, they were gigantic.

Heidi’s muffled giggle came from behind Rebecca.

Colton threw up his hands in mock defeat. “Okay, I have big feet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t cooperate.”

She nodded, amusement making her eyes flash a brighter blue. “I don’t mind cooperating, but I am not relinquishing my duties.”

It didn’t feel like cooperation to him. More like arguments about everything and nothing.

Baby Gabriel started to fuss.

Rebecca glanced at the bottle of milk from the store. “I’ll pay for the child’s needs. You’re already providing shelter for all of us, room and board for Heidi and me—so I can cover the rest of Gabriel’s expenses. That’s a fair division, don’t you think?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll take him to Holly and Mason’s house.” She rose. “Heidi, can you carry the basket?” They headed away without so much as a by-your-leave, the basket bumping against Heidi’s legs.

He called after them, “I’ll get a buggy to take us home.”

She jolted to a stop and faced him. “Home?”

“The ranch.”

“Oh. Fine. You know where I’ll be.”

She continued on her way, Heidi at her side.

He stared after them. This was not turning out at all well, and he hadn’t even gotten her to the ranch yet. How would she react to living so far out of town? How would his parents respond to having her and the two children in their home? He lifted his hat and rubbed his head. If not for his concern for baby Gabriel, he’d be sorely tempted to change his mind about this arrangement. But no, he couldn’t shirk his responsibility. Particularly not his responsibility to family.

His gaze shifted to the orphanage.

And, he reluctantly admitted, one other thing stopped him from rescinding his offer—concern about Rebecca’s safety, since someone was clearly trying to destroy the place.

He slammed his hat back onto his head. His concern would always, first and foremost, be his family. That meant his parents and now Gabriel. Heidi and Rebecca would temporarily be part of his family, as well.

Sure, Rebecca was a rich girl with a father, but he was back East and Colton was right here. So he would give her the help and protection she needed. Even if she resisted.

Chapter Four

Rebecca 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.

She waved to Miss Ward as they crossed the lobby, pretending she’d interpreted the older woman’s imperious gesture to wait simply as a greeting. “Come, Heidi, let’s get our things.”

Heidi clung to her hand as they rushed up the stairs to their room and collapsed on the bed.

Heidi bounced down beside her. “I’m glad we’re leaving this old place.”

“It’s not very old.”

“I don’t like it.” Heidi bounced again to emphasize her dislike.

That bounce unbalanced them both and they fell backward, laughing.

“It’s not the hotel you don’t like. It’s all the people you have to see.” As often as she could, Rebecca assured Heidi that everyone wouldn’t stare rudely at her, but the girl remained unconvinced and, as a result, was always uncomfortable in crowded places.

For a moment, Heidi didn’t respond. Then she said, “Mr. Colton’s parents might not care for me to live in their house.”

“Mr. Colton offered. We’ll trust that he knows what his parents would think.”

“He doesn’t stare at me. Why don’t you like him?”

Rebecca sat up and stared at the girl. “Who says I don’t?”

“You quarrel with him.”

“I suppose I do. How strange. I don’t normally argue with anyone.”

Heidi studied her as if waiting for more of an explanation.

“We’re simply sorting out our—” Balance of power? The phrase sprang to her mind. She wondered what prompted that. “We’re sorting out how to share responsibilities.”

Heidi sat up, her face upturned toward Rebecca. “You don’t hate him?”

“No.” Though she found him annoying and overbearing. “There are things about him that I admire.”

“Like what?”

His smile. His steady strength, which she’d had glimpses of. His defense of little Gabriel. “The few times I’ve seen him with his parents, he’s always been so kind. I would guess he’s loyal and trustworthy.”

Heidi jumped to her feet and began to fold her clothing. One of the townswomen had given them a small trunk. It wouldn’t take long to pack.

Rebecca rose and did the same, but Heidi’s question continued to play through her mind. Would Colton’s parents welcome them? Inviting three strangers into their household seemed like a lot to expect. She would have to prove to them that she could pull her weight...but what did she know about how to be helpful on a ranch?

“I’m done,” Heidi said.

Rebecca checked the room for overlooked items. “I am, too.” She closed the trunk and left it to be brought down, picked up her satchel with the paperwork for the children and left the room.

At the top of the stairs, she paused. Miss Ward and Colton were directly below. She stopped by the desk to settle her bill and request that her trunk be brought down and placed in the buggy, hoping Miss Ward would move along. But she stood her ground as if she’d grown roots through the soles of her shoes.

“I understand your concern about this abandoned infant,” Miss Ward said to Colton, no sympathy in her brisk words. “But doesn’t our town have enough of this sort already? Send him back to New York with Miss Sterling. I understand that she is to leave in a matter of days.”

Rebecca couldn’t recall ever saying how soon she’d be leaving, but Miss Ward was right. It would only be a matter of days. Father hadn’t expected her to be gone quite so long. His last communication had suggested that she let someone else oversee the construction of the orphanage and return immediately. She’d replied that she couldn’t leave until she’d finished her work, but it was only a matter of time before he would get more demanding, reminding her of her duties back home. Those duties paled in comparison with caring for Heidi and now Gabriel.

Colton appeared unmoved by the thinly veiled order. “This baby won’t be going to New York. He belongs here. He’s part of my family.”

“So you say. But nothing changes the facts. You’re a single man. Your parents are not in good health. The child will need more care than you can provide. That leaves the baby homeless.”

“So you’ve said, but as long as I live and breathe, this baby is not homeless. Nor will he be going to New York, a foster home or an orphanage.”

Rebecca fought an urge to shoo the woman from the premises. Be polite. Never show your ire. Her mother’s voice. Her mother’s words. But how would Mother respond to this situation? Rebecca knew she would just pretend that it didn’t exist.

Rebecca has no such intention. She tucked her chin in and prepared to join the pair.

Miss Ward adjusted her pristine white gloves. “I can’t imagine what this town is becoming. Misbegotten children. Children bearing the mark of judgment.” Her gaze slid toward Heidi.

Rebecca swept across the carpeted floor, her heart thudding hard. “Miss Ward.”

Miss Ward jerked around to face her, lines of disapproval deepening the tangled wrinkles in her face.

Colton turned at the same time. Their gazes crashed together with such force that Rebecca jerked in a tiny gust of air.

Beatrice Ward stepped directly in Rebecca’s path, making escape impossible. “This town is overrun with the likes of these.” She swept her hand to indicate the baby and Heidi, who pressed into Rebecca’s back. “It has to stop.”

Rebecca did her mother’s memory proud with the smile she pasted on her face. “Gabriel and Heidi will be out at the Hayes ranch for now, so I’d say things have already changed. As to God’s judgment, might I remind you that we are warned against judging others for we will ourselves be judged? Good day, Miss Ward.” She nodded politely and swept past the woman, Heidi clutching her skirts.

Colton followed. As soon as the door swung shut behind them, he let out a low whistle. “So that’s how it’s done in New York.”

“I have no idea what you mean. I was nothing but polite.” She spun around to confront him. “How dare she say such awful things?” She almost sniffed, but caught herself just in time. Heavens above, the action had a solid hold on her.

“I’m glad Gabriel is too young to understand.” He shifted his gaze just enough to indicate that he understood Heidi wasn’t.

Rebecca’s anger fled as she turned and pulled the child around to face her.

Heidi hung her head, hiding her face in the curtain of her hair. Rebecca tucked the hair behind Heidi’s ears and gently lifted her face toward her. “Honey, I wish I could say it doesn’t matter what people say about you, but I know it does.” She herself had felt the sting of disapproval in words or expressed in long sighs and sad looks. Her jaw muscles clenched. Not to mention the shame of being left by her fiancé like so much wasted produce. There was no way she could pretend it didn’t hurt. Thankfully, her tears had finally subsided. “But someone saying something unkind doesn’t make it true. You are a beautiful little girl with a sweet spirit.”

Heidi clung to Rebecca’s gaze, her eyes full of hope. Then sadness slumped her shoulders.

Colton put the baby back in the basket. “Come on. Let’s go home.” Colton caught Heidi around the waist and, before she could utter a protest, lifted her into the buggy.

Heidi, her eyes big and round, gasped, then she ducked to hide her face.

He released her, but rested his hands on the back of each bench. “Heidi, Miss Rebecca is right. You’re a beautiful little girl. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. Do you hear me?”

Slowly, Heidi lifted her head enough to steal a glance at Colton.

“Do you hear me?” he repeated gently.

She nodded and hope lit up her eyes.

Rebecca couldn’t believe what she’d seen. She was so bemused by how Colton had reassured the child that she didn’t hesitate when he held out a hand to help her into the buggy.

She was silent as they headed north through town.

She’d been right about one thing. Colton was kind. She expected she was right about more than that. He was likely as domineering as she thought, too.

Out of appreciation for his kindness to Heidi, she would do her best to overlook that trait. Or, at any rate, she’d try. Only time would tell if she’d succeed.

Chapter Five

Colton couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt such a burning anger toward anyone. He knew it was wrong, but when Beatrice Ward self-righteously said such nasty things about Gabriel and Heidi, including Rebecca in her attack, he saw a flare in the back of his eyes.

Beatrice might rail against the orphanage and Rebecca, but Colton Hayes would not stand back and let her do so unchallenged. But though he’d been ready to leap to her defense, he couldn’t help but be proud of the way Rebecca had defended herself and Heidi. Without raising her voice and with a steady smile on her face, she’d cut Beatrice Ward right down to size.

His anger waned as he escorted Rebecca and Heidi to the buggy and helped young Matt, who worked at the hotel, tie the trunk to the back.

And then they were on their way, north past the town square. They drew abreast of Miss Ward’s damaged house and he stopped the horse.

“That’s what’s left of that woman’s house.”

They stared. The roof had been badly smashed.

“I know,” Rebecca said. “Holly showed me.”

“The businesses and homes near the creek took water damage in the flood. But this house is beyond where the water came. Nope. This is wind damage. If disasters are a sign from God, I wonder what message He was trying to send her.”

“Do you believe that?”

He couldn’t tell from her guarded tone which opinion she held. So he gave his answer careful consideration. After a moment, he spoke. “I think we too often decide that a man’s neglect or meanness is God’s hand. I don’t believe it is.”

“Exactly. The delays at the orphanage are being caused by men. Not God. And I get mighty weary of Miss Ward suggesting otherwise.” Her shoulders rose and fell in a way that made him wonder if she grew tired of her struggles. He wanted to assure her that he would take care of vandals and delays, Miss Ward and her interference.

But he didn’t want to prompt a reaction from her, so he kept his thoughts to himself.

On second thought, it was kind of fun to see her get all huffy. But before he could speak, Heidi leaned forward to whisper in Rebecca’s ear.

“She wants to know what a hooligan is,” Rebecca said.

He guessed she was trying to keep the emotion from her voice, but she failed. She sounded ready to explode. He’d spare her the pain of explaining the word to Heidi.

“A hooligan is a person who does bad things to hurt others.”

Heidi hung her head. “She doesn’t like me.”

“Do you hurt people?” he asked softly, turning toward the child.

“I try not to.”

“Then you’re not a hooligan.”

She tipped her head, hiding her face behind the curtain of her hair. “It’s ’cause I’m ugly.”

He scooped the hair aside and studied her scars. “You are not ugly. Ugly is something that happens on the inside. Not on the outside.”

Slowly, Heidi lifted her face to him and glimmers of trust dawned in her eyes. “I don’t want to be ugly on the inside.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Like Miss Ward.”

Rebecca faced the girl. “Heidi, we should not speak ill of others.” But her voice bore no trace of scolding and she favored Colton with a smile full of gratitude.

Now, if she could be this pleasant all the time, life at the ranch would be as easy as pie.

He urged the horse onward. They traveled north for another mile, then turned east.

“I should tell you about my parents. Ma’s heart isn’t as good as it used to be. She doesn’t get around much anymore. And Pa had an accident three years ago.” He hated to even talk about it. He hero-worshipped his big father. Never saw him as old. Never expected to see him laid up and in pain. “He’s pretty crippled.”

Heidi leaned forward and whispered in Rebecca’s ear. He heard enough to guess she’d asked about Pa.

“I’m right here. You can ask me.” He lifted his arms and looked at them. “Unless I’ve become invisible.” He grabbed Rebecca’s hand in mock alarm. “I’m not, am I?”

Heidi giggled.

Rebecca’s eyes rounded and her mouth formed a rosebud.

He jerked his hand away. “Sorry.” He hadn’t meant to touch her, but despite the embarrassment between them, he didn’t regret it. He liked discovering the cool silk of her skin. “It’s just I got so scared thinking I’d disappeared.”

Heidi muffled another giggle. “You’re still here.”

“Oh, good. Then you can talk to me.”

She met his gaze, her brown eyes measuring him.

He let her look, hoped she saw that he liked her and didn’t think she was ugly.

“What happened to your pa?”

“You mean his accident?”

She nodded.

He snapped the reins and gave far more attention to the road than it required as he sorted his emotions from the facts. When he’d achieved a reasonable amount of success, he spoke. The emotions didn’t leave entirely, tightening his throat so his words sounded strangled. Perhaps the others wouldn’t notice.

“We were driving cattle and something spooked them.” That something had been Colton calling out a greeting to the neighbors passing by, including the family’s pretty daughter, who had caught his eye on more than one occasion. So he’d waved his hat and whooped loudly. At the same moment a deer bolted from the brush. Together, it was enough to send the herd of cows racing for the wide-open spaces. Pa had tried to turn them. Colton closed his eyes as he saw it all in slow motion, felt every agonizing heartbeat. Pa’s horse had fallen, tossing the man into the midst of the thundering hooves. By the time Colton got to him, he was barely alive. And wishing he wasn’t. “Pa got trampled in the stampede. He’s never recovered.”

Pa didn’t complain, but ever since then he could hardly walk and had never again ridden a horse. The man who had lived to ride. And every day Colton faced the reminder of his own stupidity. He had been no green kid. He had been twenty-five at the time. Old enough to have a few smarts stored up.

He felt Heidi and Rebecca watching him and pushed aside his regrets.

“Maybe they would like someone to help them.” Heidi sounded as if she might like to be the one to do so.

Colton could think of nothing better, but he was never certain how Ma would react, and with Pa...well, it kind of depended on how much pain he was in. But he didn’t know how to explain those details to Heidi, or Rebecca. “We have a fairly big house.”

He studied Rebecca. “Probably not what you’d think of as large, but there’ll be room for us all.”

She spent a few seconds studying the landscape, then looked at Colton. He saw the doubt in her eyes and wondered at the cause. But he didn’t have long to wonder.

“Will I have a private bedroom?”

Some perverse part of his brain made him answer, “You and Heidi could share with Ma. Her bed is... Well, I’m sure you’ll manage. She don’t snore too loud. I can barely hear her two rooms away.” It was all true.

Her eyes filled with horror.

“Pa can bunk with me if necessary. Though I might decide to sleep on the floor, rather than risk bumping him and causing him pain. But don’t worry. I’ve slept on the ground lots of times when I’m out with the herd. Or even just for fun. I’ll be fine. Just fine.” Again, still true.

Rebecca stared at him. She swallowed loudly and looked away. Her fingers plucked at a fold in her skirt. Faster and faster. She swallowed again and pushed her shoulder back, then faced him, determination branded on each of her features.

“Mr. Hayes, I fear I have misunderstood you. I don’t believe this arrangement will work.”

He laughed. He hooted. He tried to control his merriment, but every time he started to speak, chuckles rolled up and could not be contained.

She considered him. At first she was surprised, then confused. Then she grew concerned, no doubt wondering about the state of his mind. As he continued to laugh, she grew annoyed. “I fail to see what’s so funny.”

He held up a hand, signaling her to wait. “I’m trying—” He swallowed back a laugh. “Let me explain.”

“I think that would be a good idea.”

He nodded, stilled his chuckles, but couldn’t hold back a grin. “I was joshing.”

“About what?”

“About you and Heidi sleeping with Ma and me sleeping with Pa. We have two unused bedrooms. Pa built big. He said there was no point in being mean about the size of one’s house.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed.

“You and Heidi can each have a room if you want. Or you can share. You can have the baby in the room with you or I can keep him with me.” He waited for her reaction. She didn’t disappoint him.

“He’ll share a room with Heidi and me.”

“The offer is open if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.” She faced straight ahead.

He chuckled softly and repeatedly.

“You think it’s funny to play tricks on someone?”

“Hugely funny.”

The way she considered him, he wondered what she had in mind. But perhaps she only meant to inform him that she didn’t like his sense of humor. Or worse, maybe in her fancy life back East she was expected to be serious at all times. Now, wouldn’t that be a contrast to the informality of Evans Grove?

What a shame if she didn’t know how to laugh. But he’d soon teach her how.

Now, that was something to look forward to.

They turned down a laneway.

“We’re almost there.” He might have announced impending disaster the way Rebecca straightened and Heidi pressed into the back of her seat.

“Relax. They’re my ma and pa. You both know how nice I am. They’re every bit as nice.”

Rebecca snorted. “What an interesting concept.”

He simply grinned. Time enough to prove it.

* * *

Rebecca set aside her feelings about how Colton had tricked her. Not that she could even say what she felt— annoyance, disapproval...or pleasure at how he’d laughed, a big, noisy laugh that tickled her insides.

One thing was certain, however. She would find a way to get even, though she had no idea how. Her life up to this point had not included this kind of nonsense. But she would think of something.

Right now the uppermost thought in her head was that they’d reach the ranch house in a few minutes. And his parents.

She looked about her, amazed and surprised at how pretty the area appeared. The buildings were in a little hollow, surrounded by trees in their spring finery. A clean scent filled her mind with joy. She picked out smatterings of color in the verdant grass. Wildflowers. She’d like to see them up close and inhale their scent. Would she have an opportunity? The buildings consisted of a hip-roofed barn, several smaller buildings in a neat row and the house. She had no idea what to imagine, but the house looked inviting. Low and rambling. Painted white with red trim. Windows on either side of a brown door. More windows down the side. Were these the bedrooms Colton had mentioned?

“It looks real nice,” Heidi said, her voice full of awe and a bit of longing.

Rebecca sighed. All this child wanted was a home. And her brother, though she bravely said she was glad Jakob had a home of his own. Rebecca would never let her know that she heard the child crying out Jakob’s name at night. She’d reach out and touch Heidi’s shoulders, and that always calmed the child. She wanted to do the same now— reassure Heidi that she’d be safe here. But as she stared straight ahead, her heart thumped rapidly.

In a moment she would begin an adventure.

She only hoped it would be an adventure and not a disaster.

I can do all things through Christ, she repeated over and over in her head.

But nothing eased the sense of dread and anticipation, and her chest began to hurt.

“Ma and Pa will be happy to see you.” Colton’s words were meant to encourage, but she detected a note in his voice that wasn’t as convincing as his words.

She squared her shoulders. She’d always been a welcome visitor, an asset at any house party. But this wasn’t a party and she was an uninvited guest.

He pulled the buggy to the front of the house.

Rebecca sucked in a deep breath, meant to stiffen her resolve, and almost choked. “What is that smell?”

He looked surprised. “What smell?”

She fought against a desire to wrinkle her nose. “That smell.” It should be obvious to anyone with a nose.

He sniffed hard and looked around. “I smell cows and horses and pigs, but nothing out of the ordinary.” His gaze jerked to her. “Do you object to the farm smells?”

Object! To such an offensive stench? Now, why would the idea cross his mind? But she wasn’t so overcome with the odor that she couldn’t see that she’d better tread carefully. She swallowed hard and kept her breathing as shallow as possible. “What’s to object to?” If this was the worst she’d encounter in this strange environment, then she could handle it. But her insides quaked so hard she feared she would swoon as another thought occurred to her. What if it was only the beginning?

She tucked in her chin hard. She could do this. She was capable and strong...not just a rich, city girl.

But she fought a desire to cling to the strength of his hand as he helped her down. Instead, she pulled away. She would not reveal any weakness to this man. Or anyone.

She reached for the baby Colton held, but he shook his head. “I’ll take him.” His low words rang with insistence and something else. Desperation? She studied him as he faced the door. Was he afraid to face his own parents?

Heidi clung to Rebecca’s hand. “He said they were nice,” she whispered.

Her words jolted Colton from his staring. “They are nice. They’re my parents, remember? Now, come along.” He led them to the door, opened it and hesitated. “You won’t be offended if I go first?”

She started to sigh, then stopped, not wanting him to think she’d sniffed. “I’ll overlook it this one time.”

He chuckled. “I’ll bear that in mind.” He stepped into the room.

Rebecca caught a glimpse of a table cluttered with dishes, chairs scattered around it, a stove with pots sitting on top and a cupboard equally untidy. She swallowed back a growing alarm that screamed to escape.

Heidi peeked around her. “It’s a little messy,” she whispered.

She’d never noticed before the child’s knack for understatement. Likely because they’d never before faced a disaster area.

“Ma, Pa, I brought company.” He stepped to a doorway leading from the kitchen.

Rebecca saw the tension in Colton’s back, making the muscles across his shoulders bunch. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Company?” A woman’s voice quivered. “How can I deal with company?”

Colton moved out of sight.

“Where did you get a baby?” asked a deeper voice. Colton’s pa.

“A baby!” Mrs. Hayes sounded positively alarmed.

“I’ll explain everything after you meet the company.” Colton sounded guarded.

He returned to the doorway and waved them forward.

Clinging to the rigid lessons in proper deportment that had been drummed into her head all her life, Rebecca stepped forward, her head high, no fear on her face. Heidi clung to her like a burr.

A cot stood against one wall of the room with a woman perched on its side. Seemed she had been resting there until Colton made his surprise announcement. She was thin except for her protruding stomach, with gray hair that needed brushing and green eyes like Colton’s. A table stood before the cot, covered with a huge assortment of dishes. From where she stood, Rebecca saw dried food scraps on many of them. Every space not covered with dishes held assorted papers and books, like a hodgepodge of life laid out for display.

She couldn’t say what she’d expected, but not this. Not a house littered from wall to wall. Rebecca steeled her expression to reveal none of her distress.

“Ma, Pa, this is Rebecca Sterling and Heidi... Sorry, I don’t know your last name.” He directed the latter statement at Heidi.

“Strauss,” she whispered.

“Heidi, Rebecca, my father, Louis Hayes.”

Mr. Hayes sat in a wooden rocker next to the table. He was a big, handsome man with features Colton obviously inherited. Deep lines on his face hinted at the pain Colton had told them about. He tried to get to his feet and the lines deepened.

Colton sprang forward. “Pa, what are you doing?”

“I have to stand to shake hands.”

Colton tucked the baby into his left arm and helped his father to his feet.

Mr. Hayes offered his hand to Rebecca. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

She shook his hand gingerly, suspecting that every movement increased his pain, and withdrew as quickly as she could and still be polite.

Mr. Hayes turned to Heidi. “Pleased to meet you, too, little lady.” He held out his hand.

Heidi brushed her palm to his without lifting her head and Colton helped the man back to his chair. He sat in a way that signaled pain.

Colton waited until he was settled, then indicated his mother. “Mrs. Estelle Hayes.”

The woman didn’t stand, didn’t offer her hand, extended no welcome.

Rebecca smiled. “Pleased to meet you and thank you for your hospitality.”

Mrs. Hayes’s expression didn’t soften. “You’re the woman who brought the orphans to town.” She shifted her gaze to Colton. “Think you’d better explain about the baby.”

Rebecca clung to Heidi as hard as the child clung to her, wondering if Mrs. Hayes disapproved of her on principle or because she was an agent for the Orphan Salvation Society.

Colton told them about finding the baby at the orphanage. “Look at this quilt.” He showed it to his parents.

“It’s grandmother’s design. How did this baby end up with one of her quilts? They aren’t given outside the family.” Mrs. Hayes sounded more concerned with the quilt than the baby.

But Colton seemed unaware of it. “Which leads me to think this baby is somehow related to us. So I decided to bring him home and look after him.”

Mrs. Hayes shook her head. “I don’t see how he can be related. I’m unaware of any female relatives in the family way. Besides, no Hayes would abandon her baby. No, I’m certain you’re wrong.”

Mrs. Hayes turned toward Rebecca. Her gaze burned a path up and down Rebecca’s length, but Rebecca would not flinch. She would not allow the woman to intimidate her. She had been taught not to react to such slights. Hold your head high and never reveal a hint of dismay. She thanked her mother’s voice for enabling her to stand straight and tall.

Colton followed the direction of his mother’s stare. “Miss Sterling insisted that, as the supervisor of the orphanage project, she be in charge of the baby, since the basket was left on the orphanage’s grounds. Rather than fight about it, we struck an agreement. We’ll share responsibility. A hotel is no place for a tiny baby, so I brought them here.”

His father nodded. “Rightly so.”

“Who is going to look after him?” Mrs. Hayes pointed to her feet. She wore slippers—men’s slippers—and Rebecca saw why. Her swollen ankles made any other kind of footwear impossible.

“I intend to care for him,” Rebecca said. “I would have preferred to keep him in town so I could tend to my other responsibilities as well, but Colton insisted.”

Mr. Hayes chuckled. “He can be quite persuasive. Maybe even argumentative.”

“Pa, don’t you be spreading gossip about me.” The men smiled at each other.

“Babies are a lot of work.” Mrs. Hayes’s words seemed to warn them all that they would regret this decision.

Rebecca’s spine stiffened at the suggestion. “I can handle it.”

Again, the older woman studied Rebecca from head to toe. “No doubt you’ve had a fine education, but I don’t suppose it’s included learning to care for a baby.” Before Rebecca could defend herself, the woman addressed Heidi. “Why are you hiding? Step out so I can see you.”

Heidi obeyed with much fear and trembling.

Mrs. Hayes studied her openly. To her credit she did not flinch. “How old are you, child?”

“I’m ten.”

“Is that a scar on your face?”

Heidi hung her head and squeezed Rebecca’s hand so tightly Rebecca’s fingers grew numb.

“Yes,” Heidi mumbled.

“What happened?”

Rebecca answered for her. “She was burned in a fire that killed her parents.”

“Come here, child,” Mr. Hayes said.

Heidi shuddered.

Rebecca glanced at the door. For half a copper coin, she would take Heidi and walk back to town. She slid her gaze toward Colton. He smiled and nodded.

Rebecca took courage from his look and drew Heidi forward.

Mr. Hayes sat on eye level with the child. He flipped her hair away from her face, paying no attention to the way she flinched from his touch. He looked at the scars, revealing no disgust in his expression.

“Heidi, tell me one thing. Does it hurt?”

Heidi jerked her head up and faced him full-on. “No, sir. Not anymore.”

Mr. Hayes nodded and smiled. “Then it’s of no consequence, is it?”

Heidi studied him a full moment. Then a sigh the size of the great outdoors escaped her lungs. “No, sir.” Her voice rang with more confidence than Rebecca had ever heard.

Heidi touched the older man’s gnarled hand. “Does it hurt?”

“Only when I think about it, and I try not to.”

“I wish it didn’t hurt at all.”

He rested his hand on Heidi’s shoulder. “Me, too.”

Tears stung Rebecca’s eyes. She dare not look toward Colton, afraid her emotion would spill down her cheeks, but right then and there she vowed she would tolerate Mrs. Hayes for the sole purpose of allowing Heidi to enjoy a place where she found acceptance.

“I can’t look after anyone,” Mrs. Hayes said. “I certainly hope you can look after yourselves.”

“Of course we can.” Rebecca didn’t feel nearly as certain of that as she sounded. Exactly what did looking after oneself in this environment include?

“She’ll do better’n that,” Colton added. “She’s going to run the house while I take care of supervising building the orphanage.”

Rebecca thanked her upbringing for enabling her to smile as if she had every confidence that she could handle the challenge.

But this was beyond anything she had imagined and inside she was screaming, I don’t even know where to start.

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