Jingle Bell Baby

“Left her? Are you sure?” His thick brows came together in a frown.

Clearly the good sheriff was having a hard time believing that anyone could be so unconscionable as to abandon a helpless little baby.

“Is anyone you know in the habit of misplacing their baby?” Jessie asked him. “Here, look at this. It was attached to the basket.”

Jessica picked up the note from the counter and handed it to him. His head bowed, he quickly read it.

“Well, I’ll be damned.” He let his hand drop to his side, still clutching the note. “Have you reported this to anyone yet?”

“Well, I’m reporting it right now, to you, I guess,” Jessie told him.

He looked right into her eyes and for an instant she imagined that he had read every thought running through her head. I know you didn’t really want to tell me about this baby, did you? she could almost hear him saying aloud.

“You’d better tell me the whole story, from the beginning.”

“Well, let’s see.” She took a deep breath, deciding there were some details she’d just as soon edit out. Sobbing over that silly old movie, for one thing. “It was just about midnight, I guess. I was in the storeroom, catching up on some bookkeeping. The TV was on, too. I had just shut it off when I heard the bells on the front door ringing. Then I called out to whoever it was that I’d be right out—”

“There was no one else here?” he asked. Jessie nodded. “You don’t run this place by yourself, do you?”

“I gave everyone time off for the holiday. I—” She caught herself starting to disclose some more personal details. “I decided to keep the place open anyway.”

She didn’t have to tell him everything about herself, did she? Yes, she was alone here because she had given Sophie, Ivy and Charlie the night off. They all had somewhere to go and she didn’t. It was that simple.

Oh, she’d had invitations—more than she could remember refusing—from Sophie, who was making a huge dinner for her three children and eight grandchildren. From Charlie, who was going to his daughter’s home in Maryland. From Ivy, who was going to spend the holidays with her folks who lived just outside of town. And of course, from Aunt Claire, who was on the first leg of a world tour and had tried to persuade Jessie to join her in the Greek Islands. Claire was spending the holidays exploring ancient ruins, then heading off for India.

Jessie always had invitations from the good people who worked for her and all her friends in town. But somehow, this year, she didn’t feel like being part of someone else’s celebration. She didn’t feel like being the designated “favorite aunt,” the close friend of the family who sat just outside the golden family circle, looking on hungrily at other’s people’s happy marriages and growing children. Christmas was a time for family, and Jessie didn’t have one. And this year, she didn’t feel up to the challenge of wearing a happy face while, inside, she felt so keenly the lack of all she was missing.

Now, did Sheriff Bradshaw need to know any of this?

Not on her life, Jessie decided. Daisy, who was resting with her head propped against Jessie’s shoulder, gave a soft sigh. The baby felt relaxed and heavy, Jessie noticed, the milk in her belly taking effect.

“I think she’s about to fall asleep,” Jessie said, rocking slowly side to side.

Clint stared down at her solemnly and seemed suddenly lost in thought. Jessie was willing to wager that he wasn’t thinking about her or even about the baby. No, he was miles away in some very private place, a place that wasn’t a very happy one, either, Jessie would guess, for the expression that flashed across his face was one that Jessie could classify only as total emptiness. Sadness. Loss.

It transformed his strong features for an instant, then just as swiftly, it was gone and he looked at her again, wearing an expression that revealed no emotion at all.

“So you heard the door and came out here,” he said in a low tone, mindful of the baby. “Then what?”

“There was no one here when I came out. I saw the laundry basket on the countertop, and then, after a moment or so, I realized what—or rather, who—was in it.”

“And you didn’t see anyone around, out on the street or getting into a car?”

“No, didn’t see a soul.” Jessie shook her head. “There was just that note.”

Clint’s gaze rested on the baby, who was fidgeting a little as she tried to fall asleep, burrowing her head into Jessie’s shoulder.

“What kind of a mother would leave her little baby like that?” he asked, and the intensity in his blue eyes was frightening, Jessie thought.

“Oh, I don’t know…A young, scared, overwhelmed kind?” Jessie offered.

Maybe it was her Christmas spirit acting up, but Jessie didn’t want to judge whoever had left Daisy and that note too harshly. At the very least, whoever it was had thought to bring her somewhere safe and warm.

Had they known that Jessie would be alone tonight in the café? Had they chosen her specially to find Daisy?

Jessie felt the baby’s head drop against her shoulder and her breath go heavy and slow. “Are her eyes closed?” she whispered.

Clint stooped over to check. “Out like a light.”

He lifted his big hand toward the baby’s cheek, paused, then let his hand drop without actually touching her.

He straightened up and was all business again. “I suppose I’d better take her over to the hospital in Whitewood.”

“She doesn’t seem sick,” Jessie said. “She seems perfectly fine to me.”

“It’s routine procedure in a case like this. She needs to be examined and observed for twenty-four hours.”

“But Whitewood is over an hour’s drive, even in good weather,” Jessie pointed out. “Do you really have to take her there tonight?”

He stooped over and peered at the baby again. “Regulations—besides, what else can I do with her? Wrap her up and slip her under someone’s Christmas tree, maybe…”

His voice trailed off as he regarded Daisy’s angelic expression.

“I’ll take her,” Jessie piped up, trying to control the eagerness in her voice. “She’ll be just fine with me. I live only a few miles away and it will be safer driving her to my house than all the way over to Whitewood in this weather, don’t you think?”

“I suppose—” Clint frowned, trying to weigh his official responsibilities against the flat-out convenience of Jessie’s offer. The baby appeared to be perfectly healthy. There was no reason why she had to be rushed over to a hospital in a snowstorm. Which would certainly be putting the rules above consideration for the child’s safety and comfort. And as for taking a chance on Jessica Malone, she certainly seemed to handle the baby with a gentle touch. And he could always make a few calls tonight to check her out. Everyone seemed to know everyone in this town. It shouldn’t be too difficult to get a quick character check on Jessica Malone.

Clint considered himself a good judge of character; in his line of work he figured he had to be. He had made up his mind in about ten seconds about Jessie Malone. She was smart, stubborn and more than a little eccentric, he thought. For example, the way she was holed up all alone here, hiding out from the holiday.

But still unable to hide her good looks, he had to note, even in that getup, an outfit that made her look half chorus girl, half bag lady. When she’d stood up before and strolled around the place with the baby, he couldn’t help but notice the enticing sweep of her long lean legs, her slim waist and soft full breasts. That mop of red hair looked as if it led a life of its own, and those huge brown eyes were lethal.

But no man in sight. Now, he found that curious. Maybe the “too damned independent for her own good” type? She had a story to tell, he’d wager. Still, something about her got to him, from the first moment he’d set eyes on her. Clint told himself he’d just been away from female company for too long. And he didn’t plan on getting involved with any of the local citizens. Hell, he wasn’t looking to get involved with anyone. Besides, just one glance at the way she was cradling and cooing to that baby should be warning enough for him to steer clear.

He raked his hand through his dark hair and finally met Jessie’s questioning gaze. “You know how to take care of a baby, I guess, right?”

“Uh, sure I do. Nothing to it.” Jessie casually shrugged, trying not to disturb Daisy. “I’ve taken care of loads of babies. Loads.”

The sheriff met her gaze with his penetrating blue eyes and Jessie stared back at him, willing herself to look innocent and honest.

Okay, so she was lying a little. She was lying big-time, actually, but she just couldn’t help herself. Besides, she and the baby were getting along just fine, weren’t they? She’d already managed to feed her and burp her—with a little prompting—and had put her to sleep like a pro. As for diaper duty, she’d get to that in due time, she had no doubt. She could handle this, Jessie assured herself. For heaven’s sake, it wasn’t rocket science.

Besides, it would take a crowbar to pry the baby out of her arms. It felt so good holding her, Jessie thought, she wasn’t about to give her up without a struggle.

“I guess you can take her home tonight,” he said finally. “That seems the most sensible thing to do, under the circumstances.”

“Can I really? That’s just great,” Jessic said in a hushed tone.

The radiant look on her lovely face nearly took his breath away. He pulled his gloves from his pocket just to supply some distraction.

“Like I said before, I’ll drive you two home,” he said. “Where do you live?”

“I’ve been driving in snow like this and worse my whole life. I won’t have any problem,” she assured him.

“Are you always so darn contrary, or is it just something about me?” he asked her in a curious tone. “Is it the badge? Some people have a real thing about authority, you know. It’s not at all uncommon.”

Jessica paused for a second. He was staring at her in a way that was downright unnerving. She nervously bit down on her lip. “I’m not sure, Sheriff,” she ventured with a small, teasing grin. “Maybe it’s your after-shave.”

“I don’t wear after-shave,” he replied, the corner of his

mouth tilted up in the hint of a smile—but he was fighting it all the way. “If you don’t need a ride, I’ll follow you. And I’ll take the baby in my car. I need to make sure you get her home safely,” he responded in a stern tone.

“Whatever you say,” Jessie responded with a shrug.

She blew at an errant wisp of hair that was hanging down along the side of her cheek, tickling her nose. Before she could shift the baby around to reach it, Clint reached out and brushed it back behind her ear. His fingertips brushed soft as a whisper against her cheek, but the brief contact jolted her as if she’d been touched with the live end of an electric wire.

Their gazes met for one searing second; his eyes darkened and Jessie looked away.

“Uh, thanks,” she mumbled.

He stepped back and cleared his throat. “I guess we’d better get out of here.”

“Right,” Jessie said. “I’ll just wrap her up.”

She carried Daisy to her basket and began to wrap blankets around her with shaky hands. What in the world was happening here? Was she getting all tangled up inside over this grim lawman?

Nonsense, she told herself. It was the snowy, silent night, and the sheer adventure of finding a baby—period, Jessie told herself.

“We’re ready,” Jessie said, slipping on her coat and scarf.

Clint took the basket from her and headed out to the car. As he walked along she could hear him talking softly to the baby, and she smiled. Jessie gave the café one last long look before closing the lights and locking up, and she felt suddenly hopeful and bright, as if one part of her life were ending and new one just about to begin.

But it didn’t have one damn thing to do with Clint Bradshaw, she reminded herself.

And it wasn’t going to, either.

Two

The snow was falling fast and deep as Jessie slowly drove the familiar route home. Her small white farmhouse was just a few miles outside of town but she had rarely recalled the ride taking so long. As she guided the Jeep over bumpy, snow-covered roads, she could see the police car’s headlights shining steadily a short distance behind her. She thought of the baby, secure in her basket in the back seat of Clint’s cruiser—and she thought of Clint—and tried to ignore the odd little glow inside her.

The Jeep fishtailed as she turned into the long driveway and she steered hard to avoid skidding into a pine tree. Finally the vehicle lurched to a stop, the front end sunk into a hip-high drift.

She sighed and rested her head on the steering wheel for just a second before turning off the engine. She would have to do some digging to get this heap on the road again, but right now she had more important business to tend to.

Jessie hopped out, then glanced back to the police car that had pulled up behind her. Clint was already reaching into the back seat for Daisy’s basket. He was quickly at Jessie’s side, his long legs gliding effortlessly through the deep snow.

“You go ahead and open the door,” he said.

Jessie trekked up to the door and got it unlatched, Clint following close behind. He stumbled into the house, holding out the basket like a fullback coming over the fifty-yard line.

“This baby could sleep through a tornado,” he said. “Where do you want her?”

“In the living room will be fine for now, I guess.” Just behind him, Jessie peeked inside the basket as he carried it into the living room and set it down near the Christmas tree. Daisy was still, miraculously, sound asleep. Jessie reached in and arranged the blankets around her.

“Don’t start fussing over her too much now—she’ll wake up,” Clint whispered as he crouched down next to her.

“Do you think she’s okay in there? Maybe I should make a little bed for her from a dresser drawer or something,” Jessie whispered back.

“She looks pretty snug as is. I wouldn’t move her. You’ll put her in your bedroom tonight, while you’re sleeping, right?” he asked.

“Of course I will—” Jessie turned to him, wide-eyed and indignant. “As if I’d let this little girl sleep down here all by herself.”

“All right. Just checking,” he whispered back with a hint of laughter under his voice. “No more questions, promise. I know you’ll take good care of her.”

She would indeed. That was certainly no lie. She’d take the most excellent care of this baby, even if she had to stay up all night staring at her like a loyal watchdog. What she didn’t know about baby care Jessie was determined to make up for in dedication.

“Tell me something, Jessie,” he whispered. “When you got up this morning, did you ever think you’d find something like her under your tree?”

Jessie glanced at him, but made no answer. He had a teasing edge to his voice that Jessie would bet one didn’t hear too often. She looked down at the baby again and made a tiny adjustment in Daisy’s blanket.

“To tell you the truth, she’s exactly what I asked Santa to bring me.”

“You must have been a very good girl this year,” he replied.

She gave him a questioning sidelong glance, then looked back at the baby. “What are you expecting in your stocking this year? A lump of coal, I’d bet.”

“Sounds about right,” he admitted with a nod. “But I do have my memories.” His wicked grin made her heart skip a beat.

She smiled despite herself, but didn’t dare stare into his eyes for too long.

“She’s a miracle, isn’t she?” Jessie said, turning the conversation back to the baby.

“She is, indeed.” Clint nodded, his gaze moving from the baby back to Jessie. Had he done the wrong thing by letting her take this baby home, even for one night? The expression on her lovely face was enough to move even his old battered heart. How was it that she wasn’t married with a houseful of kids of her own? This lady wanted a baby—a baby and all the trimmings. All the things that he could never give a woman.

And he had wondered why he was even thinking in that direction. It had to be the baby that had put him in this strange mood. He knew how a child, a sweet little baby girl like this one, could so easily steal your heart. And he knew the pain of losing one.

“Well, everything seems to be under control,” he whispered. “I’ve got to go.”

Abruptly he stood up. Jessie stood up, too, wondering about his abrupt change of mood. She had just been about to offer him coffee, but it was probably better that she hadn’t, she decided. She had to admit that now that he was leaving, she felt just the tiniest bit nervous about being alone with the baby.

Get a grip, she urged herself. You can’t admit now that you don’t know beans about taking care of her.

Besides, it was probably better that he was leaving. This dark, strong, mercurial man genuinely unnerved her. Still, she wondered why, while half of her was willing him to go, the other half was already wondering when she’d see him again.

“So, what happens next?” Jessie asked as she followed him to the door.

“Someone will come by tomorrow and pick up the baby. I guess they’ll call you in advance for directions and such. You’d better give me your number,” he added and took a small pad and a pen out of his jacket pocket.

Jessie gave him the number, silently registering that the someone who would call and come for the baby wouldn’t be Sheriff Bradshaw.

“Oh, and you’d better save all her blankets and the clothes that she’s dressed in. We’re going to need all of that for the investigation.”

“Investigation?”

“We’ve got to try and find her mother, or whoever it was that wrote that note,” he explained, sounding very much like an officer of the law, Jessie thought.

“But whoever left her doesn’t want her. It says so right in the note,” Jessie said. “Daisy wouldn’t be returned to someone who doesn’t want to take care of her, would she?”

The note of concern in her voice touched a nerve. The woman certainly had a point, but he sure as hell didn’t make the rules.

“It will be up to the court to decide,” he said simply. “That is, if we find her mother, or some other relative.”

“And if you don’t find anyone?”

“Then she’ll be adopted. There are thousands of couples waiting to give a baby like that lots of love and a good home,” he assured her.

Thousands of couples. The phrase echoed in Jessie’s mind. Sometimes it seemed that the world was designed like Noah’s ark; you couldn’t get anywhere if you weren’t traveling in a twosome.

“Yes, I guess there are,” she said quietly. Then in a brighter tone, she added, “Just one more thing before you go, Sheriff—”

“Yes?” he answered sharply, pinning her with a definite “what is it now?” look.

“Merry Christmas,” she answered.

“Right—Merry Christmas,” he replied gruffly. “You’ve been a great help with this situation. Thanks.”

“No thanks necessary,” Jessie replied lightly. “Thanks for trusting me with her.”

“Well, don’t think I’m not going to check you out before the night is through,” he warned her in a half-teasing tone.

“Oh?” Jessie’s eyes widened. Then she laughed. “Well, let me know if you find out anything interesting. A woman likes to live up to her reputation.”

He didn’t answer. He just stood staring down at her for a long moment, his gaze floating over her hair and eyes, lingering on her mouth. Jessie felt something passing between them that was positively electric. He was going to lean down and kiss her. She felt as if she could barely breathe. Jessie looked up at him, meeting his gaze. Her lips parted. She held her breath…

But he didn’t. He stepped back, and pulled open the door. “Good night,” he said abruptly. And without waiting for her reply, he stepped out into the falling snow.

Jessie watched from the doorway as he walked down the path to his car and drove away. He was a puzzle, wasn’t he? A tempting puzzle for a woman attracted by that kind of man.

But not her.

Not by a long shot.

She wasn’t going to get her tail tied in a knot over Sheriff Clint Bradshaw. Not tonight, anyway. She had a baby to tend to and the very thought made her glow with excitement and shiver with flat-out fear.

This was a definite case of “watch out what you wish for because you just might get it,” she reflected as she walked back to Daisy’s basket. Well, it was just one night, she reminded herself, and the night was nearly over besides. Surely she could manage to care for one little tiny baby for a few hours? Why, the poor little girl would probably be asleep the entire time anyway.

It was almost as if Daisy had read Jessie’s mind and had, on cue, decided to prove just how wrong a person could be about a baby. One moment, she was sleeping peacefully as Jessie looked on, contemplating how her tiny features were set in the most angelic expression. And a split second later, she was screaming at the top of her lungs, her body stretched with tension, her little face turning as red as a Christmas ball.

“Here we go again,” Jessie mumbled, shaking her head as she reached for the baby. “Oh, now, now, sweetie. What’s all this racket about, honey pie?” she asked the baby as she lifted her up.

It seemed unlikely that Daisy would be hungry so soon after having virtually inhaled that huge bottle, Jessie reasoned. It had to be something else. Her diaper! Yes, that was it. She hadn’t given the downtown area any attention recently and was sure that must be the cause of Daisy’s hysteria.

“Okay, sweetie. I think I have a clue now—” With the crying baby slung over her shoulder, Jessie scampered around the house, pulling open drawers and closets with her one free hand as she tried to fix up a makeshift diaper station.

She brought all the supplies into the living room and tossed them on the couch. Then she laid Daisy down on the couch on an open bath towel and got to work. Removing the dirty diaper and cleaning the baby’s bottom was no problem. But the disposable diapers were not nearly so easy to use as they looked. Jessie found that securing one around a squirming, wailing infant was quite a challenge. Almost as fast as Jessie could get the diaper on her, Daisy seemed to twist and burst out of it, messing up all the sticky stuff on the tabs.

When Daisy was finally, though haphazardly, diapered to Jessica’s satisfaction, the room was littered with clean but unusable failed attempts.

The baby’s nightgown and undershirt were also wet, Jessie noticed while diapering her. After another long bout of squirming, crying and figuring out what seemed to Jessie a very complicated arrangement of snaps, Daisy had on a fresh diaper and a clean, dry undershirt and nightie.

Exhausted but proud, Jessie picked up Daisy and carried her back to her basket. Just as she was placing the baby back in her basket, however, she realized that somewhere during the clothes change, Daisy had managed to dirty her diaper again.

This time, in a more substantial manner.

“Courage, Malone,” Jessica said, bolstering herself. “You can do it.”

Daisy smiled up at her and stuck her fist in her mouth.

Jessica carried her back to the couch, and went through the entire operation one more time.

By the time Jessie had Daisy cleaned up again, the baby had begun a whimpering cry. Jessie realized that several hours had passed since she’d been fed. She fixed Daisy’s bottle quickly and fed her.

She was careful this time to remember to burp the baby. As Daisy gave out another astounding burp, Jessie glanced at the clock. It was well after three. Didn’t babies need to sleep a lot? Daisy seemed totally unaware of that part of her job description and did not look to Jessie at all likely to fall asleep anytime soon.

Jessie swaddled Daisy in a blanket and sat down with her in a rocker near the Christmas tree. The only lights in the room were the brightly colored tree lights, and through the large bay window Jessie could see the snow outside still falling.