A Baby Between Them

Esther Black, Will’s mother, stood near the gate, reassuring her twin grandchildren that yes, their father and new stepmother would most definitely be returning in just a few days. Ben MacDuff, the sheriff’s more seasoned deputy and former mentor, was hovering near Esther in a way that raised Nora’s brow. Was something brewing between the two, something deeper than friendship? Wouldn’t that be lovely for them?

“And what brings that smile to your face?”

Nora turned to find the sheriff at her elbow. “Just thinking about how weddings bring out the romantic in even the most unexpected of hearts.”

Seeing his quirked brow she realized how that must have sounded and her cheeks warmed. Trying to cover the moment, she quickly changed the subject. “Is there something I can do for you?”

“Just the opposite. Thought I’d offer you a ride back to your place.”

How thoughtful of him. But Nora needed some time alone to think over that conversation with her sisters and the half-mile walk back to the cottage would be just the thing. “Thank you but that’s really not necessary.”

“Sure it is. I promised Will I’d keep an eye on you in his absence.”

Well, so much for his personal interest in her well-being. “Both my brothers-in-law worry overmuch.”

His look chided her for her tone. “They don’t just feel a responsibility for you, you know. They care about you, as well. Is that such a bad thing?”

He was right—she was being too touchy about her new status. She took a deep breath and smiled. “You’re right. Thank you, I would be most pleased to accept your offer of a ride.”

He nodded his approval. “You can say your goodbyes to Esther and the twins while I get the wagon.”

A few minutes later, the sheriff had set the brake and hopped down to help her up. Since everyone else had either gone back inside or were on their way home, Nora stepped toward him. “Would you mind holding Grace while I fetch her things?”

He backed up a step. “Better yet, why don’t I fetch her things for you? Just tell me where to find them.”

She’d never met a man so standoffish when it came to babies. “Everything is in a canvas bag next to the cradle.”

“Easy enough. I’ll be right back.”

True to his word, Cam was in and out of the house in just a few minutes. Swinging the bag with an easy rhythm, he deposited it in the back of his flatbed wagon then turned back to her. She noted the instant he realized he’d have to hold Grace in order for her to climb up into the wagon. His smile faltered and he darted a quick look around as if searching for someone to take his place.

But when she held Grace out to him, he swallowed hard, raked his hand through his hair and took the child, holding her as if she would bite him if he pulled her too close.

Nora climbed up quickly then reached down to take Grace from him. Looking as if he’d just survived a face-off with a bear, Cam quickly moved to the other side of the wagon and climbed up beside her. With a flick of the reins and a click of his tongue he set the horse in motion.

As the horse slowly plodded through town, Nora mulled over what the future might hold for her. How much time did she have to get things in order? “What are autumns like here in Faith Glen?”

He cut her a curious glance. “Well, now, the nights will start getting cooler come mid-September but the days will usually remain passably mild through October. You’ll start to see more rain along about October or November, too.”

The summer here in Massachusetts had been much warmer than what they’d experienced back in Ireland—it seemed that would work to her advantage when they moved into fall. She and Grace would be fine right where they were for another couple of months at least.

“If you’re worried about how you’ll fare at the cottage once the weather turns colder,” he continued, “I promise I’ll do my best to get the biggest of the cracks in the roof and walls fixed before the worst of it sets in.”

He, Will and Flynn had already spent one entire day making repairs around the place when Bridget and Nora had first moved into the cottage a few weeks ago. Since then, all three had come by to advance the repairs as often as they could, but then Will had proposed to Bridget and wedding plans had superseded everything else. “That’s kind of you. But actually, both Bridget and Maeve have invited me to live with them.” She tried to maintain a neutral tone. “All I have to do is choose between them.”

* * *

From the too-even tone of her voice, Cam could tell Nora was not at all pleased with the idea. Is that what had upset her earlier? If so, was it the choosing between her sisters or the moving from the cottage that bothered her? “And what did you tell them?”

“That I’d think about it.”

“And have you?”

She cut him a guarded look. “I haven’t had much time. They only brought this up when they were preparing to leave earlier.”

“But you’re not overly pleased with the idea.” Didn’t her sisters know how their offer would strike their independent-minded sister?

She sighed. “I like having my own home.” She frowned, as if just thinking of something. “Of course, Bridget and Maeve do each own a third of the cottage, as well.”

The sisters had shown him the deed when they first arrived in town, so he was familiar with it. “That they do.”

“But then there’s Grace to consider.” She seemed to be talking more to herself than to him. “A few windy drafts won’t bother me, but if the repairs aren’t all done in time…” She glanced his way. “No offense meant, but there’s a lot of work to be done and you do have your sheriffing to do. I don’t expect you to take on the role of my full-time handyman.”

Cam could think of worse ways to spend his free time than in Nora’s company. “Not full-time, but I do have two deputies, now.” He let that sink in a moment since he’d hired Gavin McCorkle, a youth she’d met on her voyage over, at her insistence. “That gives me a lot more free time on my hands.”

She worried at her lip. “But if you are going to spend more time working on the cottage, I’d want to pay you.” She sat up straighter. “I suppose you could hold a portion out of my salary to cover it.”

He knew good and well she needed every bit of that money to support her household, especially now that Bridget’s wages wouldn’t be helping supplement it. But he also knew better than to argue the point. “I’m certain we can work something out along those lines.”

She fussed a moment with Grace’s blanket and he could see the wheels turning in her mind. “Do you think I’m being selfish by denying Grace the opportunity to grow up in a fine home like the ones Bridget and Maeve could offer her?”

Nora Murphy was lots of things—obstinate, bossy, opinionated—but she was also the least selfish person he knew. “I think, as long as her needs are met and she feels truly loved, it doesn’t much matter where she grows up.”

He was rewarded with one of her rare approving smiles.

Looking considerably lighter of spirit, she lifted her head and changed the subject. “Any luck yet finding out who that girl was who nearly ran Gavin over?”

Cam flicked the reins, frustrated that he hadn’t been able to resolve that particular matter to his satisfaction. The female thief had stolen his horse while he was helping with the repairs at the Murphy sisters’ cottage a few weeks ago and had almost gotten away with it. Gavin’s quick action had slowed her down and allowed Cam to recover his horse but she’d managed to elude capture. That didn’t sit well with him, not at all. It was his job to keep the peace in these parts and it was the one thing he was good at. Or at least he’d thought so until that wily slip of a girl had outfoxed him.

More worrisome than his injured pride, though, was the question of what she’d been doing near the cottage that day. The place was a half mile from town out near the shoreline and had nothing about it to tempt a thief.

Not only had he been there that day, but Will, Flynn and Maeve had been visiting, as well. Not to mention Mrs. Fitzwilliam and Gavin’s two brothers who’d all come in from Boston to see the cottage the Murphy sisters had crossed an ocean to claim.

Had the little thief followed one of the guests there hoping to find an easy mark? Or had she been there for some other reason?

He didn’t want to worry Nora with any of his as yet unfounded suspicions, though. “No, and no sign of where she’s holed up yet either.”

Nora’s free hand fluttered then dropped back to rest against Grace. “I know she’s a criminal, but I’m worried about her. She looked so young. The girl must be truly desperate to have turned to a life of crime.” Nora shivered. “I hate to think of what might have happened to me and my sisters if we hadn’t had this place to turn to.”

Intrigued by the hint at what her past might have been like, he tried to learn more. “Were things so bad for you back in Ireland?”

She shot him an abashed look, as if sorry she’d said as much as she had. “There were some who had it worse. At least, thanks to the unexpected inheritance of the cottage, we were able to come here and find a home waiting for us.”

She shifted Grace to her other shoulder. “Maybe Gavin’s thief has left Faith Glen by now.”

That was a very deliberate changing of the subject if he’d ever heard one. There was a lot she was leaving unsaid when it came to her former life. Was it so painful to talk about? Or did she just feel it was none of his business?

As for her question… “Maybe,” he temporized. Because he doubted it, now more than ever. Just yesterday Ellen Kenny had mentioned that something had gotten into her root cellar and made off with some dried apples. Cam was inclined to believe it was a “someone” not a “something.”

But again, there was no sense worrying Nora with that. He returned to the subject of her former life. “You never did say how you three came to possess the deed to Laird O’Malley’s place. Was he a relative of yours?”

His question seemed to make her uncomfortable. She shifted in her seat and fussed with the baby for a moment. “Actually, he was a suitor of our mother’s before she married our da. When she turned down his proposal, Mr. O’Malley left Ireland and came here. Apparently he never forgot her. He sent her the deed to the cottage and said it was for her and her heirs if she or they should ever need a place to call their own.”

Cam remembered the deed had been dated twenty-six years past. “Pined for her all that time, did he?” If the late Mrs. Murphy was anything like her three daughters he could see where such a thing would be possible.

Nora nodded. “So it seems. But we didn’t know anything about him or about the deed. We only found it by chance when we were packing up our things to leave.”

Interesting. “So you were planning to leave your home before you knew about this place?”

She cut him another of those I’ve-said-too-much looks. But this time she didn’t immediately change the subject. “The stone cottage where we’d lived all our lives did not actually belong to us, nor did the land. When our da passed, Mr. Bantry, the landlord, told us he’d decided to lease it to a relative of his instead. We had no choice but to leave.”

Cam’s brow lowered. “Are you telling me this Bantry fellow kicked you out of your home while you were still in mourning?”

“It was his right,” she said with a shrug.

But he could tell the memory still stung. His hands tightened on the reins as he thought of what fate could have befallen them if they hadn’t had Laird O’Malley’s cottage to fall back on. It was a good thing an ocean separated him from this blackguard Bantry, otherwise he’d be sorely tempted to teach the man a lesson or two about looking out for those in his care. “So this bully Bantry kicks you three out of your home, you find a twenty-six-year-old deed to a cottage an ocean away, and decided, just like that, to come to America all on your own.” He shook his head. “That took a lot of courage.”

Her lips pinched into a prim line. “It wasn’t as if we had many other choices.”

She could downplay it all she wanted, he still thought it a brave thing to do.

Then Nora’s expression softened into a smile. “Isn’t it a wondrous thing how, twenty-six years ago, the Almighty was already laying the groundwork so that me and my sisters would be taken care of in our time of need?”

Her comment caught Cam off guard. A lesser person would be grumbling to God for putting them through all that Nora and her sisters had obviously endured. Yet here she was, praising Him instead for the good that had come out the other side of that valley.

“How long have Will’s mother and Ben known each other?”

She was obviously ready to turn the subject to a less personal topic. “Quite a while I’d guess. Certainly since before I wound up in Faith Glen, back when Ben was sheriff himself instead of stepping back to be deputy.”

That expressive brow of hers rose. “Oh, I didn’t realize you weren’t raised here. Where are you from?”

Now it was his turn to shift uncomfortably. Trust his sharp-witted housekeeper to pick up on that. “I was born in Boston. I didn’t move here until I was nearly sixteen.” And that was all he was going to say on that subject. “So why the interest in Ben and Esther?”

“Oh, just something I noticed today that made me wonder if they were more than just casual friends.”

“Ben and Esther?” He grinned at the thought. “Now wouldn’t that beat all?”

She waved a hand. “Oh, I’m probably wrong. Weddings just tend to bring out the romantic in folks.”

“Speaking of Ben,” Cam added, “he and Gavin pounced on that last slice of the pie you left for me Friday. Thought I was going to have to wade in and referee when they started arguing over who got the biggest piece. They said to tell you it was the best they’d ever tasted.”

He saw her cheeks pinken and her blue eyes light up at the praise. Delight looked good on her.

“That was nice of them to say. Maybe I should stick an extra pie in the oven come baking day. Wouldn’t want Faith Glen’s fine, upstanding lawmen to be found squabbling over a bit of pastry.”

Was no-nonsense Nora making a joke? “You won’t get an argument on that score from me. Just add the ingredients to my tab at the general store when you do the marketing.”

They rounded the last bend and the cottage came into view. Just as he had every time he’d been here since the incident with the horse thief, Cam carefully studied the area around the cottage for anything that might look suspicious or out of place. But, just as before, nothing seemed amiss.

Still, he’d make his rounds before he left, same as always.

He didn’t intend to take any chances. As sheriff, it was his duty to protect Nora Murphy, whether she wanted that protection or not. The memory of another time, of another young mother he’d let down intruded, but he determinedly pushed it aside.

There was no way he’d ever allow such a thing to happen again on his watch. He didn’t think he could survive such a tragedy a second time.

Chapter Three

Nora leaned back and inhaled a breath of in-this-moment contentment. The sight of the cottage as they rounded that final bend always filled her with such joy and pride. Already this felt like home to her. How could her sisters believe she would ever want to leave it?

She glanced down at Grace and made a silent pledge. I promise you that, whatever else shall be, in this home you shall never want for love.

“You know, I was thinking,” her companion said slowly, “most of the urgent repairs are done on the place. Before you spend all your money on additional repairs, you might want to look into getting yourself a horse and wagon of your own.”

Nora’s cheeks heated in embarrassment. Had she overstepped on his kindness somehow? Since the day she’d moved into the cottage a few weeks ago, he’d insisted on bringing his wagon around to pick her up in the mornings and bring her back in the evenings. She’d protested at first, but as usual he’d ignored her. He’d said at the time that it was no trouble, but she wondered now if perhaps he’d changed his mind.

“Of course,” she said quickly. “I didn’t intend to take advantage of your kindness. You’re a busy man and it’s an easy walk into town from here—”

“Hold on,” he said, interrupting her. “That’s not what I meant. I don’t mind one bit giving you a lift into town on workdays. In fact, it gives me an opportunity to start my rounds by checking things out on this side of town.”

She wasn’t entirely convinced that he was being completely honest. “Then was there some other reason you brought this up?”

“What I was thinking was that if there’s ever any kind of emergency out here it would be handy for you to have your own transportation.”

“Emergency?”

“You know, like if one of the Coulters or Grace got hurt or took ill.”

“Oh, I see. I hadn’t really thought of that.” But she was thinking of it now. The Coulters were quite frail. And if something should happen to Grace…

“I can find you a good deal,” the sheriff assured her. “I’ll even loan you the money and you can pay me back a little at a time.”

Seemed he was always doing that—loaning those in need the means to get by. Well, she wasn’t one of his charity cases. “That’s very kind of you but we’ve managed to make do this long, we can get by a bit longer until I can save up the funds.”

“No offense, and I know you have your pride and all, but I really think we should go ahead and take care of this now.”

Of all the high-handed— “Sheriff Long, I appreciate your concern, but this is really not your decision to make.”

Her not-so-veiled reprimand failed to have the desired effect. “Now don’t go getting all prickly on me.” His tone contained the barest hint of amusement, setting her teeth on edge.

“Because,” he continued, “as a matter of fact, this does concern me. I’ve worried about Agnes and James out here on their own for years now, but haven’t been able to do much more than check on them regularly. If you had a vehicle—”

“Well, they’re not on their own any longer,” she interrupted. “I’m here to keep an eye on things.”

“Yes you are, and that does relieve my mind a bit. But that doesn’t change the fact that James and Agnes are getting on in years and you have an infant to take care of which limits your ability to just take off and go for help if help’s needed. So, being the conscientious lawman that I am, I’d still feel obligated to come out here on a regular basis to check in on things. Now, if I knew you had a means to go for help if something…unexpected happened, then I wouldn’t feel as if I had to come out here and check on things so often.”

She clamped her lips shut and glared at him. He was trying to manipulate her but it wouldn’t work. “I apologize,” she said stiffly. “I had no idea you were inconveniencing yourself on our account.”

She brushed at her skirt with her free hand. “Well, you can set your mind at ease. James and Agnes may be unable to get around very well, but I’m perfectly capable of running to town for help if an emergency should arise.” She lifted her chin. “So there’s no need for you to continue to check in on us any more than you do any other citizen of Faith Glen.”

“But that’s my job. You wouldn’t want me to shirk my duties, would you?”

She held back her retort, settling for merely glaring at him. Not that he seemed at all appreciative of her restraint.

“Tell me,” he asked equably, “how would you feel if James or Agnes got hurt or took ill while you were in town and they were alone out here with no way to go for help? I know I certainly wouldn’t want something like that on my conscience. Especially if it was just a bit of pride that kept me from providing them with the means.”

She felt her resolve fade, but glared at him resentfully. “You, sir, do not play fair.”

The sheriff’s little-boy grin reappeared, signaling that he knew he’d won.

But she wasn’t going to let him have his way altogether. “I don’t want anything fancy mind you. A serviceable cart and pony will do just fine.”

He swept his hand out to indicate the rickety wagon they were currently riding in. “As you can see, my tastes don’t usually run to fancy.” He pulled the vehicle to a stop near the front of the cottage. “I should be able to find something for you to take a look at on Monday.”

He hopped down and strode over to her side of the wagon. This time he didn’t hesitate to take the baby from her, though he still held Grace with more trepidation than enthusiasm.

Once she was back on the ground and he’d returned Grace to her, the sheriff snatched the bag with Grace’s things from the bed of the wagon and escorted Nora inside without waiting for an invitation.

They found the Coulters in the kitchen. Ben had driven them home earlier, and the older couple had already changed out of the clothes they’d worn to Bridget’s wedding and were back in their everyday work clothes. Agnes sat at the table, darning a nearly threadbare sock with knobby fingers that had lost much of their nimbleness. James sat nearby, reading silently from a well-worn Bible.

Both looked up when they entered. Cam set the bag on the table and turned to James. “Good news. Nora here has decided to get a cart and a pony to pull it.”

Nora shook her head as she set Grace in the cradle that sat next to the table. Leave it to the stubborn lawman to make it sound like it had been all her idea.

James, however, seemed to approve. “Good thinking,” he said, smiling in her direction. “Now, make sure you let Cam here help you pick it out. He knows a thing are two about livestock and wagons.”

Nora nodded dutifully, refusing to look the sheriff’s way.

“That’s high praise coming from you, James,” Cam said. Then he turned back to Nora. “James worked with horses and carriages for years before he moved here to Faith Glen.”

Interesting. She was ashamed to say she hadn’t given much thought to what Agnes and James’s lives had been like before she met them. “It’s reassuring to know I have such talent under my roof.”

But James just waved off their praise. “That’s all in the past now. But I should go out to the barn and make sure it and the barnyard are in good enough shape to house your horse and wagon when they get here.”

The sheriff nodded. “You’re right. Why don’t the two of us go look things over and see if there’s anything that might need immediate attention?”

James pushed himself up from the table. “It’s been a while since anything other than the cow and a few cats sheltered in that old barn. And the fence around the barnyard couldn’t hold in a spindly foal, much less a full-grown horse.”

“Pony,” Nora corrected.

James’s brow went up and he glanced toward Cam.

The sheriff merely shrugged and smiled that infuriating humor-her smile of his.

Rubbing the back of his neck, James turned to face Nora. “Well, if that’s what you think best, I won’t speak against it.” He nodded toward the counter. “There’s fresh milk for Grace. I milked Daisy after we got in from the wedding.”

“Thank you.” Nora moved toward the milk pail. “I’m sure Grace will be fussing for her bottle any minute now.”

James waved Cam forward. “Come along, boy. I’ll show you what I think needs tending to first.”

“Lead the way.”

Much as the sheriff could irritate her with his high-handed ways, at times like this Nora couldn’t help but admire Cameron Long for the way he deferred to the older man. He had a way of helping people without robbing them of their dignity in the process.

James, who walked with a limp he’d acquired before she ever met him, led the way, talking to Cam about spare timbers to brace up the barn’s north wall.

“Cameron is a good man.” Agnes made the pronouncement as if she thought Nora might argue with her.

Instead Nora merely nodded and proceeded to get Grace’s bottle ready. When she finally spoke, she deliberately changed the subject. “It’s a pity you and James couldn’t stay for the reception,” she said over her shoulder.