The Baby Compromise

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.”