The Baby Compromise

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.