Linda Ford (3 page)

Chapter Three

“M
iss 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.”