Читать книгу The Baby Compromise - Linda Ford - Страница 14

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.”

He studied Rebecca. “Probably not what you’d think of as large, but there’ll be room for us all.”

She spent a few seconds studying the landscape, then looked at Colton. He saw the doubt in her eyes and wondered at the cause. But he didn’t have long to wonder.

“Will I have a private bedroom?”

Some perverse part of his brain made him answer, “You and Heidi could share with Ma. Her bed is... Well, I’m sure you’ll manage. She don’t snore too loud. I can barely hear her two rooms away.” It was all true.

Her eyes filled with horror.

“Pa can bunk with me if necessary. Though I might decide to sleep on the floor, rather than risk bumping him and causing him pain. But don’t worry. I’ve slept on the ground lots of times when I’m out with the herd. Or even just for fun. I’ll be fine. Just fine.” Again, still true.

Rebecca stared at him. She swallowed loudly and looked away. Her fingers plucked at a fold in her skirt. Faster and faster. She swallowed again and pushed her shoulder back, then faced him, determination branded on each of her features.

“Mr. Hayes, I fear I have misunderstood you. I don’t believe this arrangement will work.”

He laughed. He hooted. He tried to control his merriment, but every time he started to speak, chuckles rolled up and could not be contained.

She considered him. At first she was surprised, then confused. Then she grew concerned, no doubt wondering about the state of his mind. As he continued to laugh, she grew annoyed. “I fail to see what’s so funny.”

He held up a hand, signaling her to wait. “I’m trying—” He swallowed back a laugh. “Let me explain.”

“I think that would be a good idea.”

He nodded, stilled his chuckles, but couldn’t hold back a grin. “I was joshing.”

“About what?”

“About you and Heidi sleeping with Ma and me sleeping with Pa. We have two unused bedrooms. Pa built big. He said there was no point in being mean about the size of one’s house.”

Rebecca’s eyes narrowed.

“You and Heidi can each have a room if you want. Or you can share. You can have the baby in the room with you or I can keep him with me.” He waited for her reaction. She didn’t disappoint him.

“He’ll share a room with Heidi and me.”

“The offer is open if you change your mind.”

“I won’t.” She faced straight ahead.

He chuckled softly and repeatedly.

“You think it’s funny to play tricks on someone?”

“Hugely funny.”

The way she considered him, he wondered what she had in mind. But perhaps she only meant to inform him that she didn’t like his sense of humor. Or worse, maybe in her fancy life back East she was expected to be serious at all times. Now, wouldn’t that be a contrast to the informality of Evans Grove?

What a shame if she didn’t know how to laugh. But he’d soon teach her how.

Now, that was something to look forward to.

They turned down a laneway.

“We’re almost there.” He might have announced impending disaster the way Rebecca straightened and Heidi pressed into the back of her seat.

“Relax. They’re my ma and pa. You both know how nice I am. They’re every bit as nice.”

Rebecca snorted. “What an interesting concept.”

He simply grinned. Time enough to prove it.

* * *

Rebecca set aside her feelings about how Colton had tricked her. Not that she could even say what she felt— annoyance, disapproval...or pleasure at how he’d laughed, a big, noisy laugh that tickled her insides.

One thing was certain, however. She would find a way to get even, though she had no idea how. Her life up to this point had not included this kind of nonsense. But she would think of something.

Right now the uppermost thought in her head was that they’d reach the ranch house in a few minutes. And his parents.

She looked about her, amazed and surprised at how pretty the area appeared. The buildings were in a little hollow, surrounded by trees in their spring finery. A clean scent filled her mind with joy. She picked out smatterings of color in the verdant grass. Wildflowers. She’d like to see them up close and inhale their scent. Would she have an opportunity? The buildings consisted of a hip-roofed barn, several smaller buildings in a neat row and the house. She had no idea what to imagine, but the house looked inviting. Low and rambling. Painted white with red trim. Windows on either side of a brown door. More windows down the side. Were these the bedrooms Colton had mentioned?

“It looks real nice,” Heidi said, her voice full of awe and a bit of longing.

Rebecca sighed. All this child wanted was a home. And her brother, though she bravely said she was glad Jakob had a home of his own. Rebecca would never let her know that she heard the child crying out Jakob’s name at night. She’d reach out and touch Heidi’s shoulders, and that always calmed the child. She wanted to do the same now— reassure Heidi that she’d be safe here. But as she stared straight ahead, her heart thumped rapidly.

In a moment she would begin an adventure.

She only hoped it would be an adventure and not a disaster.

I can do all things through Christ, she repeated over and over in her head.

But nothing eased the sense of dread and anticipation, and her chest began to hurt.

“Ma and Pa will be happy to see you.” Colton’s words were meant to encourage, but she detected a note in his voice that wasn’t as convincing as his words.

She squared her shoulders. She’d always been a welcome visitor, an asset at any house party. But this wasn’t a party and she was an uninvited guest.

He pulled the buggy to the front of the house.

Rebecca sucked in a deep breath, meant to stiffen her resolve, and almost choked. “What is that smell?”

He looked surprised. “What smell?”

She fought against a desire to wrinkle her nose. “That smell.” It should be obvious to anyone with a nose.

He sniffed hard and looked around. “I smell cows and horses and pigs, but nothing out of the ordinary.” His gaze jerked to her. “Do you object to the farm smells?”

Object! To such an offensive stench? Now, why would the idea cross his mind? But she wasn’t so overcome with the odor that she couldn’t see that she’d better tread carefully. She swallowed hard and kept her breathing as shallow as possible. “What’s to object to?” If this was the worst she’d encounter in this strange environment, then she could handle it. But her insides quaked so hard she feared she would swoon as another thought occurred to her. What if it was only the beginning?

She tucked in her chin hard. She could do this. She was capable and strong...not just a rich, city girl.

But she fought a desire to cling to the strength of his hand as he helped her down. Instead, she pulled away. She would not reveal any weakness to this man. Or anyone.

She reached for the baby Colton held, but he shook his head. “I’ll take him.” His low words rang with insistence and something else. Desperation? She studied him as he faced the door. Was he afraid to face his own parents?

Heidi clung to Rebecca’s hand. “He said they were nice,” she whispered.

Her words jolted Colton from his staring. “They are nice. They’re my parents, remember? Now, come along.” He led them to the door, opened it and hesitated. “You won’t be offended if I go first?”

She started to sigh, then stopped, not wanting him to think she’d sniffed. “I’ll overlook it this one time.”

He chuckled. “I’ll bear that in mind.” He stepped into the room.

Rebecca caught a glimpse of a table cluttered with dishes, chairs scattered around it, a stove with pots sitting on top and a cupboard equally untidy. She swallowed back a growing alarm that screamed to escape.

Heidi peeked around her. “It’s a little messy,” she whispered.

She’d never noticed before the child’s knack for understatement. Likely because they’d never before faced a disaster area.

“Ma, Pa, I brought company.” He stepped to a doorway leading from the kitchen.

Rebecca saw the tension in Colton’s back, making the muscles across his shoulders bunch. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Company?” A woman’s voice quivered. “How can I deal with company?”

Colton moved out of sight.

“Where did you get a baby?” asked a deeper voice. Colton’s pa.

“A baby!” Mrs. Hayes sounded positively alarmed.

“I’ll explain everything after you meet the company.” Colton sounded guarded.

He returned to the doorway and waved them forward.

Clinging to the rigid lessons in proper deportment that had been drummed into her head all her life, Rebecca stepped forward, her head high, no fear on her face. Heidi clung to her like a burr.

A cot stood against one wall of the room with a woman perched on its side. Seemed she had been resting there until Colton made his surprise announcement. She was thin except for her protruding stomach, with gray hair that needed brushing and green eyes like Colton’s. A table stood before the cot, covered with a huge assortment of dishes. From where she stood, Rebecca saw dried food scraps on many of them. Every space not covered with dishes held assorted papers and books, like a hodgepodge of life laid out for display.

She couldn’t say what she’d expected, but not this. Not a house littered from wall to wall. Rebecca steeled her expression to reveal none of her distress.

“Ma, Pa, this is Rebecca Sterling and Heidi... Sorry, I don’t know your last name.” He directed the latter statement at Heidi.

“Strauss,” she whispered.

“Heidi, Rebecca, my father, Louis Hayes.”

Mr. Hayes sat in a wooden rocker next to the table. He was a big, handsome man with features Colton obviously inherited. Deep lines on his face hinted at the pain Colton had told them about. He tried to get to his feet and the lines deepened.

Colton sprang forward. “Pa, what are you doing?”

“I have to stand to shake hands.”

Colton tucked the baby into his left arm and helped his father to his feet.

Mr. Hayes offered his hand to Rebecca. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

She shook his hand gingerly, suspecting that every movement increased his pain, and withdrew as quickly as she could and still be polite.

Mr. Hayes turned to Heidi. “Pleased to meet you, too, little lady.” He held out his hand.

Heidi brushed her palm to his without lifting her head and Colton helped the man back to his chair. He sat in a way that signaled pain.

Colton waited until he was settled, then indicated his mother. “Mrs. Estelle Hayes.”

The woman didn’t stand, didn’t offer her hand, extended no welcome.

Rebecca smiled. “Pleased to meet you and thank you for your hospitality.”

Mrs. Hayes’s expression didn’t soften. “You’re the woman who brought the orphans to town.” She shifted her gaze to Colton. “Think you’d better explain about the baby.”

Rebecca clung to Heidi as hard as the child clung to her, wondering if Mrs. Hayes disapproved of her on principle or because she was an agent for the Orphan Salvation Society.

Colton told them about finding the baby at the orphanage. “Look at this quilt.” He showed it to his parents.

“It’s grandmother’s design. How did this baby end up with one of her quilts? They aren’t given outside the family.” Mrs. Hayes sounded more concerned with the quilt than the baby.

But Colton seemed unaware of it. “Which leads me to think this baby is somehow related to us. So I decided to bring him home and look after him.”

Mrs. Hayes shook her head. “I don’t see how he can be related. I’m unaware of any female relatives in the family way. Besides, no Hayes would abandon her baby. No, I’m certain you’re wrong.”

Mrs. Hayes turned toward Rebecca. Her gaze burned a path up and down Rebecca’s length, but Rebecca would not flinch. She would not allow the woman to intimidate her. She had been taught not to react to such slights. Hold your head high and never reveal a hint of dismay. She thanked her mother’s voice for enabling her to stand straight and tall.

Colton followed the direction of his mother’s stare. “Miss Sterling insisted that, as the supervisor of the orphanage project, she be in charge of the baby, since the basket was left on the orphanage’s grounds. Rather than fight about it, we struck an agreement. We’ll share responsibility. A hotel is no place for a tiny baby, so I brought them here.”

His father nodded. “Rightly so.”

“Who is going to look after him?” Mrs. Hayes pointed to her feet. She wore slippers—men’s slippers—and Rebecca saw why. Her swollen ankles made any other kind of footwear impossible.

“I intend to care for him,” Rebecca said. “I would have preferred to keep him in town so I could tend to my other responsibilities as well, but Colton insisted.”

Mr. Hayes chuckled. “He can be quite persuasive. Maybe even argumentative.”

“Pa, don’t you be spreading gossip about me.” The men smiled at each other.

“Babies are a lot of work.” Mrs. Hayes’s words seemed to warn them all that they would regret this decision.

Rebecca’s spine stiffened at the suggestion. “I can handle it.”

Again, the older woman studied Rebecca from head to toe. “No doubt you’ve had a fine education, but I don’t suppose it’s included learning to care for a baby.” Before Rebecca could defend herself, the woman addressed Heidi. “Why are you hiding? Step out so I can see you.”

Heidi obeyed with much fear and trembling.

Mrs. Hayes studied her openly. To her credit she did not flinch. “How old are you, child?”

“I’m ten.”

“Is that a scar on your face?”

Heidi hung her head and squeezed Rebecca’s hand so tightly Rebecca’s fingers grew numb.

“Yes,” Heidi mumbled.

“What happened?”

Rebecca answered for her. “She was burned in a fire that killed her parents.”

“Come here, child,” Mr. Hayes said.

Heidi shuddered.

Rebecca glanced at the door. For half a copper coin, she would take Heidi and walk back to town. She slid her gaze toward Colton. He smiled and nodded.

Rebecca took courage from his look and drew Heidi forward.

Mr. Hayes sat on eye level with the child. He flipped her hair away from her face, paying no attention to the way she flinched from his touch. He looked at the scars, revealing no disgust in his expression.

“Heidi, tell me one thing. Does it hurt?”

Heidi jerked her head up and faced him full-on. “No, sir. Not anymore.”

Mr. Hayes nodded and smiled. “Then it’s of no consequence, is it?”

Heidi studied him a full moment. Then a sigh the size of the great outdoors escaped her lungs. “No, sir.” Her voice rang with more confidence than Rebecca had ever heard.

Heidi touched the older man’s gnarled hand. “Does it hurt?”

“Only when I think about it, and I try not to.”

“I wish it didn’t hurt at all.”

He rested his hand on Heidi’s shoulder. “Me, too.”

Tears stung Rebecca’s eyes. She dare not look toward Colton, afraid her emotion would spill down her cheeks, but right then and there she vowed she would tolerate Mrs. Hayes for the sole purpose of allowing Heidi to enjoy a place where she found acceptance.

“I can’t look after anyone,” Mrs. Hayes said. “I certainly hope you can look after yourselves.”

“Of course we can.” Rebecca didn’t feel nearly as certain of that as she sounded. Exactly what did looking after oneself in this environment include?

“She’ll do better’n that,” Colton added. “She’s going to run the house while I take care of supervising building the orphanage.”

Rebecca thanked her upbringing for enabling her to smile as if she had every confidence that she could handle the challenge.

But this was beyond anything she had imagined and inside she was screaming, I don’t even know where to start.