скачать книгу бесплатно
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.
