Montana Cowboy's Baby

by Linda Ford

  “Good. Because I mean to start some baking.”

  He prepared the next feeding and went to the sitting room. The little girl watched him with a glint of recognition that she normally reserved for Kate. His heart squeezed out a protectiveness that burned along his veins. “Elspeth—whatever your last name is—you are safe with me. No one is going to hurt you or neglect you.”

  He ground his teeth together. If Thelma had a husband, they were both responsible for neglecting this baby. They had sent Ellie to him. Didn’t that give him some rights? He cradled Ellie in his arms and got her to start taking the milk. She ate slowly. Was that normal? He simply didn’t know.

  The outer door opened. He recognized Kate’s voice as she spoke to Annie. Would she eat breakfast before she told him about Mattie? But she hurried through and stood before him, her hands folded at her waist.

  “How is Mattie?”

  “She has an upset stomach. I gave her something to help settle it, but she’s miserable.” She paused. “I told Isabelle that Ellie must stay away from Mattie until Mattie is no longer sick. Ellie is much too weak to withstand a bout of vomiting and diarrhea.”

  “Of course. That makes sense. Why do you look so troubled?” Was she more concerned about Mattie than her words led him to believe?

  She sat on the chair facing him, perched on the edge of the seat. “It means Isabelle won’t be able to look after Ellie until Mattie is better.”

  His breath eased past his teeth. “That’s not a problem, is it? I know I’ll feel a little better if you can stay a few more days.” Then it hit him. “You aren’t comfortable staying longer, are you?”

  “It’s not that. But I am concerned about Father.” She looked past Conner.

  “There’s more. What is it?”

  She sprang to her feet and went to the window. “I’ve let myself grow too fond of Ellie. It’s going to be a wrench when I leave.” Her words were soft, almost lost against the pane of glass.

  Then stay. But there were far too many reasons he couldn’t offer the invitation. She had her plans for the future. He had Ellie’s future to take care of in whatever way he could. And there was Thelma to consider.

  Grandfather and Pa came through the door, Annie at their heels. “What’s the news on Mattie?” Pa asked.

  Kate relayed the information. Grandfather and Pa both looked relieved to know the child had only an upset stomach.

  Pa studied him. “What about the baby? Who is going to look after her? Isabelle has a sick child to take care of. Annie is too busy. Sadie is in town looking after three children. You can’t keep Kate here forever.”

  “It’s only until Thelma comes.”

  “Son, if Thelma was interested in caring for that baby, she would be here now. And I hasten to say, the baby wouldn’t be in the condition she’s in.”

  He didn’t need his father to point out that fact. It was obvious to everyone. All the more reason to hope Kate would stay.

  As if reading his mind, Kate spoke. “I will stay until Isabelle is able to help.”

  “Thank you.” Conner was more than grateful at her offer.

  Later that afternoon, Kate sat holding Ellie, talking to her as if she understood every word. The baby focused on Kate with such intensity it brought a chuckle from her. At the sound of Kate’s amusement, the baby’s eye’s widened.

  Conner, sitting at Kate’s elbow, laughed. “She is certainly learning to trust you.”

  “And you.” Kate turned to him, a smile still lingering on her lips. The air between them shimmered with promise and possibility.

  “I almost wish we could stay as we are right now.”

  She jerked her gaze from his. “That’s not possible.”

  “I know.”

  She wouldn’t look at him again.

  He wanted to assure her that he understood this was a temporary situation, that he knew her goal would take her far away.

  “I wonder how long it will take Jesse to track down Thelma.” Kate meant the reminder for both of them. She rose, handed Ellie to Conner and joined Annie in the kitchen to help prepare the evening meal.

  How was he to let her go when the time came? But how could he think anything else was possible? He must protect his heart from destruction and the only way he knew to do that was to let her go with no regrets.

  Chapter Five

  Sunday morning arrived, calm and serene. The mood was helped along by the fact Ellie had eaten so well and wakened in the night for only one feeding. She was doing so much better that Kate mentioned going home and leaving them to manage.

  “Father will be needing me.”

  Conner knew she also wanted to escape. She’d done her best to avoid him the last twenty-four hours. Of course, he’d done the same, spending a great deal of time outdoors working with his horses. Being in the house with Kate was bittersweet agony. He wanted her to smile at him, but when she did, her eyes remained guarded. The only time they were both honest with each other was when they smiled at something Ellie did. Those moments were fleeting as butterflies.

  Sunday morning meant church.

  “I think I’ll stay home with Ellie,” Conner said.

  Every eye at the table turned toward him. Refusing to go to church was tantamount in Grandfather’s sight to robbing the bank.

  “That might be best,” Kate said. “She needs a few more days to get truly stable.”

  Later, as they tended the baby, he thanked her for backing him up.

  “You’ll have to face the public curiosity at some point.”

  His chuckle was mirthless. “It isn’t their curiosity that concerns me. It’s the fact everyone will have an opinion.” He knew the slanted looks he’d get if he walked in carrying a baby. Not that he could avoid the situation for very long. Maybe by next week Ellie would be stronger and he’d have some answer as to why Thelma had sent the baby to him.

  Kate had bathed the baby and dressed her in a new little flannel gown Annie had unearthed. “So long as you let them believe the baby is yours, people are going to be upset that you haven’t married Thelma.”

  “I realize that, but at this point, I don’t even know if she’s still unmarried.” He scrubbed his hand over his hair, not caring that it would end up looking like a windblown haystack. “I don’t even know if she’s alive.”

  Kate finished getting Ellie comfortable and came round to face him, the baby hooked on one hip. “What will happen to Ellie if that’s the case?”

  “Do you have to ask?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “She’ll become mine, of course.”

  “Good to know. I can’t think of anything better than for her to be part of the Marshall family. I know you all stand by each other.”

  “Family comes first. That’s been drilled into us all our lives.”

  “You’re fortunate.”

  “You have a good family.” He’d seen the affection between Kate and her father. “Though I understand you went through a lot of losses to get to where you are. I’m sorry.”

  “I’ve grown used to it.”

  “You’re going to church, aren’t you?” He couldn’t ask her to stay and keep him company. That would be plum foolish on his part.

  “I am and I better hurry and get ready. I’ll spend the day with Father.”

  “You’ll come back, won’t you?” Mattie was still feeling sick, so Isabelle couldn’t help.

  “Annie is adamant she can’t manage on her own. I’ll stay until Mattie is well enough for Isabelle to take over Ellie’s care.” Kate was about to head upstairs to prepare for church.

  “Kate?” He couldn’t let her go without saying how he felt.

  She paused and turned. “Yes?”

  “Thank you for everything. I don’t know how we would have managed without you.”

  Kate touched Ellie’s face as she lay in her basket watching them. “I’m glad I was able to help. This little one is worth every bit of effort.” She bent over and kissed Ellie’s forehead
.

  As she straightened, Conner caught a glimpse of her eyes and was almost certain they glistened with unshed tears.

  She loved Ellie every bit as much as he did. But it wasn’t enough to make her give up her plan to become a doctor. And he wasn’t even sure he would have asked it of her. Like she said, her gift of caring and healing should be shared with many.

  After the others left, Conner paced about the house. He watched the horses from the kitchen window, aching to be working with them.

  His gaze went beyond to the rolling hills. It hadn’t been that long since he’d ridden out to check the cows with Pa, but it seemed an age. This must be how Grandfather felt every day as he watched the others go about the ranch business. Conner promised himself to be more deliberate about taking the poor man out in the buggy along the trails that were passable for such a conveyance.

  He fed Ellie and sat outside on Grandfather’s chair with the baby perched on his knee and told her all about the ranch and the cows and the horses. “I hope you’ll be able to stay with us. I’ll buy you a little pony as soon as you’re big enough and we’ll go riding together.”

  But he could not make plans until he discovered what had happened to Thelma.

  He heard the buggy approaching and slipped inside lest someone get the idea he waited for them to return. Kate wouldn’t be with them.

  He sat at the table, an empty coffee cup before him.

  Grandfather entered and turned to speak to someone. A jolt rattled Conner’s teeth. That sounded like Kate. He was on his feet headed for the door when she stepped into the kitchen. Their gazes met with such force he leaned back on his heels. The air between them shone like sunshine had poked a hole in the roof and poured itself into the moment.

  Had she realized how easily she fit into this home, this family? How much he and Ellie needed her? Perhaps she had missed them and found they satisfied something in her life.

  Or perhaps it was all his imagination.

  Grandfather eased by Kate, Dr. Baker at his side. “Least you could do is say hello,” he said to Conner.

  Conner nodded. He would if he could find his voice.

  “I asked Kate and her father to join us for dinner,” Annie said.

  “Thank you.” Kate’s voice seemed to come from the distant meadows, carried on the scent of wildflowers. “How’s Ellie?” She nodded toward the other room.

  “Sleeping,” he managed to say.

  “I’d like Father to take a look at her.”

  “Of course.” Though he saw no need. He trusted Kate completely.

  He followed Kate and Dr. Baker into the sitting room. Pa, Grandfather and Annie were right on his heels.

  “Hello, little one.” Kate bent over and spoke to the baby.

  Ellie cooed a greeting.

  She lifted Ellie out and laid her on the couch.

  Dr. Baker stepped forward. He listened to the baby’s heart and lungs. He felt along her jaw and behind her ears. He pulled up her gown and thumped gently on her chest and tummy. He bent her legs, bringing her knees to her chest. He lifted her, turned her tummy to his palm and ran his finger along her spine.

  “What I see here is a baby who needs some good feeding and lots of loving. Other than that, she’s a normal baby of about six months of age.”

  Conner didn’t realize he’d been holding his breath until it whooshed out.

  Grandfather chortled. “I knew she was okay, but it’s good to hear it from you, Doc.”

  Kate tidied up the baby’s clothing and picked her up. When she would have perched the baby on her hip and carried her to the dining room, where Annie was setting the table for a large family gathering, Conner stopped her.

  “I’d like to take her.”

  “Of course.”

  He heard the reluctant note in her voice. “I don’t mean to be selfish, but I want to make everyone see that she’s a part of the family.” He swallowed hard. “At least for now.”

  Kate met his gaze, her eyes brimming with sorrow and sympathy. “It will be nice when you can be settled about her future.”

  It would be even nicer if Kate could be part of that future.

  She must have read his regret. “My job here is about done.”

  Your job here will never be done. The words vibrated inside his head. “I’m glad you are staying until Isabelle can take her. According to Dawson, Mattie is feeling much better.”

  “That’s good to hear.”

  “Yes.” He didn’t want to see his niece sick, but once she was well, Kate would leave. He didn’t look forward to that…a purely selfish desire. Time to man up, as Pa would say.

  A wagon rattled into the yard and childish voices filled the air.

  “I believe Sadie and Logan are here.”

  He and Kate returned to the kitchen to greet his younger brother and new sister-in-law and the three children they’d adopted. Kate and Sadie hugged.

  Dawson joined them. “Isabelle says Mattie should stay away from the other children today. Mattie isn’t happy about it.” He chuckled. “Isabelle promised to do something special with her. She was getting out pretty paper and scissors when I left.”

  They crowded around the table for the meal. Kate ended up at Conner’s side, which seemed only right. He glanced around the table. His brothers and sister were there. His pa and grandfather. His sister-in-law and the children. Mattie and Isabelle were across the yard. His gaze lingered at the end of the table where Ma had once sat and now Annie did. What would she think of the growing family? What would she think of Ellie? Of Kate?

  He smiled to himself and hoped no one would notice. Somehow he knew Ma would approve of Kate—a perfect balance of practical and caring. And Ellie? Why, Ma would love that little girl even if she wasn’t Conner’s. That reminded him. He lifted the baby forward. “Ellie, meet the rest of the family.”

  “She’s darling,” Sadie said. “What do you think, Beth?”

  Thirteen-year-old Beth studied the baby. “Mama told us the baby had been sick. That’s why she’s thin, isn’t it?” She touched Ellie’s hand. The baby curled her fingers around Beth’s. The older girl smiled. “She’s very sweet.”

  As usual, conversation held more importance than the food. The talk turned to community events. The buildings that had been destroyed by the fire of last winter had almost all been rebuilt.

  Then there was a discussion about the sermon. The new preacher, Hugh Arness, had impressed them all.

  Annie looked troubled. “It must be hard for Preacher Hugh to know his wife is dead and not be able to find his son.”

  A sobering topic. Hugh had come to Bella Creek to search for his missing wife and child. A week ago, he had discovered his wife was deceased but his son had disappeared.

  “He won’t give up until he locates the boy,” Grandfather said. “He’s a very determined man.”

  The main course over, Annie, with assistance from Kate and Sadie, served coffee and chocolate pudding for dessert.

  Kate finished her pudding quickly. “When did you last feed Ellie?” she asked Conner quietly.

  “It’s time to feed her again.”

  Beth crowded to his side as Kate prepared the bottle. “She sure is sweet.”

  “Do you want to feed her?”

  She nodded and Conner shifted Ellie to Beth’s arms. Beth sat on the nearest chair and smiled at the baby. “It reminds me of Jeannie. I mostly looked after her after our real ma got sick.”

  Three-year-old Jeannie leaned against her big sister. “Was I as sweet as Ellie?”

  Beth leaned her head against her little sister’s. “I thought you were the sweetest baby in the world. Now I think you’re the sweetest little sister.”

  Jeannie looked pleased.

  Beth crooned to the baby and Ellie locked gazes with her.

  Conner and Kate exchanged glances. He couldn’t say for sure what she thought, but it felt like she agreed with him… Ellie was learning to trust people.

  Ellie took her usual feedin
g.

  Beth looked at the bottle when Ellie stopped drinking. “Is that all she eats?”

  “She’s not very strong yet,” Kate explained. “But soon she’ll be taking a full feed.”

  Beth sat the baby up to face Jeannie. Jeannie smiled. “You’re a nice baby.”

  Ellie smiled and gurgled.

  Kate had returned to Conner’s side, and under the table, he slipped his hand over and cupped hers. He might have imagined she leaned closer to him until their shoulders brushed, but then she straightened and withdrew her hand.

  Seven-year-old Sammy edged forward on his chair. “I got a question.”

  Everyone turned to him.

  “Where does a chicken have the most feathers?”

  “Under their wings,” Annie said.

  “On their head,” Pa said.

  Sammy chuckled. “Nope. On the outside. Get it?”

  He looked pleased with himself when everyone laughed.

  “On that note…” Dawson got to his feet. “I told Isabelle I would go home and let her come visit.”

  “May we be excused?” Sammy asked.

  Sadie gave permission for the two younger children to go outside. “Mind you stay out of trouble.”

  Isabelle entered the house to visit her two friends. She, Sadie and Kate had come in on the same stagecoach in response to an advertisement for a new teacher and new doctor after the previous ones left following the fire. Only Isabelle wasn’t either. She was Kate’s friend and a rich heiress—a secret she kept from everyone until she fell in love with Dawson and had to confess the truth. And then she’d given away the bulk of her money so she could know that people liked her for herself.

  Conner grinned. If his brothers had taught him anything, it was that the road to love tended to be rocky.

  The ladies cleaned the kitchen and the men moved outdoors. Grandfather and Dr. Baker settled on two chairs on the veranda. Pa, Logan and Conner wandered to the corrals, where they leaned on the top rail of the fence and watched Conner’s horses.

  Sammy joined them and climbed up to sit on the top rail. After a bit, Pa and Logan returned to the house, but Conner and Sammy remained, watching the horses and talking softly. It didn’t take long for Conner to realize the youngster had a rich imagination as he invented long complicated stories for each of the horses.