by Linda Ford
He dropped Kate’s hand and outran both women, skidding to a halt at the back of the wagon. Grandfather lay with his mouth open, snoring. Beside him, Ellie slept safely in her basket.
His relief made his knees weak.
Isabelle and Kate reached his side and sagged with relief.
“She’s safe.” Kate’s words wobbled as much as Conner’s legs.
Grandfather snorted and sat up. “What’s all the commotion?”
Ellie opened her eyes and cooed. “It’s nothing.” Conner scooped the baby to his chest. He was never letting her out of his sight again.
“Nothing doesn’t bring three adults galloping to my side.” Grandfather squinted at them. “What’s happened?” He patted Ellie. “Something about the baby?”
“False alarm.” Conner explained the mistake.
“May I hold her?” Kate’s forehead wrinkled.
He longed to smooth away those worry lines, but perhaps not in Grandfather’s presence. Instead, he forced his arms to release Ellie to Kate.
Kate closed her eyes. Her worry lines disappeared. “Thank You, God.” She murmured the prayer over and over, Ellie held tightly in her arms.
Isabelle reassured herself that all was well with Ellie. “I left Mattie with her father, but I feel the need to check on her whereabouts.” She hurried away.
Grandfather eased to the ground, took his canes. “Fine lot you two are. Letting a baby out of your sight and then panicking about it.” He hobbled away.
Conner waited until they were out of earshot to speak. “Easy to say we panicked now we know she’s safe.”
“I don’t intend to let her leave my arms until you pry her out to take her home.”
He saw the sorrow she’d feel when the time came. “You could come with me.” He watched hope and longing flare in her eyes.
“Let’s go.” She pretended to understand he meant the few remaining hours of the fair. But he knew what he’d seen. And it gave him hope for a future shared with her.
What about Ellie? What would happen when they found Thelma?
He’d learn why Thelma said the baby was his and that would answer many questions.
They circled the grounds again, pausing to watch others play the games, but what he really wanted was to pull Kate and Ellie aside and hold them both in his arms. Talk to Kate about the options in her life. Make her see that staying was a good choice. But the fair was wrapping up. Dawson and Logan joined him and Kate to gather up the proceeds and tally the amount.
Grandfather found them. “How did we do?”
Conner told him the amount. “More than enough to buy a bell, I’d say.”
“You’ve done good. Both of you. Now, don’t go disappointing an old man.”
Conner shook his head, refusing to acknowledge that he understood what his grandfather meant.
Kate’s cheeks blossomed as prettily as any of the flowers on display and she buried her face against the baby.
Grandfather stood at the doorway to the tent. “Listen up, everyone,” he bellowed, drawing the attention of the crowd. “I have an announcement to make.” He turned to Conner and Kate. “You two come out here.”
Conner practically had to drag Kate to Grandfather’s side.
“I don’t want to stand in front of all those people,” she protested.
Grandfather took her arm on one side. Conner crowded closer to the other, stroking Ellie’s hair to smooth it.
“We have enough money to buy the bell for the church,” Grandfather said. “And it’s because all you people supported the cause, but mostly it’s due to the hard work of these two—a round of applause for Conner and Kate.”
Not only did the people clap, but they cheered and whistled. The blossom in Kate’s cheeks grew rosier.
The noise settled down and people began to move away. Some would linger to visit and share a picnic with friends and neighbors. Others would gather up their entries, their children, and leave.
Conner pulled Kate out of the way of people going in and out of the tent. They stood along the canvas wall. They could overhear the comments of people coming and going, the prolonged goodbyes and the invitations to come and visit anytime.
“They certainly make a nice-looking couple,” a loud-voiced lady said. “And that little baby is so sweet. They make the perfect family, don’t you think?”
Her companion laughed softly. “Conner is taking his time about asking her to marry him.”
“I can’t imagine Mr. Marshall Senior not doing his best to see them married.”
“I remember he was gone for several weeks last spring. You recall that? Plenty of time to father a child. Conner should do right by her and marry her.”
Conner blanched as he realized they talked about him and Kate. He eased away from the tent, drawing the red-faced Kate with him. “I’m sorry you had to hear that.” The perfect family. If only it could be so. But to have Kate’s name linked with such gossip…
He clenched his fists. What else were people saying behind his back?
They made their way to the front of the tent, where they would be more visible and less likely to overhear unwanted comments.
He turned to Kate. Her gaze held his. He dared think he saw something different, as if the words they’d heard had made her see and believe the possibilities. They belonged together. He knew he saw welcome and hope and invitation in her look and reached out to touch her cheek.
“Conner.” He recognized the voice. Jesse. Back from his latest trip in search of the missing Thelma. Conner hoped he had not met with success.
The sheriff stepped into view leading a woman. “I found Thelma.”
Shock silenced Conner as he stared at the woman before him. Nothing about her seemed familiar. Yes, she still had light brown hair, swept up in a bunch of curls. Her eyes were still brown. He used to think them bottomless with enticing depth, but now they looked flat and lifeless.
“Hello, Conner,” she said in her breathy voice.
Had he ever thought that was appealing? It seemed downright childish now.
Her gaze drifted to Ellie. She made no effort to take the baby from Kate, and if he wasn’t mistaken about the fiery look in Kate’s eyes, Thelma would be forced to pry Ellie from her arms. “I apologize for not letting you know about our daughter sooner.”
He gave her a narrow-eyed study. What was she hoping to achieve by continuing this deception?
Her gaze came back to Conner.
He knew he correctly read the challenge in them. She knew it was her word against his that he wasn’t Ellie’s father.
Jesse shuffled his feet. “It’s been a long day. Miss Bird is tired. Perhaps we could go somewhere quiet where we can sit down to talk.”
Jesse was right. A dozen people watched and listened openly.
Kate recovered first. “You’re welcome to come to the doctor’s house.”
Isabelle joined them, a look of concern on her face.
Conner introduced her. “My sister-in-law. She married Dawson.”
“Pleased to meet you.” Thelma was all sweetness and smiles. “Jesse told me Dawson and Logan were both married now. How sweet.”
Dr. Baker had noticed the commotion and hurried over.
Conner introduced Kate and her father. He wanted nothing more than to demand an explanation for Ellie’s poor condition and Thelma’s reason for lying. But not until they reached the doctor’s house. They began the trek across the fairgrounds.
Their entourage grew to include Logan and Sadie and their children.
Pa joined them just as they reached Kate’s place. She ushered them inside, still holding Ellie. Conner stayed close to her side.
A wagon stopped in front of the house and then Dawson led Grandfather in.
Pa turned to Thelma. “You’ve finally come to check on your baby.”
If she heard the hard note in his voice, she ignored it. She ducked her head and managed to look shy and coy. “And to marry Conner. I thought it was time.”
Conner wanted to hug the old man for his bluntness. He was not the only one who looked at Thelma, waiting for her answer.
A beat of silence as if she expected Grandfather to withdraw his question. He didn’t, and if she’d looked at him, she would have seen the way he stared at her, demanding an answer.
Thelma slanted a smile at Conner. “I was sick and couldn’t manage her. I knew Conner would see she was taken care of.” She hung her head as if to portray a regretful mother.
Conner didn’t believe anything about her.
Conner didn’t need to look around at the family to know none of them believed her story.
“Must have been sick a long time.” Grandfather’s tone was harsh, disbelieving.
Thelma shrugged in a delicate way, trying to portray her helplessness.
Conner studied her. She’d always been slender, but it did look like she’d lost weight and there were blue smudges below her eyes. They might have been makeup.
“I’m fine now,” she said, lifting her head and looking from one to the other with a great show of bravery. Her gaze rested on Kate and her smile faltered.
Kate returned her look, revealing nothing. Oh, how Conner wished he could ask what she thought.
“Kate nursed Ellie through a few bad hours.” What would Thelma say in response to that?
Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly and then she widened them. “I owe you thanks for taking care of my baby.” She slanted a smile at Conner. “Our baby.” She touched the baby for the first time, but her hand did not linger.
Kate’s expression tightened. She looked at Conner and he saw the pain there. Perhaps at knowing she would have to release Ellie to this woman. Perhaps, too, at Thelma’s insistence the baby was his.
Kate pressed her lips together and bent to plant a kiss on Ellie’s cheek, earning a bright smile from the baby. Kate straightened and looked past him.
Annie, with Carly hard on her heels, burst into the house. She skidded to a halt as she saw Thelma and she scowled at the woman.
Thelma continued her sweet-person routine. “Annie, Carly, how nice to see you both again.”
“Hello,” Annie managed.
“Can’t say I feel the same,” Carly said. She had no father or grandfather present to scold her for being rude, so she spoke her mind…perhaps spoke for most of those present.
They pressed to either side of Kate as if to say they were prepared to protect the baby…and Kate, too? He had never seen her look so wounded. It was all he could do not to ignore Thelma, pull Kate and Ellie into his arms and shelter them from this situation.
Thelma smiled at Conner, the smile going only as far as the corners of her mouth. “I made a mistake when I left. But I’m back and I want to do the right thing for Elspeth and give her a father…” She paused dramatically. “Her father.”
Conner’s teeth protested at the pressure he put on them and he forced his jaw to relax. He didn’t know what Thelma hoped to gain by her charade. Conner didn’t doubt Thelma was Ellie’s mother, but that was where the truth ended. If she continued this game, it was her word against his. If he refused to claim Ellie, what would become of her?
Thelma gave a reluctant smile. “It’s been a long trip.” She yawned. “Is there any chance I could rest for a bit?”
“By all means,” Pa said. “You must stay with us while we sort things out. Let’s be on our way.” He paused at the door to speak to Kate and her father. “Thank you for allowing us to meet here…and for everything else.” He nodded toward Ellie.
Thelma followed on Pa’s heels. Logan, Sadie, Dawson and Isabelle hugged Kate on their way out.
“I’ll take Ellie,” Conner said to Kate.
She nodded, her eyes brimming with tears, and released the baby to his arms.
“I’ll take good care of her.”
“I know you will.”
It about shattered his insides at the way her voice broke. “I’m sorry.”
“This is something you have to work out.” She carefully avoided his gaze.
If there remained anything inside to break, it broke at that point.
Grandfather waited at the door for Conner. “Why does Thelma pretend Ellie is yours?”
Conner rubbed his neck as the tension in him mounted. “I simply don’t know.”
“Then I suggest you find out.”
“I certainly plan to try. But in the end, it could be my word against hers.” He’d heard the gossip about Kate and now the gossip would include Thelma. He knew well enough that people often preferred the shocking falsehoods over the simple truth.
*
Kate closed her eyes and slowly eased out her breath so as not to make Father notice her distress. Thelma had returned expecting to marry Conner. What sort of game was she playing and why? Not that it made any difference. It was the only way Conner could truly become Ellie’s father. She knew his love for the baby must come above everything else.
Kate had not anticipated how hollow she would feel at waving goodbye to Conner, though she didn’t lift her hand or look out the window. Was it possible to avoid the Marshalls until she left for medical school? Avoiding them would be difficult, if not impossible. Her best friend lived at the ranch and she couldn’t imagine avoiding Isabelle. Nor could she think there would be no more pleasant visits with Annie.
“I expect I will hear back from the medical school soon. I’m anxious to get at my studies.”
Father nodded his approval. “That’s good to hear. God has given you a natural ability as a healer.”
What would he think if she admitted that at this moment her biggest reason for wanting to go was to get away from Bella Creek and the Marshalls? Especially Conner and his sweet little daughter…only, she wasn’t his daughter and wouldn’t be unless he married Thelma.
She made her cautious, calm way to her room. She sat on the edge of the bed and let her moans escape. She knew better than to grow fond of her patients. Father and Mother had both warned her of that. But she didn’t see Conner and Ellie as patients. She saw them as…
She closed her mind to every other description and lifted her Bible to her lap. The pages fell open at the ninety-fourth Psalm and she drank in the words: When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O LORD, held me up. In the multitude of my thoughts within me, Thy comforts delight my soul.
She read the verses over and over, letting them seep into her heart and mind until she felt ready to face her future. Lord, You are my strength and comfort.
She gazed about the room that not long ago she had shared with Isabelle. Would she meet someone back East who would be the kind of friend Isabelle was? She must believe she would or her insides would cave in with emptiness.
Over the next few hours, her resolve grew, her determination settled into the depths of her heart. She had always found daily comfort in God’s Word. For the Lord GOD will help me…therefore have I set my face like a flint. Her face and heart and mind were set like flint to do what she’d planned to do her whole life.
If only tomorrow wasn’t Sunday. How could she endure seeing Conner with Thelma, no longer able to sit at his side and enjoy both his presence and Ellie’s? Her flint lost some of its steeliness.
She practiced putting a smile on her face. She would face this with grace and dignity and no one would see the tears that gushed forth from her heart, filling her with weakness and sorrow.
Sleep evaded her that night. When morning came, she felt put through the wringer. Perhaps she was coming down with something. She should stay at home just in case.
But she would not allow her weakness to rule her and she dressed with care. No one would look at her with pity.
“Are you ready?” Father asked, waiting at the door.
She’d been finding excuses to delay their departure, hoping they might slip in late and sit at the back. A wagon rattled by and slowed
. She caught her breath. Was it someone needing the doctor? That would provide the perfect excuse to miss church. But no, the wagon had simply slowed because of a dog crossing the street and then it continued onward, stopping in front of the church.
“I’m coming.” She donned her best hat, pulled on her gloves and left the house at her father’s side.
“Are you doing okay?” he asked.
Her breath caught on its upward journey and she coughed a little. “I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
“I think I’m not mistaken in believing you have grown a little fond of Conner Marshall. And now Miss Bird has arrived to claim her child and a husband.”
“But he isn’t Ellie’s father.” He knew that and it surprised her to hear him speak as if he was.
“If he denies it, he accuses Thelma of lying. Besides, I have a feeling he loves that wee one enough to marry her mother. And perhaps that is for the best.”
Somehow Kate made her wooden feet keep pace with him. How could it be for the best?
“You’ve delayed your medical training for me. I fear if you delay it for someone else, you will never get there. It would be a shame to lose sight of the dream you’ve had even before Mother and I adopted you.” He gave her a beaming smile. “A choice we never regretted. We couldn’t have asked for a better daughter. You shared our passion for medicine and have been so helpful from the start. I’m proud of you.” He squeezed her elbow, a movement that went deep into her heart and pressed out great huge drops of sorrow. He was right. She had momentarily lost sight of her goal and her promise.
“I knew from the start that this would happen.” That Thelma would show up and Conner would have to marry her in order to give Ellie the family she needed. Being forewarned should have caused her to be forearmed, but instead she’d let herself fall under the spell of Conner’s charm and personality.
They reached the church. A glance around revealed no familiar Marshall wagon or any of their horses. Odd. They were usually early.
She pointed out the fact to her father. “I hope there isn’t anything wrong.” Her heart kicked against her ribs. “Maybe Ellie—” What if Conner had been hurt?