Her Secret Baby

by Christine Sterling

  Elizabeth didn’t feel any danger around her. “I think I can manage walking around a bit on my own. I do have a good sense not to go down any dark alleys.”

  “If you need anything, I’ll be at the hotel,” she said, before she ran off to go talk to her boss. Elizabeth turned and looked around the buildings. The town itself was quaint, with small stores lining the street. She crossed the street to look at one of the buildings more closely and she saw that it was a law office. It was destiny, she thought to herself. She had been mulling around legally adopting her cousin and now seemed like a perfect opportunity to inquire about such a thing. Looking around to see that no one was looking at her, she walked into the office.

  The room inside was very plain, with boxes everywhere and papers strewn about. She saw that there was a handsome older gentleman with his head in one of the boxes. When she walked forward towards him, she knocked into one of the boxes on the floor. The sound startled the man as he straightened out the box. “I’m sorry, we aren’t open yet,” he said whirling around. “Oh, my dear, I thought you might be a customer.”

  It irritated Elizabeth the man didn’t think she could be a customer, but she decided to let it slide for the moment. It was not important to her. “I actually had a few questions, if you don’t mind.”

  The older gentlemen smiled warmly and motioned to the desk in the corner. “Of course, I could spare a few minutes for questions. I just moved here from Philadelphia. I’m Colin Sullivan,” he said.

  “Elizabeth. Jamison,” she added, before she could say her current last name. She didn’t want to let the man know who she was, based on what she was going to ask about.

  “Elizabeth, what a pretty name.” he said, as he took a seat behind the desk, opposite of Elizabeth as she sat down in the other chair. “What can I do for you today Elizabeth?”

  “Well, I have a bit of an inquiry. It’s actually regarding a family member. You see, my aunt just passed away during childbirth. She left her daughter in my care and I was wondering what the proper steps would be to formally adopt her?”

  “You say your aunt died? What about the father?”

  Elizabeth cringed a bit at the thought of Harold. “The father isn’t in the picture anymore,” Elizabeth said forcefully.

  Colin seemed to take the hint not to broach the subject. “Well, it could prove difficult if the father is still alive. They would have parental right. But if you could prove he isn’t in the child’s life or is unfit, then you might have a standing case. To be honest, I’m not well versed in laws concerning child custody, but if you give me a few days, I think I would be able to find some information for you that could prove helpful.”

  Elizabeth didn’t want to be any more trouble over the situation. “No, that is alright. Thank you for your time,” she said as she got up from the table.

  “Oh, you are leaving? I have my secretary coming in a few weeks. I could wire her and ask her to pick up some law books for me. I want to help.”

  Elizabeth felt her breath quicken. She should have known this would be a mistake; she didn’t want anyone to know Madeline was not hers. She didn’t fear Harold coming back for her (he had made it very clear that he didn’t care for the baby at all), but she knew she didn’t want the attention of this man looking into her past. “No, I think you have answered all my questions.”

  The man looked disappointed, standing up to open the door for her. “Well, it was lovely meeting you. But if you change your mind, my door is always open for you.”

  “Thank you,” she said, before walking out to the street. When she heard the door close behind her, she felt like she could breathe again. It was stupid of her to ask such questions and now she had divulged a part of her life she had sworn she would never speak of. And to a stranger no less! She thought to herself that at least the man had just settled here from Philadelphia. Maybe he wouldn’t remember her and wouldn’t gossip. Information seemed to fly fast around this town.

  She decided to turn back and walk to where she was supposed to meet her husband, maybe just to sit and wait for him. She was so lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice a man was stalking behind her until she was grabbed forcefully at her side.

  She felt herself crying loudly before she turned around to see who it was. “You!” she said, ripping her arm from his embrace.

  Carl narrowed his eyes at her, his lips in a snarl. “You, witch. I want what’s mine.”

  “You already got what you needed. I’m married now,” she said, with defiance in her voice. She tried to mask her fear as best as she could.

  “You may think the debt is paid, but I won’t be made a fool of,” he said, reaching for her again.

  Elizabeth back away from his embrace, shouting “Stay away from me!” As she walked back, she hit something hard. Hands went to her sides steadying her. She looked up to see she had ran into a tall man.

  “Is everything alright?” His words were more towards Carl, who was retreating.

  “No Sheriff, everything is fine. I was just directing the young woman to where the train station was. I just scared her is all.”

  The sheriff appeared to contemplate the answer, then turned to Elizabeth, letting her go in the process. “Is that right, Miss?”

  Elizabeth didn’t really want to bring any more attention to herself. “Yes, I’m sorry I made such a fuss. I didn’t mean to.”

  The sheriff didn’t seem too convinced but took her words anyway. “Well, Carl, let me escort you back to the saloon. I have to talk to you about something.”

  Carl didn’t seem to want to go with the sheriff; it looked like he wanted to continue the conversation earlier with Elizabeth. But when the sheriff didn’t move, Carl took his leave, walking side-by-side with the sheriff.

  As Elizabeth looked back at the retreating figures, she couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t over. No, it felt more like a horrible beginning.

  Tom was walking over to the horse, where he was supposed to meet Elizabeth. He saw that she wasn’t back yet, and Tom’s anxiety rose. Where could she be? He looked around when he heard a door open to his side. He looked over to see Colin Sullivan, Samantha’s uncle, coming out of the door.

  “Tom! So nice to see you,” he said, going to shake Tom’s hand.

  “Colin! What are you doing around here?”

  Colin motioned back to the door behind him. “Just moving into my new office. Didn’t Samantha mention it?”

  “She said something about it, but I thought it was weeks away.”

  “Well, I just thought the sooner the better. My secretary is going to follow in a few weeks; she’s back trying to get everything squared away. I just needed at break from the city life. And I really didn’t want to miss the birth of their baby.”

  Tom thought to himself on how the baby’s birth was months away, but he didn’t question it. He knew that Samantha and Colin had a special relationship, especially with her father passing away. He was the only family that she had outside of Seth.

  Tom caught a glimpse of his wife ahead, calmly walking back to the horse. He saw that Misty was nowhere to be seen; he thought to himself on how he was going to give her an earful for leaving her alone.

  “Oh, there is the girl from earlier,” said Colin, as he was looking at Elizabeth.

  “Girl?” Tom inquired.

  “Oh yes, she just came into my office. Had a few questions about possible adoption.”

  Adoption? Tom thought to himself, and Colin continued to talk. “It seems that she wants to adopt her cousin, seeing that her aunt is dead. Very courageous of her, I will say. I’ve never met someone so young who would take on such a role.”

  Colin went on to make some additional small talk before Tom excused himself from the conversation. When Colin went back into the room, Tom made his way back to his wife. Tom had his initial suspicions when he first brought Elizabeth home. It was his gut feeling the story before him wasn’t as it had seemed. It was even more so confusing when he would look down at lit
tle Madeline and try to see what features they shared. Their hair and eye color were not the same, but Tom just thought Madeline took on key traits of her father. And then there was that first night, when Elizabeth had kissed him. Her actions didn’t seem like they were from someone who had lain with a man before.

  But now it was starting to all make sense. Madeline didn’t seem to be her daughter and now his wife was harboring what might be a terrible secret.

  Carl stalked into the saloon. After he made an excuse to the sheriff about needing to get back to the saloon (to which the sheriff replied he would be back to ask those questions), he made his way back. When he entered the room, though, he was startled to see his worst nightmare standing at the end of the table.

  His hired barkeep was helping the man, who was tall and menacing. Carl didn’t know his real name; he just called him Mr. Teller, as per the rules of their agreement. The less he knew about the transactions, the better.

  Carl walked behind the bar and motioned for the barkeep to go to the end of the bar to help some other patrons. “I didn’t think you would be coming today.”

  “I haven’t received any shipments in weeks. My boys keep coming back empty handed, with various excuses. I thought I should come down and see to it myself.

  Carl didn’t know what to say. He had gone to great lengths to cancel the three girls’ trips that he had planned to come out here, saying he had changed his mind. He had also been trying to get to Elizabeth, but he didn’t know where she’d gone to. Today was the first time he had seen her in weeks; he secretly felt that Tom was doing his best to hide her. But he knew deep down it was only a matter of time before she would appear before him.

  “Something happened. But I can promise you this, I’m working my hardest to get back on track,” Carl said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

  Mr. Teller stared at the amber liquid in his glass. “Working your hardest? I don’t see any results. So can I really take you at your word?”

  The words sent chills down Carl’s spine. Mr. Teller continued, “I don’t think I have made myself clear about our arrangement. I expect product, not excuses. I can’t take those excuses to my clients. They have paid me handsomely, and I have paid you handsomely. I have taken care of you Mr. Gaines. How can you disrespect me like this with your lies?” He set the glass on the table and looked Carl square in the eyes. “Maybe I need to make myself clear in other ways since words seem to have no effect on you.”

  Mr. Teller motioned to the table next to the bar which held three looming men, big, burly, and scary looking. They stood up and started to crowd around the bar. “Wait!” Carl yelled, putting his hands up. “I have a good reason why it is taking a long time. You would be pleased with the reason.”

  Mr. Teller held up his hand and the men stopped in their tracks. “I’m intrigued. What reason would it be?”

  Carl tried to steady his breathing as he walked around the bar and motioned for Mr. Teller to follow him to the window in the far corner. It was grainy, but Carl wiped the glass with his sleeve, so they could see out. He was overjoyed that Tom and Elizabeth hadn’t left yet. Tom was loading up items on the horse while Elizabeth was looking around. Carl pointed towards Elizabeth. “You see that woman? She is the reason why it is taking so long. She’s the product that I am trying to procure for you.”

  Mr. Teller stared at Elizabeth and rubbed his chin. “She is a beauty.”

  Carl smiled to himself, fear leaving him for a moment. “Yes, and she is proving difficult to obtain. But if you give me more time, I can promise you she will be yours.”

  Mr. Teller eyed Carl, before he spoke again. “I’ll give you another week. Then I expect her to be in my possession. And only her; if it is anyone except her, you will be wishing it was death that awaited you.”

  He walked over to the men and motioned to the door. “I’ll be back in a week. Don’t make me regret my kindness.” Then he was gone.

  Carl laid his head on the bar. How was he going to get her? There was also the pesky baby to take care of. What was he going to do with that?

  “It seems you have a problem that maybe I can help with,” said a voice to his side. He looked over and saw a man sitting on a stool, with wild eyes and long hair. “I see you are trying to get a woman.”

  Carl didn’t know what to make of the man. He looked utterly crazy; but Carl was also desperate. “Yes, I have a bit of a problem. But how can you help me?”

  The man smiled crazily. “I’m also interested in that woman. But not in her personally. I am interested in obtaining her child.”

  Carl cocked an eyebrow up. “Why do you need the child?”

  “She’s important to me for reasons that don’t concern you,” the man said, giving him a death glare.

  Carl didn’t like the retort, but he felt he didn’t have any other choice. If the man was going to offer his help, who was he not to accept it? Desperation does that to a person.

  He smiled. “I think we could help each other out.”

  The man bared his teeth in a grin. “I’m glad you see it my way. My name is Harold, by the way.”

  Chapter 11

  Tom was busy fixing a hole in the roof when Elizabeth yelled for him from the ground. “I’m going down to the creek to give Madeline a bath.” Tom didn’t say anything, just keeping to his task. He heard his wife let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m just letting you know where I am going,” she said in a hurt voice.

  It had been a few days since Tom had found out the news that Madeline was not Elizabeth’s daughter and his wife hadn’t been truthful to him. He was hurt and was trying to mask his emotions by keeping her at an arm’s distance. He was upset with himself for treating her this way. He should have the courage to just ask her; but deep down he didn’t want to know the reason why she was masquerading as a mother to a small child. He held this pure and innocent idea of who his wife was, and he wasn’t ready to shatter that image.

  He knew his distance was straining their relationship. Elizabeth was trying her best to hide her hurt. She had tried to inquire what was wrong, but Tom just brushed her off. Soon, he could see, even she was losing her patience with him. He felt awful and didn’t know how to take everything back.

  He threw himself into working around the house, just so he wouldn’t have to interact with her too much. As he was pounding the wood planks into the roof, he heard a rustling below him. He looked over, hoping it was Elizabeth, only to be disappointed when it was Samantha. “Oh, it’s you.”

  Samantha put her hands on her hips. “Well, hello to you too. I was wondering if Elizabeth was in the house?”

  Tom stopped his hammering and sat up on his heels. “No, she went down to the creek.”

  Samantha looked perplexed. “Really? I looked down there and didn’t see her.”

  Tom stood up abruptly. Horrible thoughts filled his head as he ran to the ladder and slid down. Samantha looked worried. “What is wrong?”

  “She should be down there. She just left! If she’s not there, something must have happened,” Tom said, as he walked into the house to grab something he could use as a weapon. “I was so terrible to her! I shouldn’t have let her go on her own.”

  Samantha followed him into the house. “How were you terrible to her?”

  Tom didn’t hesitate as he was ripping through the room, looking for anything he could use in a fight. “She lied to me about Madeline. It’s not her kid!” he yelled.

  Once he realized what he had said, he stood motionless. He turned around, looking into Samantha’s shocked face. She put her hand to her mouth. “Where did you hear that?”

  “Your uncle,” Tom answered, taking his hat and throwing it to the ground. “He let it slip that she had inquired about adoption procedures.”

  Samantha paused for a moment. “Did you ask her about it?”

  Tom shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”

  “Then you are dumber than I thought you were.”

  Tom jerked his head up. “Dumb?” />
  “Yes, dumb. You should have talked to her about it.”

  “What was there to talk about? She lied to me. Who knows what she has been lying to me about.”

  Samantha walked over and used her hand to smooth his hair. “I know she must have had a good reason. You should have given her the chance to explain, not shut her out. That is not what adults do. She’s your wife. She’s your forever.”

  “I think I’m starting to care about her. And it’s scaring me,” he whispered.

  Samantha smiled at him. “Then you should tell her. She can’t know how much she means to you if you aren’t honest.”

  Tom closed his eyes and started to walk out the door. “I have to go and find her,” he called after her. He started out jogging to the creek, before breaking into a run. The creek wasn’t far from their home and it only took him a few minutes to get there. He scanned the ground, looking for any sign of Elizabeth and the baby. When he didn’t see anything, he walked to his left, following the creek. He was about to call out to her, when he saw a blanket on the ground. He ran over to the blanket, dropping down to his knees on it. Little Madeline was sleeping soundly on the blanket. Tom took a deep, relieved breath. He looked around, trying to find Elizabeth.

  When he looked to his right side, he stopped breathing. There, in the water, was Elizabeth, only she wasn’t wearing anything. Tom had never seen a more beautiful woman than the one standing before him. She hadn’t seen him, as she bent over to throw some water on her face. All Tom could do was stand there and watch as she circled in the water, taking her arms to cover herself with more water.

  When she turned around to come back out of the water, Tom came to his senses and turned to try to hide. He turned his back and was about to walk away until he heard footsteps behind him. “Tom?” he heard Elizabeth call out.

  Tom slowly turned around to face his wife. She was still naked; she was holding up her dress to cover her front from Tom’s prying eyes. They stood there for a few moments, neither of them making a sound or motion. Tom could feel his eyes lingering on her for far too long and he turned away from her. He felt mad and frustrated.