by Indiana Wake
Karla was staring at her son in complete surprise. It was like she had just witnessed a miracle.
“How…how did you manage to do that?”
“I think he is just over-tired.” Scott gently tickled Stuart’s cheek, getting a little giggle in return. “He just didn’t know how to calm down. He’ll fall asleep in a moment.”
They sat like that for a while longer. Scott was aware of people glancing at the pair as they walked by, but he didn’t care. Stuart was calm now and Karla was looking a lot more relaxed. She was beginning to smile and Scott couldn’t get the fact that she had a rather pretty smile out of his head. Even with the scars, she was a lovely looking young woman.
What had happened to her to get the scars? Had she been caught in a fire? Had someone done that to her? Scott felt his stomach churn at the thought of someone harming her like that.
What was he doing? They barely knew each other, and Scott was already getting over-protective. That wasn’t right. He needed to get back to the forge as soon as possible. But he couldn’t bring himself to let go of Stuart.
“I can’t believe he’s asleep now.” Karla was staring at her son in wonder. “Seems like he wanted someone special.” She sighed. “And I wasn’t that someone.”
“Maybe he wanted his father?” Scott suggested. “Is he around?”
Karla shook her head.
“My husband was killed during a mugging back home. I found out I was pregnant a week later.”
Now Scott felt like a cad.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” Karla shrugged. “It was a long time ago. I’ve coped. It’s not easy, but I’ve managed.”
Scott could understand her sentiment.
“We all have to do that at some point.”
“Are you coping?” Karla asked. “With losing your wife?”
Scott sighed.
“Sometimes, I do wonder. But other times, I believe I’m doing all right. Martin and Michael are happy and healthy. That’s all I could ask for.”
Karla smiled. That smile…it made Scott’s chest tighten.
“I’m glad.”
They stared at each other for a moment longer. Then Scott realized he was still holding the baby. He held the boy out to his mother.
“Do you want your son back?”
“Oh. Thank you.” Karla eased Stuart back into her arms, trying to move slow enough to not jostle him. “He won’t wake up too soon, will he?”
“I hope not. But it should give you some respite.”
Scott was glad to know he hadn’t lost his touch. Babies had always seemed to react well to him. Mothers swooned at the sight of him soothing young children, and he had managed to extract himself from unwanted advances. He didn’t feel that need this time. He just couldn’t walk away from this woman and child.
“Thank you.” Karla said.
Scott knew that was his cue to leave. But he just couldn’t. He cleared his throat.
“If you need someone to help you calm your son again, you can find me at the forge.”
Why had he just offered that? He must be mad. Karla arched an eyebrow, a smile quirking on her lips.
“I would’ve thought you’d want to be left alone instead of looking after a stranger’s baby.”
“I love children; I wouldn’t mind.”
That was true enough. He continued, “You need any help, just let me know. Good day, Miss.” After saying his farewell, Scott practically flew back to the forge. He didn’t stop running until he was inside, ducking into the heat again. But this time the heat wasn’t what was making him sweat.
Chapter Three
Doctor James Waters hung the stethoscope around his neck again and looked back up at Karla.
“He’s doing well, Karla. He weighs what he should for his age, and he seems happy now.”
“I should hope so.” Karla laughed. She stroked Stuart’s head, getting a gurgle in return. “He’s certainly settled in the last week.”
“I’m glad. It was a big change and even at his young age, Stuart is able to detect it.” James smiled and tickled Stuart’s feet. “Have you allowed Mama to get some sleep, Trouble?”
Stuart giggled and started kicking at the doctor’s fingers. Karla couldn’t help but smile at the sight. Her son seemed to respond to men better than women. She hadn’t figured why yet, but Karla wasn’t about to be jealous over it. If it had Stuart calm and happy for a little while afterward, well, then she would work with it.
And Stuart had settled down in the last week. Ever since the run-in with the local blacksmith, Karla had noticed things with her child weren’t as bad as before. She didn’t get as flustered, as if she had become calmer as a parent after speaking with him.
Meeting Scott Hollingsworth had certainly done something for her, if not for Stuart too.
“He’s doing well, Karla.” James picked up Stuart and handed him back to his mother. “Have you got him into a routine now?”
“Very nearly. He’s not quite there, but close.” Karla kissed her son’s head, her heart melting when she saw him smile at her. “I had the best night’s sleep since before I gave birth to him last night. And the night before.”
James grinned. “That’s good. You need to keep your strength up or things will become even more difficult for you.”
“I know.” As if on cue, Karla’s stomach growled. She grimaced. “A bit like that, then?”
“Very much like that.” James chuckled. He headed towards his desk and sat down, stretching out his long legs. “You didn’t have breakfast, did you?”
“I can’t remember.” Karla blushed and stuttered, “Oh. No, I didn’t. I haven’t had anything to eat since supper yesterday.”
James shook his head. Though he didn’t say it, Karla could feel his disappointment. He had been her doctor back in Ohio and her next-door neighbor. When she needed someone to talk to after Kit’s death, James had been there for her. He was the closest Karla could get to a brother. The man was a real sweetheart.
It hadn’t been that difficult of a decision when James said he was going out for a position in Sioux Falls where his sister lived and wondered if she wanted to come along with some other single mothers. Karla knew there was an ulterior motive, but the alternative of not having James to talk to everyday made the decision for her.
It was for her own sanity, if that counted for anything.
“You’ve had a lot happen to you, Karla.” James’ expression had softened as he gave her a smile. “I’m not surprised you’re running almost on empty. You need to take time for yourself.”
“I know.” Karla sat down with a sigh, cuddling Stuart as he played with her hair. “I don’t think the blacksmith would appreciate me going to him whenever I need Stuart to be quiet.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Then Karla realized she hadn’t mentioned her raven-haired savior to James. She blushed and lowered her eyes.
“The blacksmith in the next street. He helped me out when Stuart was screaming, holding him until Stuart began to calm down.”
“I see.”
The surprise left his face, replaced by a thoughtful, curious look. Karla felt the urge to squirm. She didn’t like it when James scrutinized her like this.
“What? James, stop staring at me like that. What do you see?”
“Nothing.” James laced his fingers over his flat belly and sat back in his chair. “But you do know being a single mother’s going to be tough, Karla.”
“I didn’t ask for those who attacked Kit to kill him, did I?”
“That’s not what I meant. You need someone with you.”
“You mean a husband.”
Karla didn’t need to guess. That was the ulterior motive to coming out to South Dakota. James was helping women with children look for husbands, something the West had an abundance of. Karla wasn’t sure she wanted a husband after the tragedy that had ended her marriage, but she could see where James was coming from.
Regardless, th
e fact that he considered Karla in need of a man in her life smarted.
“You do realize the way you’re talking sounds like you don’t think I’m capable of handling things by myself? How long have you known me?”
James winced. “That sounded callous. I’m sorry.”
Karla shook her head. “You really need to get out more. You have no idea how to talk to people.”
“Being a doctor is something I can handle. But being normal…” James sighed, “not so much.”
“Just be thankful I’m an understanding person.”
“That I am.” James scratched the back of his neck. “But you see where I’m coming from, don’t you?”
“Unfortunately, I do.”
Being a single mother was tough anywhere, but it was even rougher out in the West. Karla knew she would have to marry someone to provide some stability for herself and for Stuart. Love didn’t have to come into it.
She looked down at Stuart, who was starting to slow a little in his motions. His eyes were starting to close, his mouth still open.
“I wish I didn’t have to.”
“I know none of them will be Kit, but you need to do it for Stuart.” James nodded at the sleepy baby. “He needs a father figure in his life.”
“I know.”
James grinned, his brown eyes twinkling. “Maybe you could talk to the blacksmith about it.”
Karla rolled her eyes. “Don’t be ridiculous. He was just a nice man who helped me out.”
“Was he?”
Karla huffed and glared at him. She was sure James was laughing at her.
“You’re an excellent doctor, James, but you’re a terrible matchmaker. Don’t even try.”
“It was worth a go.”
“I know you brought the five of us out here for marriage but let us deal with it.”
James sighed, shrugging at the scolding. “That’s telling me.” He frowned at Stuart as he jerked in Karla’s arms to stretch before settling down with a small gurgle. “Don’t you start.”
Chapter Four
Scott couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief as he closed the book and looked at his two boys cuddled up in the bed they shared, both clearly very tired. It had been a very long day and Scott was looking forward to some quiet.
“Night, night, you two.”
Michael pleaded around a yawn, “Can’t we have another story, Papa?”
“Absolutely not. You’ve had two stories already.” Scott put the book aside and tucked his sons in. “Go to sleep.”
“We’re not tired.” Martin protested sleepily around the thumb he had been sucking.
Scott couldn’t help but smile as his sons cuddled up to each other in spite of their protests.
“Yes, you are. Now, sleep.”
He kissed them both on the forehead and quietly crossed the room. He paused at the door, giving a final glance toward the bed to see that both boys now had their eyes closed. It was a sweet sight.
Scott felt an old pang of regret as he descended the stairs. Elspeth should have been here to see this. She would have loved how the twins had grown up. They were becoming rather rambunctious boys, but very sweet and kind. Very much like their father, if he did think so himself. She would have adored them.
But she wasn’t there. Scott had to deal with it on his own. It hadn’t been easy, even with support from his family and Elspeth’s parents, to raise twins and work on top of all of it. The older they got, the easier it became, but admitting that made Scott feel awful. He didn’t feel like a good parent.
He knew what he needed to do. Something he balked at. Find a wife. His mother had been telling him for years that he needed to find a woman to become a mother to Martin and Michael, but Scott kept telling her to stop. He didn’t want to marry again, especially not for convenience. That felt far too clinical. If Scott was going to marry again, it was to be on his terms.
As Scott settled down in front of the roaring fire in the front room, his thoughts turned, not for the first time, to Karla Barker. The woman had plagued his mind since they met, and Scott wasn’t sure what to make of it. No other woman had caught his attention like Karla had, not since Elspeth. Even with her scars, Karla was very pretty. There was something about her that Scott found himself drawn to. And little Stuart…Scott wasn’t afraid to admit that he adored the child.
What was it about Karla Barker that had Scott feeling like his chest was being squeezed? He didn’t know if that was a good or a bad feeling; it had been so long since he had felt anything above base emotions that Scott wasn’t sure what he was supposed to feel.
He was startled out of his thoughts when there was a knock at the door. Scott glanced at the clock. Eight-thirty. It was a little late for visitors. Sighing heavily, Scott stood and headed into the hall. He had a feeling he knew who it was.
And he was right. Scott’s heart sank as he opened the door to a raven-haired woman in her early fifties, dressed smartly in a pale green dress with her hair done up perfectly. She looked as though she was about to go to a dinner dance. Scott sighed and accepted the kiss the woman pressed to his cheek.
“Evening, Mother.”
“Hello, Son.” Louise Hollingsworth smiled up at him. “I was on my way to a dance and I thought I’d check on you.” She patted the basket she was carrying. “I brought you some food as well.”
Scott had to admit that his mother was a good cook. Though it was inconvenient, he wasn’t about to be rude to her; he was far too tired for that. He knew that Louise was there for more than checking on his welfare. There was always an ulterior motive with Louise Hollingsworth.
“Thank you, Mother.” Scott led his mother into the kitchen. “I haven’t actually eaten much today. I’ve been too busy.”
Louise snorted.
“Honestly, Scott. You need to take care of yourself. You’re no good to the children, otherwise. Or to your customers.”
“I know.” Scott managed a smile as his mother began to unpack the various meats and cheeses. “Thank you, Mother.”
Louise beamed. Their relationship was rocky at best since Elspeth had died and Scott’s father had passed shortly after, but Scott did his best. He wasn’t about to deprive his children of their grandmother. For all her faults, Louise did love them unconditionally and the boys adored her as well.
They sat down at the table, with Louise serving her son. Scott took what he was offered and began to eat. He hadn’t been feeling very hungry, but the moment the smell from the food hit his nose, Scott found he was ravenous. He devoured everything, his mother watching him with a strange look of pride.
“I’m glad you’re looking better now,” Louise declared as Scott finished, reaching for the cup of water she had poured out for him. “Are you taking care of yourself in other aspects?”
“Of course, I am.” Scott covered a belch behind his hand, sipping his water. “I have a job and two children to provide for. I make sure I do everything I can for them.”
“But what about you?”
“If I don’t take care of myself, then who will look after…” Scott stopped when he saw his mother’s expression. His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing, Mother?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that look. You’re up to something. And I can’t remember the last time you brought food for me.” Scott put his cup down. “Don’t play innocent with me, now, Mother.”
Louise pouted. She looked a little like a sulking child. “You make me sound like I’m a bad person.”
“I wouldn’t say bad.” Scott grunted. “Just misguided in your belief of how well you can help.”
“I’m never misguided.” Louise protested. She folded her hands on the table and forced a smiled. “Anyway, I bumped into Nellie Parrish earlier today. She’s the one having the party tonight. Helen’s come back to Sioux Falls and she’s grown up. A lot.”
Scott knew exactly where this was going. As soon as Nellie Parrish’s name was mentioned, he could feel his heart sinking. T
here was only one out of the four Parrish girls who still wasn’t married, which was the youngest, Helen. Louise had been trying to pair her with Scott for years and Scott hadn’t taken kindly to it.
Even though she had been away on the East Coast for almost a year, the time hadn’t done anything to change Scott’s opinions of Helen. Louise had to have known that he wouldn’t be susceptible to anything regarding her. If she didn’t…
He shook his head. “No, Mother. No.”
“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”
“I do know. You are going to say that Helen would be perfect as a wife and mother for us.”
Louise didn’t look the slightest bit embarrassed at being caught out. She lifted her chin defiantly at her son.
“Well, she’s the right age and she’s beautiful.”
“If she’s the right age, how come she didn’t get married off while in Boston?”
“Because she told people she was getting married when she went home.”
“She what?” Scott stared. “What did you say to her?”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Louise’s eyes went wide. She was playing an innocent look, but it wasn’t working. Scott knew what she had done. Louise had whispered into Helen’s ear that she would be married to Scott when she got back from the East Coast. That it was a certainty.
“What have you done, Mother?”
“What? She’s perfect for you. And she loves children. What could be better?”
Scott barked a laugh.
“Seriously? Have you seen her with children lately? I have, and she clearly dislikes them. Martin and Michael don’t like her, either.”
“But she adores you, and that’s all that matters,” Louise protested. “You need a wife…”
Scott shot to his feet.
“I don’t need a wife,” he snapped, “I’m fine as I am.”
Louise arched an eyebrow at him and gave an unladylike snort.
“You know as well as I do that what you’re saying is nonsense. You need a wife and the twins need a mother.”