Linda Ford - The Baby Compromise

A Bundle of Complications

Groomed for high society, Rebecca Sterling now has a new mission—to help the orphans coming to Evans Grove. Yet just before she’s due to return to New York, she faces two unexpected challenges. There’s the tiny infant abandoned on her orphanage steps…and the big, gruff cowboy who found him.

Colton Hayes knows nothing about babies and even less about pampered socialites. But as he and Rebecca work together to watch over little Gabriel, he comes to care deeply for them both. What can a rough-and-ready cowboy offer a woman made for city living? Except, perhaps, the dream dearest to both their hearts—a family built on faith and love.

“What about it, Miss Rebecca?” Colton asked.

“The orphanage may be your responsibility, but I’m the one who found this child—that makes him my responsibility.” The baby nestled in the crook of his arm. Before Rebecca or Heidi could stop him he grabbed the basket and headed for his horse.

“Besides, you don’t fool me. You don’t know any more about caring for the baby than I do. At least I have my ma at home to help.”

Rebecca stared at the retreating back. Technically the child was not her responsibility. But she couldn’t let him go. She shared something with the child—abandonment. She wanted to give the baby the care and love he deserved.

“Wait.”

He stopped, and turned slowly. “I’m taking this baby home.”

“I accept your offer. I think it would benefit us both to work together.”

He continued to study her without any change in his expression. Then he nodded. “Very well. Come along, then.”

Rebecca picked her way across the rough ground. Was it possible she’d agreed to work with him? Live in his house?

ORPHAN TRAIN:

Heading west to new families and forever love

Family Lessons—Allie Pleiter, April 2013

The Marriage Barter—Christine Johnson, May 2013

The Baby Compromise—Linda Ford, June 2013

LINDA FORD

lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everything—a theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her stories—her concern for children and their future. She and her husband raised fourteen children—four homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.

The Baby Compromise

Linda Ford

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

—Philippians 4:13

This story challenged me. It was because of the help of my critique partner, Debora Dale, that it has structure. Debora, with her wonderful grasp of story and her ability to sort out the tangled elements, lent her hand and guided me through the morass. I owe her a debt of gratitude. I can’t wait to see her stories published and on the shelves for all of you to enjoy.

Special thanks and acknowledgment to Linda Ford for her contribution to the Orphan Train miniseries.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Questions for Discussion

Excerpt

Chapter One

Evans Grove, Nebraska

Late May, 1875

One day. He could spare one day away from home. He owed it to the people of Evans Grove to help with the construction of the town’s new orphanage. A single day wasn’t much, but it was something. The orphans rescued from the clutches of Felix Baxter deserved a safe place to call home.

But still, twenty-eight-year-old Colton Hayes paused at the door as he planted his favorite black cowboy hat firmly on his head.

“Ma, Pa, you’ll be okay until I get back?” He didn’t like to leave them alone.

“Those poor children need the orphanage as soon as they can get it,” Pa said. “You go do what you can to help.”

“I’ll try to make supper.” Ma had her long-suffering tone down to a fine art. Not that she didn’t have cause. Bearing him late in life had overtaxed her heart. From a young age, he’d done all he could to ease her burden.

“Don’t worry about it, Ma. I’ll make something when I get back. You two just take care of yourselves.” He’d be hungry after a day of work, but he had pork chops in the icebox. He’d learned long ago to boil potatoes in their jackets to save time.

“Pa, you need anything?”

“I’m fine, son.” And to prove it, he pushed up from his chair.

Before he could hobble more than a step, Colton leaped forward to take the cup from his trembling hands. Since his accident three years ago, Pa lived in constant pain that made walking almost impossible.

Knowing his stupidity had caused Pa’s injuries twisted Colton’s insides. He silently vowed yet again to take care of him the rest of his life.

Colton filled the cup and carried it back to the table beside Pa’s chair. “I’ve left soup on the stove. Ma, can you see that Pa gets a bowl of it?” He really should stay home and make sure they were both safe.

Ma sighed. “I ’spect I can manage, though I’ve been feeling poorly these past days.” She pressed a hand to her chest.

Colton studied her. Did pain deepen the lines on her face?

She waved wearily. “You go ahead. We’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be back later.” Still he hesitated, torn between his parents’ needs and the building project. “Seems we should help the community as much as we’re able,” he said, reminding himself why he’d made the commitment away from home. “After all, God spared us from the devastation of the flood.” A storm in the spring had caused the nearby dam to break, flooding the town, damaging many of the homes and businesses, and causing several deaths. Then, in hopes of ensnaring more children for his child-labor schemes, Baxter had started a fire that destroyed the school. Thankfully, his attempt to implicate the local orphans so the citizens of Evans Grove would send the children to Greenville had failed. The townspeople were pulling together to rebuild. Colton owed it to them to lend a hand.

Pa settled back in his chair with a muffled groan. “God truly spared us.” He lifted his hand in a half wave. “You go help out where you’re needed.”

Colton closed the door quietly, then turned toward town. One day to work. Then he’d be back home, taking care of his responsibilities.

He swung into the saddle and rode the few miles to town. He passed familiar homes, called a greeting to Mr. Gavin as he passed the general store. Like many of the homes and businesses in town, it still bore the mark of the high water of the flood.