Rhonda Gibson - Baby On Her Doorstep

Hope’s head rested on Laura’s shoulder, and the little girl grinned sweetly at him. His gaze traveled downward to his own child. Grace held Laura’s other hand tightly. The schoolteacher might be just what Grace needed in her life.

He leaped from the wagon. “Right on time, ladies.” Clint winked at Grace.

“You did say to be ready by eight, didn’t you?” Laura asked. Confusion laced her pretty features.

He picked up several of the bags. “I did. If you will get the girls in the wagon, I’ll load up these bags.” There weren’t as many as he’d expected. His wife, Martha, had always taken everything with them, even for the short trip to town. Clint pushed thoughts of Martha away and carried the bags to the wagon.

“Very well. Come along, children.” With her head held high, Laura led the girls to the wagon. She sat Hope on the seat, then bent down and picked up Grace.

Clint watched Grace touch Laura’s hair. His little girl smiled at Laura and patted her cheek, much like she did his to show her affection. Clint forced himself to look away from the sweet scene. His heart ached that Grace would never know a mother’s love. She deserved a mother, but he couldn’t see himself ever taking another wife.

Grace’s baby chatter filled the crisp morning air. He grinned as he set the bags into the already partially full wagon.

Laura answered as she set the child in the bed of the wagon. “Of course, Hope can sit with you, but you have to be a big girl and stay seated on the way home.”

Grace babbled something and nodded.

“Good girl.” She pulled Hope from the bench and set her beside Grace. Then she turned to him. “I hope you don’t mind, but I packed a few of my school books, and I also brought along my writing desk.” Her gaze moved to a wooden crate. “I plan to work on my schoolroom lessons, and there are a couple of new novels that I want to read during the break.”

“I don’t mind.” Clint hurried to grab the last two carpetbags and the box that he assumed held the books. His surprise at the weight of the crate must have shown on his face.

Laura asked, “Do you think I might have overpacked the box?”

Clint grunted as he picked up the crate. He’d exaggerated a bit with the sound but not much. “Naw, it’s not the least bit heavy.”

To his surprise, Laura laughed. It sounded warm and low, not your typical giggle. He found himself grinning at her over the box.

She looked away first. “Would you like for me to ask Mrs. Potter for a lunch box to take on the trip while you load the desk?”

Clint shook his head. “No, if all goes well we should be arriving at the ranch around noon. Mrs. Murphy will have something for us to eat.” At her doubt-filled look, he continued, “I’m sure.”

Laura nodded. “Very well. I’ll go inside and see if there is anything I’ve left behind.” The door shut softly behind her.

He turned to look at the two little girls who were peeking between the slats in the wall of the wagon. “What are you two big-eyed calves looking at?” Clint asked as he pushed the book box into the wagon bed.

Grace giggled and Hope smiled broadly.

Clint finished loading the wagon and then dug under the bench for the blanket that he kept there. He laid it behind the seat and then put both the girls on top of it. His gaze moved to the house. What was taking her so long? Clint moved the bags and the boxes of purchases he’d made while in town to form a line to block the girls in between the bags and the back of the seat.

Then, Clint untied his horse from the back of the wagon and swung into the saddle. Laura Lee had said she was capable of driving the wagon to the ranch. He leaned against the saddle horn and waited.

His gaze moved to the boardinghouse. So far, everything was going well. Laura seemed to be the perfect nanny for Grace, and he could finally get back to work with no worries about Grace’s care or his housekeeper leaving.

Chapter Four

A few hours later, Clint topped the hill that looked down on his home. For a brief moment, he stopped and enjoyed the view. The house was about a quarter mile from the river that ran across his property. The river supplied water for the fields, livestock and the family. A well had been built a few years earlier, closer to the house so that the women didn’t have to go to the river every day.

Large fruit trees stood in the orchard at the back of the house. He grinned as his gaze moved to the front yard where he’d rigged up a small swing in the oak tree for Grace.

Laura’s soft, stern voice drew his attention. “Grace, you need to sit down. We’re not quite there yet.”

With a frown, Grace did as she was told. She was two and a handful. After being cooped up in the wagon all morning, Grace was ready to get out and play. Hope lay curled in a ball beside her, sound asleep.

He led the way down the hill and home. A few minutes later, Laura pulled the wagon up in front of his ranch home. Clint had come to realize that unlike Grace, Laura wasn’t a big talker. She’d spoken softly to the girls during the trip and was very observant of her surroundings but didn’t force a conversation between them.

What did the schoolteacher think of his home? He turned to look at her. She stared at the house but didn’t say anything. Grace stood once more and began babbling with excitement.

Her gaze broke from the house. “Hold on, Grace. I know you want out of the wagon.” She looked down at Hope.

Clint tried to envision his home from her perspective. The house was built in the typical farmhouse style. Long with windows positioned to catch the most sunlight during the day. He and his hired man, Richard, had whitewashed it a few weeks ago, so it looked fresh and clean.

The vegetable garden was off to the right, the barn and chicken coop to the left. A wide front porch offered shade in the afternoons along with the tall apple tree that grew a few yards away.

He expected that most women would be gushing and telling him what a beautiful home he had, but not Mrs. Lee. She simply tended to the little girls. Clint frowned. What did it matter what she thought? Laura Lee would only be here a few weeks, and then she’d be returning to her schoolhouse and town. Clint told himself it didn’t matter, but for some odd reason, it did.

He leaped from his horse and tied it to the rail in front of the porch. Then he hurried to the wagon where he kissed the top of Grace’s head before continuing around the wagon to help Laura down. “I hope you are happy here during your stay.” Clint took her hand in his to help her down. The warmth and softness sent a spark of awareness up his arm.

Once her feet were securely on the ground, Laura gently pulled her hand from his. “I’m sure I will be.” She turned to the wagon.

Grace jabbered excitedly as she waited for him to lift her out. Her impatience pulled Clint from the wonder of Laura’s eyes and touch. He scooped his sweet daughter up and set her on the ground. She toddled toward the house, babbling happily.

Laura gently woke Hope and then helped her from the wagon. She hugged the little girl close and then sat her on the ground. A smile brightened Laura’s face as she watched the little girl waddle after her new friend.

Grace stopped and waited for Hope. She took Hope’s small hand in her own and then continued to the porch. Neither adult understood a word Grace said, but Hope nodded sleepily with a grin.

Laura turned to him. “They are so sweet together.”

Clint gathered several of the bags from the wagon and followed the girls. His mind was on the connection he’d briefly felt while holding Laura’s hand. Had she felt it, too? If she had, she hadn’t shown it. Was he making too much of it? He hadn’t felt that kind of connection since his wife. Clint swallowed hard.