Christine Johnson - The Marriage Barter

Wyatt quickly calculated his options. If he insisted on taking all eight, Evans Grove would fight him. The new parents would fight him. That orphan society might fight him. He could lose all eight and the rest of his fee. Better to settle for something.

He stared down the mayor. “But only four are now placed.”

She drew in a sharp breath. “At this moment, but as I said—”

“The four can stay.”

Her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

“The four children who’ve already been taken can stay, but the rest go with me to Greenville tomorrow.”

The mayor raised herself to her full height, completely in control of her emotions, which at this moment indicated she would not budge one bit on this subject. “It is late, Mr. Reed. I suggest we continue this conversation tomorrow afternoon with the entire selection committee present.”

“I can’t wait until tomorrow afternoon.” The woman’s firm command was beginning to irritate him. “The train passes the Evans Grove whistle-stop at noon. I’ll need to arrange in advance for the train to stop. Let’s make it a morning meeting. Say nine o’clock.”

Her smile faded, but just for an instant. “The committee members do have businesses to operate. One of the members, our schoolteacher Miss Sanders, will need to arrange for someone to watch her class. In truth, Mr. Reed, tomorrow evening would be best.”

He had to give her credit for quick thinking. She’d managed to push the time even later. At this rate, he wouldn’t be out of Evans Grove until Saturday.

He pushed back. “Ten o’clock, Mayor. In the morning. No later. I expect to put those children on the noon train to Greenville tomorrow. Miss Sterling may accompany them if she wishes.” It seemed a generous concession at this point.

“That is up to her,” the mayor said stiffly, “but I will convey your demands—and your offer—at once.”

He nodded, and picked up his hat. “Pleasure doing business with you, Mayor.”

“Ten o’clock, Mr. Reed.” Her words were tough, but she looked worried.

She should be. Wyatt Reed always got his man.

* * *

Even after feeding Sasha, Charlotte still quaked with fear. What could she do? Where could she go? Who would help her? Since Charles’s death, life had been filled with uncertainty, but never as much as right now.

She couldn’t lose Sasha. The little girl meant everything to her. But now Wyatt Reed was trying to take her away. She had to do something.

The sun’s waning rays illuminated the Bible sitting on the trestle table. Charlotte ran her fingers over the leather binding. God’s Word had brought her comfort in the past. It helped her understand the loss of her parents and Charles, but could it gird her for the loss of her daughter, too?

“Mama?” Sasha’s voice trembled, and Charlotte realized the little girl had seen her tears and was frightened.

She blinked away the moisture and folded her arms around Sasha. “It’s all right. Everything will be all right.”

Still, the girl shook, and a sob wrenched out.

Charlotte smoothed her hair. “Look at me, dearest.” When the girl finally lifted liquid eyes to her, she smiled with more confidence than she felt. “Everything will be fine. Understand? I love you, and I will always love you. You’re my little girl, my forever little girl.”

Unable to hold back the tears any longer, Charlotte hugged Sasha close and kissed her repeatedly until the trembling passed. She must do something to cheer Sasha.

Holding her at arm’s length, Charlotte asked, “Would you like a new doll?”

Sasha’s eyes brightened. Clearly, the promise of a doll had distracted the little girl. Charlotte pulled some blue muslin from the bottom of her trunk. “Won’t this make a pretty dress for her? She’ll have black hair, like you, and blue eyes. Would you like that?”

Sasha nodded vigorously and stretched out her hand for the fabric.

Charlotte almost told her to wait, but Sasha had waited for so much already—parents and love and a real family. And it could all be taken away tomorrow. Why make her wait for anything more?

She dug some more in the trunk and found her tattered old rag doll. “This is the doll I had when I was your age. You can play with her while I make your new one.”

Sasha hugged the ragged old doll.

Charlotte smiled to think Sasha could like something so misshapen. “Let’s think of a name for your new doll.”

“Katya.”

Charlotte wished she would have chosen a more common name like Katy or Katherine, but she supposed the girl couldn’t help but hang on to her Russian roots. Unfortunately, people like Beatrice Ward would frown on the foreign name and hold it against Sasha. But for now, it was better to please a little girl than a bitter old woman.

“What a pretty name. Katya it is.”

If only keeping Sasha could be handled so easily, but that man, Wyatt Reed, wanted to take her away. Moreover, she’d trusted him! How foolish. She should have known he was trouble from the start, but she’d been misled by his tenderness toward Sasha. How could a man who’d held Sasha so gently turn around and tear her and the other children from their homes?

A rap on the door startled her from her thoughts. Even Sasha swiveled in her chair, worry creasing her little brow.

“I’m sure it’s nothing,” Charlotte said, forcing a smile, but all she could think about were Wyatt’s words. He’d come to take away the children. Was he here now?

Her heart pounded as she grasped the door handle. What could she say to persuade him to leave Sasha with her?

“Charlotte, it’s me,” said a female voice on the other side of the door. “Holly.”

Holly? Relief coursed through her until she remembered that Holly should be with Mason tonight. Something must have come up. Maybe she wanted to help Charlotte tonight instead of Saturday.

She opened the door. “I can’t sort through Charles’s things tonight.”

Holly shook her head and motioned for Charlotte to step outside. “There’s news.”

Judging from the distress on her face, Charlotte knew what that news was. She closed the door behind her.

“This man came from Greenville to take away the orphans,” Holly said breathlessly.

“I know.”

“You know?”

“We met already.” Charlotte swallowed hard. How could she have misjudged the man so badly? Worse, she’d led him straight to the mayor. “I overheard him talking to Pauline.”

Holly drew in a shaky breath. “Then you know that Liam would have to leave.” She choked. “Oh, Charlotte, I can’t lose him. Mason can’t lose him. We...we love him.”

Charlotte wrapped her arms around her friend, marveling that they found themselves in a similar situation. In the past couple weeks, they’d both come to love a child. Holly adored Liam, and Sasha had claimed Charlotte’s heart.

“I know, I know. I can’t bear to lose Sasha, either.” Charlotte fought back tears of her own. “What will we do?”

“We’ll fight.” Determination fired Holly. “The mayor had Rebecca cable the Orphan Salvation Society office. Then she called an emergency town meeting for first thing in the morning. Nine o’clock. She told the Greenville man to come at ten o’clock. By then we’ll have figured out what to do.” She squeezed Charlotte’s hands. “Pauline is on our side. She won’t let anyone take away our children.”

That anyone meant Wyatt Reed. Charlotte felt sick that she’d trusted him.

Holly let go of Charlotte’s hands and dashed toward the street. “I have to tell the Hutchinsons, the Hollands and the Regans. We’ll win this, Charlotte. With Mayor Evans in the lead, we’re bound to win.”

As Holly flew off into the night, Charlotte hugged her arms against the chill wind. She hoped Holly was right, but hope alone wouldn’t do it.