Linda Ford - Montana Cowboy's Baby

Ellie’s eyes widened at his laugh.

Kate pressed to his side so she could feed the baby. She eased the rubber nipple into the tiny mouth. Ellie gagged but then closed her mouth about the contraption and sucked. Her eyes widened as she tasted the milk. She drank eagerly for a moment or two.

Kate leaned over them both and Conner was so full of gratitude over the improvement that he wrapped his arm about her shoulders and drew her against his chest, next to the baby. His heart felt ready to burst.

She stiffened and pulled away, sat upright in the chair by the couch, folded her hands in her lap and studied him with a solemn expression.

“Forgive me. I was rejoicing over her improvement.”

Kate nodded. “Of course.”

He reached for her hands and clasped them to his chest. “We’re doing all we can, aren’t we?”

She curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. “I believe so.”

He understood then that the baby was still not out of the woods.

Chapter Three

She should not have revealed her worry about the baby. A doctor or nurse did not frighten family members with either words or expressions, but she could not put a serene mask over her features. All she could do was cling to the fact Ellie was improving.

Conner lifted one hand and cupped her shoulder. “Kate, you’re doing a good job if Ellie’s present condition means anything.”

Ellie opened her eyes and found Kate’s face.

“See, even the baby knows it. She likes you. She knows you’re helping her.”

Kate smiled at the baby and stroked a finger along the tiny cheek. “She is certainly a sweetie. So beautiful.” A fierce protectiveness crowded all else from her mind. “Ellie, you are going to eat and fight and get strong. You hear me?”

The baby considered her solemnly, then smiled. The smile disappeared so quickly Kate wondered if she’d imagined it. “Did you see that? She smiled.”

Conner chuckled. “I told you, she likes you.”

“We’re going to do this.” She looked deep into Conner’s eyes. “We are going to save this baby, so help me God.” She meant it as a prayer and a vow, and when Conner nodded, she felt as if they had joined hands in mutual agreement.

There welled up within her a sense of something sweet and powerful. She tried to tell herself it was the same sensation she got whenever she helped her father, saw a baby or a child or an adult improving and knowing she had a hand in it. Only, the feeling was unlike any she’d ever before experienced and she could not dismiss it so easily nor fit it into a tidy slot in her brain.

She knew of one sure way to bring her thoughts into order and she concentrated on feeding Ellie. When she was satisfied the baby had taken all she would, she hurried to the kitchen...in need of an escape from the intensity prevailing in her thoughts while sitting so close to Conner, feeling the rise and fall of his chest, hearing his deep voice murmur to the baby. And knowing all the while that Thelma belonged where Kate now sat.

She found food in the pantry that Annie had prepared earlier and served them a simple dinner. She wished she had time to do more. Cooking and baking were pleasures for her. And wonderful diversions. Grandfather joined them to eat.

They all retired to the sitting room again. She needed to get back to her father. As she had done all morning, she prayed he would be handling things well on his own.

She was about to say she must leave when the sound of approaching horses drew their attention to the window. She was holding Ellie, who dozed after another decent feed. Conner hurried to look out. “Pa, Logan and Dawson are back.” His father and two brothers. Conner scrubbed his hand back and forth over his head, as if anxious over their reaction to discovering a baby in the house.

Grandfather made a disapproving sound. “You hoping to frighten them with a scarecrow look by doing that?”

He smoothed his hair into some semblance of order and jammed his hands into his front pockets.

Grandfather continued, “You’ll have to tell them the truth.”

“Yeah. I guess so.”

Kate could almost feel sorry for him, but having fathered a child, he must face up to his responsibilities. Still, she didn’t envy him having to confront his brothers and father.

They all turned to listen to the outer door open and shut, booted feet stomp off the trail dust and then a parade of thuds across the floor toward the sitting room.

Conner’s pa entered, followed by his two sons.

She studied them, wondering how they would react to Conner’s predicament. Bud, the father, was tall, blond and blue-eyed as were all the Marshalls. A man used to working hard and expecting those around him to work equally hard. Dawson, the eldest brother, was now married to Kate’s best friend, Isabelle. Logan, the youngest, was married to Sadie, the schoolteacher.

Bud’s gaze rested on the baby in Kate’s arms. “What do we have here?”

Kate rose, eased the baby into Conner’s hold. “I’ll let you explain.” She walked from the room and into the kitchen, where she couldn’t overhear a conversation she expected would be difficult.

Kate heard no angry sounds as she waited in the kitchen. What sort of reaction would Conner be facing? How would he be feeling? Shame? Regret? She twisted her hands together, wishing she could offer him the same comfort and encouragement he had offered her.

Which was rather silly. All she could offer him was help with Ellie and that only for a few more hours at most.

Logan and Dawson hurried through the kitchen saying they were going to hitch up a wagon. She expected they were going to see their wives. In the men’s absence, Dawson’s six-year-old daughter, Mattie, and his wife, Isabelle, had gone to town to visit Sadie and the children she and Logan had adopted.

She stared at the doorway to the dining room. She couldn’t see the sitting room door beyond. What had taken place in her absence?

Bud strode through the room, muttering under his breath. Grandfather shuffled out to sit on the veranda and she waited. Should she return?

“Kate?” Conner’s voice came to her and she needed no more invitation to hurry back. Perhaps he would tell her what had transpired. She drew to a halt, facing Conner.

“That went as well as could be expected.” Conner sat with Ellie cradled close to his chest, wariness in his eyes. “Dawson is going to ask Sheriff Jesse to come out and see me. I’ll ask him to find Thelma. Dawson said he could easily give Jesse all the needed information, but I’d like to see him myself.” He shrugged. “Maybe I can explain a few things and hope he’ll understand.”

She kept her attention on the baby. How did he hope to explain away a baby daughter? There was simply no way. Thelma must be found. He must marry her. Kate would no longer be needed. But who was she fooling? Once Conner’s sisters-in-law returned, Kate would have no reason to stay. Yes, the baby was weak still, her condition fragile, but she was eating. Anyone could take care of her now.

“I can’t imagine going through another night like last night,” he said.

“You will manage just fine. Just make sure she eats often.”

His mouth drew back. His eyes widened. He wore the expression of a fearful man.

She almost laughed. “She’s getting stronger with every feeding.”

He shook his head. “What if something happens? What if she takes a turn for the worse? Or—” His mouth worked before he finished. “What if she chokes again? Can’t you at least stay overnight?”

She assessed her choices. Ellie likely needed her more than Father did. And she truly wanted to tend the baby a little longer...to hold her, feel her chest rise and fall with each breath, listen to her suck the bottle and catch a fleeting smile or two. “I’ll stay, but I must get word to my father and ask him to send a few things for me.”