Linda Ford - Montana Cowboy's Baby

“Here, hold Ellie. I’ll go let Logan and Dawson know they need to stop by before they leave. There’s paper and pencil in the desk that you can use to write a note to your father.” He pointed to the rolltop desk in the corner. “Help yourself.”

“Thanks.” But he was gone before she finished. She smiled at Ellie. “I’m glad I get to enjoy you for a few more hours.” She cradled the baby in one arm as she quickly wrote a note explaining the situation and asking Father to send out a few items of clothing. She finished with, Are you doing okay? If you need me, I will come back.

She folded the paper just as Dawson came to the door and handed him the note. “This is for my father. He’ll want to send a bag back with you.”

“I’ll take care of it. Kate, I’m glad you’re staying.” His footsteps rang across the kitchen floor, and seconds later, the rattle of a wagon signaled his departure to town.

Kate stared toward the sound. She’d been away all morning and into the afternoon. Was Father managing okay or was he suffering memory lapses? What if he had one while tending a patient? If something happened, it would be her fault for leaving him.

She turned back to Ellie. But if she left the baby, how would Conner manage on his own?

How would she live with herself if things went wrong?

Conner returned and took the baby while Kate prepared a bottle.

He chuckled as he fed Ellie. “Logan was in a mighty big hurry to get to town.”

“I suppose he misses his family.”

“It was good of Sadie to give up teaching to be a mother.” He referred to the fact that Logan and Sadie had adopted three orphans. “Is there anything nobler than providing a home for a family?”

“Isn’t it nobler to serve a bigger cause, help more than those in a family circle?” She’d been taught so since the Bakers had adopted her at age ten. Even Grammie, before her death, had asked Katie, as she was then called, to use her gift wisely. Kate knew she referred to her ability to help those ill and suffering. She’d been doing so for Grammie for over a year as she’d grown weaker. “I thought it was too bad she gave up teaching.” She laughed a little in an attempt to hide her defensiveness.

Ellie blinked and her eyes focused.

“Do it again,” Conner said. “She likes it.”

“Do what?”

“Laugh. It got her attention.”

“I can’t laugh unless I’m amused.” And at the moment she wasn’t feeling very amused at Conner’s opinion about Sadie giving up teaching. It seemed to her she could do both. After all, Sadie was an exceptionally good teacher and there were far too few of them out in western Montana.

Conner brought his gaze to her and studied her a moment. “How many men are willing to live with sharing a wife with the whole world?”

“Probably none, which is why I don’t intend to combine doctoring with marriage or raising a family.” She’d made a promise to Grammie, but besides that, she liked taking care of people. It went a long way toward filling her heart.

“I think I hear someone riding in.” She rushed to the window. “Yes, it’s Dawson and he’s got Isabelle and Mattie with him.” Unable to stop her rush of words, she recited every detail of the man’s approach. “I hear him talking to Grandfather.” And then the outer door opened and booted feet crossed the floor.

“Howdy,” Dawson said. He handed a satchel to Kate. “Your father put a note in there for you.”

“Thanks.” She took the bag and reached in for the paper her father had written on.

“Jesse is on his way?” Conner asked.

“’Fraid not. There was a note on the door saying he had gone to Great Falls with a prisoner. He’ll be back in the morning. Now I’m going home to enjoy some time with my wife and child.” He strode from the room.

Kate unfolded the message and read, Dear Kate, you must indeed stay and tend that baby. I am coping admirably though I haven’t been able to find the carbolic acid. Stay as long as you are needed. As you ask, I will send for you if I think it necessary. Blessings, your father.

She folded the page carefully and returned it to the satchel. She’d put the carbolic acid on the shelf where it belonged. Was Father having a forgetful spell? They had grown infrequent in the past few weeks, but having her away, not pointing toward the things he needed, not reminding him what he meant to do would surely be a test of his recovery. She shivered. If he should fail while she wasn’t there to direct him, it could prove disastrous. Father God, please keep his mind clear. Don’t let him make a mistake.

She lifted her head to discover Conner watching her.

“Is everything all right with your father?”

“What do you mean? What could be wrong?” She’d done her best to cover her father’s momentary lapses as he mended.

Conner’s eyes narrowed. “I wasn’t suggesting there was. But I saw the little worry frown in your forehead and wondered what caused it.”

“My forehead?” She rubbed the spot that she knew furrowed when she worried overly much. “You’re imagining things.”

He laughed. “Not that line across your forehead and don’t think you can rub it away.”

She covered her forehead with her hand and tried to look as if it didn’t matter a bit. But heat stole up her neck and she knew her blush would reveal how much his words flustered her. Wanting to divert him, she went to the baby, forgetting how close it would bring her to Conner. Thankfully he was too interested in Ellie to notice her warm cheeks and she slowly backed away.

The rest of the afternoon passed quickly with repeatedly feeding Ellie. Knowing Conner and his family must learn to care for the baby on their own, Kate purposely spent as much time in the kitchen as she could. Annie was a good housekeeper, so there wasn’t a lot to do. Kate washed up the dishes that had accumulated throughout the day, scrubbed the few items of clothing that had accompanied Ellie and hung them to dry. For a moment, she considered making a batch of cookies. But this wasn’t her house. She didn’t have the right.

However, they had to eat and she prepared another meal from the food Annie had left. Conner held the baby in one arm, just like he’d been born to be a father, as he joined the others at the table.

Kate sat on the chair that Bud indicated, across from Conner. Grandfather and Bud sat across from each other. It was Grandfather who offered the grace.

“We’re grateful for the food, Lord, but right now we’re concerned with little Ellie and we beseech You to make her strong. Amen.”

Grandfather concentrated on dishing up food for a moment or two, then turned to Kate. “Conner says you are staying overnight. I have to say I’m glad you’re here. Don’t mind telling you I was worried about that little one in there last night.”

“Can’t see the boy managing on his own,” Bud added. “He thinks because he fed an orphaned calf, he knows about babies.”

Kate laughed at Bud’s woeful tone and wondered how Conner felt about being referred to as “the boy.”

“You, my dear, are an answer to prayer.” Grandfather’s gratitude was a balm to Kate’s soul. “Though we acknowledge that the results are in God’s hands. We humans do what we can. No one should ask any more than that from us. Or us of ourselves.”

She promised herself to keep in mind that gentle reminder to do her job and leave the results in God’s control.

The conversation shifted to talk about the cows Bud and the others had checked on. He brought a good report.

“Sure wish I could go see for myself,” Grandfather said. Then he brightened. “But then I wouldn’t have been here when the baby was dropped off on the doorstep.” He chuckled. “Sure glad I was here to see the look on Conner’s face.” He tipped his head back and roared with laughter.