Holly patted her hand. “Well, you are a rich girl.”
“My father is rich.”
“Same thing.” Holly waved her hand in a calming gesture. “But that doesn’t mean you’re not capable. You’ve done a good job of looking after the children and getting them placed.”
“All except Heidi.” How could she leave this child in the orphanage? For that matter, how could she leave her behind? Over the weeks of the trip west, she’d grown close to the child who had lost her parents in the fire that left her scarred. Despite her misfortunes, Heidi had a sweet spirit. But she had grown extremely shy, her tender heart wounded by the horror and shock many didn’t bother to disguise when they saw her face.
“I wish I could take her back to New York with me. I might be able to persuade my father to give her a place in the household, even if it is just as a helper in the kitchen. At least she’d be with someone she knew rather than in an orphanage full of strangers.” It wasn’t what she wanted for Heidi. The child deserved to be part of a loving family. “But I’m sure Jakob is trying to find her.” Rebecca had been opposed to separating the pair, but Mr. Arlington had dismissed her concerns. And Heidi had been so determined for her brother to find a family. She hadn’t had the heart to tell the girl about the telegram that had reached her, informing her that Heidi’s brother had run away from the family they’d placed him with so that he could rejoin her.
Booted steps sounded in front of the house. Even before he knocked and Holly opened the door, Rebecca knew Colton had arrived to take them to his ranch.
A frisson of doubt skittered up her spine. Why had she agreed to this arrangement? Her alarm swelled until she almost choked. How would his parents react when she arrived with Heidi and the baby?
“Good day, ladies.” Colton favored them all with a smile that brought in sunshine and joy.
“Colton Hayes,” Holly said. “You take good care of this baby and be nice to my friend.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Rebecca didn’t know how to interpret the look he gave her. Was it challenging? She bristled at the thought. “We’re working together.” She hoped everyone understood her meaning. She would not let Colton order her around, make her decisions or take away the chance for her to finish the task she meant to complete.
“Heidi is out playing with the others,” she told him. Maybe he would take the hint and go call her.
“Yes, ma’am.” He ducked out the door.
Charlotte kissed Gabriel then tucked him into the basket. “Goodbye, sweet baby.” She hugged Rebecca.
Holly hugged her, too. “If you need any help, remember that I’m the teacher. I’m an expert on most anything.”
The three women laughed as they headed out the door to where a buggy waited. As soon as Rebecca stepped outside, Heidi ran to her and grabbed her free hand.
Colton took the basket holding Gabriel and set it on the ground, then faced them.
Rebecca turned to Heidi. “Honey, we have to get into the buggy.”
Heidi looked up, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty.
Rebecca caught the child’s chin. “I thought you wanted to go.”
Heidi nodded, but the way her eyes darted toward Colton, Rebecca guessed she hadn’t realized that they would have to ride in a buggy with him.
“Come along. I’ll help you up.” She eased the little girl toward the buggy and helped her onto the backseat. Heidi hunched down in the corner farthest from the driver.
Rebecca turned to find Colton at her side, offering his hand to assist her. To refuse would be rude and surely cause her friends to wonder why she wouldn’t accept this gesture of goodwill. But his nearness made her insides flutter. Only because he was so big, she told herself and placed her hand in his. It was a work-hardened palm. He held her hand gently as he helped her up and tucked her skirts inside. He smiled. All normal. What any gentleman would do.
But her heart swelled, caught at her lungs and hung on for dear life, making it difficult for her to breathe.
She checked on the baby, using the time to will her heartbeat to return to normal, then sat up straight and waved to her friends and the children.
But despite her efforts, her heart continued to beat in a rapid tattoo and her breathing required far more attention than normal.
Colton lifted his hat to the ladies, then flicked the reins. “We’ll go by the hotel so you can pick up your belongings.”
“Of course. Thank you.” She’d been so consumed with other things that she had not even thought about the logistics of moving to the ranch. Now she shifted her thoughts to what she needed to do. She’d lost most of her possessions in the fire at the school where she and the children in her charge had stayed as they waited for more permanent arrangements after the train robbery ended their journey. The ladies of the community had kindly provided her and Heidi with the necessities and a few dresses. The skirt and shirtwaist she wore had been given to her. Charlotte, an expert seamstress, had tucked and adjusted each item until it fit perfectly. Her best dress was an emerald-green one Charlotte made. The woman was a wonder with a needle. She was making plans to open up a seamstress business.
They reached the hotel, a simple wood-framed, two-story building. Nothing like the places she’d stayed in with her parents on their travels, but it had proven adequate.
Colton jumped down and hustled around to help her. Then he reached up for Heidi. But the child shrank back.
He studied her for a moment. “I won’t hurt you.”
But when she continued to withdraw, he dropped his hands. “Have it your way.”
He lifted the sleeping bundle from the basket.
Heidi waited until he stepped aside before she climbed down.
Rebecca reached out to take the infant.
He shook his head. “I’ll watch the baby while you get your things.”
“I can manage.”
He sighed heavily. “Are we going to have this argument every time I try to help?”
Some perverse little corner of her mind wanted to say yes. But she realized how childish that would be. “Of course not.” She turned toward the hotel. Was that Miss Ward in the lobby? Her neck muscles twitched. Could she possibly avoid her?
At least when they were at the ranch, Miss Ward wouldn’t be able to follow Rebecca around, terrifying Heidi and dispensing her litany of complaints and concerns.
She waved to Miss Ward as they crossed the lobby, pretending she’d interpreted the older woman’s imperious gesture to wait simply as a greeting. “Come, Heidi, let’s get our things.”
Heidi clung to her hand as they rushed up the stairs to their room and collapsed on the bed.
Heidi bounced down beside her. “I’m glad we’re leaving this old place.”
“It’s not very old.”
“I don’t like it.” Heidi bounced again to emphasize her dislike.
That bounce unbalanced them both and they fell backward, laughing.
“It’s not the hotel you don’t like. It’s all the people you have to see.” As often as she could, Rebecca assured Heidi that everyone wouldn’t stare rudely at her, but the girl remained unconvinced and, as a result, was always uncomfortable in crowded places.
For a moment, Heidi didn’t respond. Then she said, “Mr. Colton’s parents might not care for me to live in their house.”
“Mr. Colton offered. We’ll trust that he knows what