“Miss Ward.” Colton spoke softly. “It might interest you to know that I’ve offered to supervise the building of the orphanage. Miss Rebecca and I were discussing the details of our agreement when you came along.”
Rebecca gaped at Colton. Realizing that her mouth hung open, she forced it closed.
Miss Ward sniffed again. “It’s plain that she’s hoodwinked you. But don’t think you can manipulate God to your own desires.” She stormed away.
Rebecca stared after her. If only she could avoid ever seeing that woman again. Unfortunately, she and Heidi were forced to run into her every day, since Miss Ward also lived at the hotel as she waited for her house to be repaired following the flood. How nice it would be to live where Miss Ward and others couldn’t stare at Heidi as she took her meals.
Mr. Hayes was offering her a way out, but she couldn’t take it, could she? No, of course she couldn’t. Supervising the orphanage building was her responsibility, and if she couldn’t fulfill it, how could she ever prove to her father—and herself—that she could complete a difficult job?
* * *
“What about it, Miss Rebecca?” Colton asked, trying to read her expression. It remained calm and unruffled, giving him no clue to her state of mind.
“The funds for the orphanage building were sent to me. Overseeing the construction is my responsibility.”
“I’m only offering to help you.”
“I prefer to see my obligations through. That includes personally seeing that this building is finished. I’d do better to simply take the baby and stay with him at the hotel.”
Heidi tugged Rebecca’s skirt. “Oh, please, Miss Sterling. Do we have to stay there?”
Colton shook his head. “The orphanage may be your responsibility, but I’m the one who found this child, and that makes him my responsibility.” The baby nestled in the crook of his arm. Before Rebecca or Heidi could stop Colton, he grabbed the basket and headed for his horse.
“Besides, you don’t fool me. You don’t know any more about caring for the baby than I do. At least I have my ma at home to help.” Best thing he could do was take little Gabriel home to her now. He’d only come to town to help with the orphanage building, and given the lack of materials, it was clear that no work on that could be done today.
As he rounded the corner, he saw again the damaged door frame. He knew it was deliberate. Would the person or persons responsible take the vandalism further? Did Rebecca know she faced opposition that resorted to this kind of destruction?
If he left her to deal with this on her own, would she get in over her head?
He clamped down on his teeth. He couldn’t babysit her. He had his hands full. Literally. But if harm came to her, he would live with it hanging around his neck.
Just as he did with his pa’s injuries.
* * *
Rebecca stared at the broad back of Colton Hayes. Technically, the child was not her responsibility. But she couldn’t let him go. Yes, she wanted to prove herself capable, but that was only part of her reason. She wanted to protect the child. Not from the big-booted cowboy. Colton also wanted to protect the baby. But she’d seen how crippled his parents were. Who would hold Gabriel and rock him? Who would kiss away his tears? Could they? Would they? Her heart squeezed out an answer. Even if they did, she shared something with the child—abandonment. She was grown-up, yet it hurt beyond words to be rejected. Her fiancé had eloped with some seamstress just days before their wedding. This baby had been abandoned by his mother. Neither was right, and she would do what she could to make it better for Gabriel. She’d give him the care and love he deserved.
“Wait.” The word rang with more pent-up emotion than she normally revealed.
He stopped, turned slowly and regarded her through the framework of the building. “I’m taking this baby home.”
“I accept your offer.”
He snorted. “I might have changed my mind.”
“A gentleman would not do that.”
“I’m no gentleman. I’m a cowboy.”
Although his words were softly spoken, she didn’t miss the harsh note. Did he intend to make her beg?
She considered her predicament. On one hand stood her father with his high expectations. Would he see it as a failure on her part if she let someone oversee the day-to-day construction work on the orphanage? On the other, there was this helpless baby. If the construction of the orphanage had been finished on time, there’d be a safe place for him to stay. It was her fault that there wasn’t—and that meant it was up to her to see to his care, whether the cowboy saw it that way or not.
Very well. She’d prove to everyone that she could handle any challenge. “I think it would benefit us both to work together. An infant would be a lot of work for your mother. I’ll help—” She practically choked on the word. “I’ll help with the baby and accept your help on this building.”
There. She’d spoken the words with as much apology and pleading as she could. And never before had it taken so much effort. “A business arrangement. But I insist on being involved in all decisions regarding the orphanage.” She saw his protest coming and hastened to add, “Just as I’m sure you wish to be involved with all the decisions regarding Gabriel.”
He continued to study her without any change in his expression. Then he nodded. “Very well. Come along, then. We’ll go to the mercantile first.”
“Finally,” Heidi murmured. “I was afraid you’d let him leave.”
Rebecca took Heidi’s hand as they picked their way across the rough ground. Was it possible that she’d just agreed to work with him? To live in his house?
“So how will this work?” she asked the cowboy. “How will we divide the responsibilities?” she clarified when he looked at her questioningly. “I expect to do my share.”
“I would expect nothing less. You can take care of the house while I get this building up. It benefits us both. I can be in town working here without worrying about my parents. And I can keep Gabriel safe.”
“You mean we can keep Gabriel safe.” She fell in step at his side as they returned to the street.
“Of course.” He struggled to hold the baby and the basket as he reached to untie the horse. The animal didn’t care for the arrangement and tugged back on the reins.
“Whoa,” Colton ordered. “Settle down. It’s just a baby and his bed.”
His words did nothing to calm the horse.
Rebecca let Colton struggle for a moment, enjoying his predicament. If this provided any indication of how well he’d manage on his own, he should be thanking her for agreeing to join forces with him.
He shot her a look.
She saw no gratitude in the way his eyes flashed, nor in the hard set of his mouth.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
She wiped all amusement from her face. “I’ll take the baby.” She reached out to do so.
He drew back.
“I thought we were going to work together,” she reminded him.
“That’s what we agreed.”
My, my, didn’t he sound gracious? But she took the infant without further comment, leaving him with the basket. He quickly untied the horse and they began the journey toward the store.
He walked so close at her side that it made her aware of his size, his rolling gait and something beyond the physical. A sense of strength and confidence. Her skin felt his nearness in a way that alarmed