The Baby Barter

A Baby to Cherish

Home from the war, army nurse Thea Miller is determined to adopt her late sister’s baby and begin a new life. But someone else has the same intentions—the town sheriff and Thea’s old friend, Mack Worthington. Now, in order to keep her niece in the family, Thea must reach an agreement with him.

Mack isn’t sure Thea—whose actions once hurt him badly—is committed to baby Sarah. And a judge may never approve a single-parent adoption for either of them. But what if they got married? It would be a marriage in name only. Yet the more time Mack spends with Thea, the more he begins to believe their pretend family can become the real one they’ve both been longing for.

“I’m adopting her.”

“What about the baby’s family? Shouldn’t they have a say?”

Mack blinked at the unexpected question. “Sarah’s mother gave her up.”

Thea leveled pleading blue eyes at him. “Maybe she thought she didn’t have a choice.”

Mack straightened and crossed his arms over his chest. “Why have you been nosing around Ms. Aurora’s the last two days?”

“It has to do with my sister—when she came back to Marietta last spring.”

Eileen Miller was in Marietta last spring? Not possible. “The night of the accident was the first time I’d seen her in years.”

“Eileen probably kept out of sight due to her condition.”

Mack turned sharply to stare at her. “She was pregnant? Where’s the baby?”

“That’s just it, Mack. Momma says the baby has been stolen.”

“That’s why you’ve been spying on Aurora’s place.” The pieces began to fall into place. “You think Sarah is Eileen’s baby?”

“Sarah’s the spitting image of Eileen.” Sorrow along with another emotion—determination?—stared back at him. “That child you want to adopt is my niece, Mack. And I want to take her home.”

PATTY SMITH HALL has been making up stories since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. Now she’s thrilled to share her love of history and her storytelling skills with everyone, including her hero of thirty-one years, Danny, two beautiful daughters and a wonderful future son-in-law. She resides in northeast Georgia. Patty loves to hear from her readers! You can contact her at pattysmithhall.com.

The Baby Barter

Patty Smith Hall

www.millsandboon.co.uk

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

—Romans 8:28

To Rose Smith. Your humble spirit and servant heart make you a rare beauty in today’s world,

sweet sister. You are a rare jewel indeed!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Marietta, Georgia

Fall, 1945

Sheriff Mack Worthington made it his business to notice people.

And the woman standing in the shadows of the massive oak tree at the edge of Merrilee Davenport’s backyard had sent his senses on high alert. Not that he could see her all that well. The brim of her felt hat covered most of her face, leaving him at a distinct disadvantage.

But it was the little things that made him question her reasons for being there. In the tan skirt and white blouse she wore, she looked more prepared for a trip to the market than attendance at a wedding. And why did her fingers unconsciously dig into the sides of her purse as if she were holding on to it for dear life? Tension held her ramrod straight, reminding him of a soldier ready for battle.

What fight did this woman expect to face here?

“What’s got you twisting around in your chair like a kite in a tornado?”

Mack glanced at the older lady to his right and felt the knots in his stomach relax. Ms. Aurora’s tone had just the right combination of chastisement and concern that came from years of caring for other people’s children. He straightened in his seat. “Nothing, Ms. Aurora.”

She studied him a long moment until he felt himself start to squirm again. “It don’t look like nothing to me.”

Billy Warner, the oldest of Aurora’s current batch of foster children at twelve years old, pushed himself out of his chair, his cane anchored against his side as he stretched up to get a better look down the rows of chairs that lined the makeshift aisle. “Is Claire up to something? I knew she’d get bored with all this wishy-washy romantic stuff.”

Mack’s lips twitched as he put his free hand on the boy’s shoulder and gently pushed him back into his seat. “Claire is on her best behavior today. That girl’s been looking forward to seeing her parents get remarried since her daddy showed up back in town.” John and Merrilee had a troubled past—filled with misunderstandings and manipulations by her family meant to keep them apart. But they’d triumphed over it all, as this wedding proved. And their twelve-year-old daughter couldn’t be happier.