A Bundle of Complications
Groomed for high society, Rebecca Sterling now has a new missionâto help the orphans coming to Evans Grove. Yet just before sheâs due to return to New York, she faces two unexpected challenges. Thereâs the tiny infant abandoned on her orphanage stepsâ¦and the big, gruff cowboy who found him.
Colton Hayes knows nothing about babies and even less about pampered socialites. But as he and Rebecca work together to watch over little Gabriel, he comes to care deeply for them both. What can a rough-and-ready cowboy offer a woman made for city living? Except, perhaps, the dream dearest to both their heartsâa family built on faith and love.
âWhat about it, Miss Rebecca?â Colton asked.
âThe orphanage may be your responsibility, but Iâm the one who found this childâthat makes him my responsibility.â The baby nestled in the crook of his arm. Before Rebecca or Heidi could stop him he grabbed the basket and headed for his horse.
âBesides, you donât fool me. You donât know any more about caring for the baby than I do. At least I have my ma at home to help.â
Rebecca stared at the retreating back. Technically the child was not her responsibility. But she couldnât let him go. She shared something with the childâabandonment. She wanted to give the baby the care and love he deserved.
âWait.â
He stopped, and turned slowly. âIâm taking this baby home.â
âI accept your offer. I think it would benefit us both to work together.â
He continued to study her without any change in his expression. Then he nodded. âVery well. Come along, then.â
Rebecca picked her way across the rough ground. Was it possible sheâd agreed to work with him? Live in his house?
ORPHAN TRAIN:
Heading west to new families and forever love
Family LessonsâAllie Pleiter, April 2013
The Marriage BarterâChristine Johnson, May 2013 The Baby CompromiseâLinda Ford, June 2013
LINDA FORD
lives on a ranch in Alberta, Canada. Growing up on the prairie and learning to notice the small details it hides gave her an appreciation for watching God at work in His creation. Her upbringing also included being taught to trust God in everything and through everythingâa theme that resonates in her stories. Threads of another part of her life are found in her storiesâher concern for children and their future. She and her husband raised fourteen childrenâfour homemade, ten adopted. She currently shares her home and life with her husband, a grown son, a live-in paraplegic client and a continual (and welcome) stream of kids, kids-in-law, grandkids and assorted friends and relatives.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
âPhilippians 4:13
This story challenged me. It was because of the help of my critique partner, Debora Dale, that it has structure. Debora, with her wonderful grasp of story and her ability to sort out the tangled elements, lent her hand and guided me through the morass. I owe her a debt of gratitude. I canât wait to see her stories published and on the shelves for all of you to enjoy.
Special thanks and acknowledgment to Linda Ford for her contribution to the Orphan Train miniseries.
Chapter One
Evans Grove, Nebraska
Late May, 1875
One day. He could spare one day away from home. He owed it to the people of Evans Grove to help with the construction of the townâs new orphanage. A single day wasnât much, but it was something. The orphans rescued from the clutches of Felix Baxter deserved a safe place to call home.
But still, twenty-eight-year-old Colton Hayes paused at the door as he planted his favorite black cowboy hat firmly on his head.
âMa, Pa, youâll be okay until I get back?â He didnât like to leave them alone.
âThose poor children need the orphanage as soon as they can get it,â Pa said. âYou go do what you can to help.â
âIâll try to make supper.â Ma had her long-suffering tone down to a fine art. Not that she didnât have cause. Bearing him late in life had overtaxed her heart. From a young age, heâd done all he could to ease her burden.
âDonât worry about it, Ma. Iâll make something when I get back. You two just take care of yourselves.â Heâd be hungry after a day of work, but he had pork chops in the icebox. Heâd learned long ago to boil potatoes in their jackets to save time.
âPa, you need anything?â
âIâm fine, son.â And to prove it, he pushed up from his chair.
Before he could hobble more than a step, Colton leaped forward to take the cup from his trembling hands. Since his accident three years ago, Pa lived in constant pain that made walking almost impossible.
Knowing his stupidity had caused Paâs injuries twisted Coltonâs insides. He silently vowed yet again to take care of him the rest of his life.