Montana Cowboy's Baby

by Linda Ford

  He got it and it provided the perfect excuse to join the ladies as they fashioned ribbons. He prepared boards the right size, each with a stand. Today, with Kate to help, he would letter the posters. Thanks to his mother for teaching him to print neatly.

  Having Kate next to him in church, joining her voice to his as the congregation sang several hymns, made the day about perfect.

  As the service ended, he grew aware of several ladies, Mrs. Grieves among them, with their heads bent together whispering. Their glances came his direction and he guessed he was the topic of conversation. His pleasure in the day was marred by thinking of the accusing words Mrs. Grieves had spoken to him and Kate. He had a mind to march over to the group and set them straight. But anything he said had the potential to bring judgment upon Ellie, so he held his peace.

  Dr. Baker turned down the invitation to join them at the ranch for dinner. “I’m looking forward to a quiet afternoon at home.”

  Conner pretended shock. “Kate, you should not be so rowdy and disruptive. Your poor father needs some peace and quiet.”

  Kate faced him. Opened her mouth to protest, then noticed his teasing grin. “Oh, you.” She gave him a playful push.

  He caught her hand to protect himself, though her little push had not moved him even a fraction of an inch. The excuse to pull her close to his side was too great to ignore. He leaned close to whisper for her ears only. “Come on out to my place and be as rowdy as you like.” He laughed at the way she protested.

  They made their way to the wagon. Grandfather waited for assistance and sat on the front seat by Annie. Conner and Kate sat on the second bench with Ellie upon his knee.

  Grandfather turned to Conner. “This reminds me of when your ma was alive and we rode to church as a family. Ellie here is like Annie would have been. Sitting with your mama and papa.”

  Annie glanced back and winked at Conner. “I wonder what Grandfather is trying to say.”

  Conner groaned and pretended a great interest in the passing scenery and hoped Grandfather wouldn’t feel the need to explain. He felt the old man studying him but ignored it.

  “Harrumph. Do I have to spell out everything? Conner, what that child needs is a family. A proper loving family. Seems you might think about giving her that. You and Miss Kate here.” With another harrumph, he jerked forward, leaving Conner stunned at his directness.

  “I apologize for his behavior,” he whispered to Kate.

  She gave him a wooden smile and did not meet his look. “Not to worry. I’m not offended.”

  He watched her a moment, wishing he knew what Grandfather’s suggestion meant to her. Did it cause her to wish things could be different? It certainly caused him to wish it.

  He faced straight ahead, not letting himself form clear thoughts on what he wished could be different.

  *

  Kate tried not to think of Grandfather’s comments. You and Miss Kate. Making a home for little Ellie. It sounded just fine until a person considered the objections and then it was nothing but an old man’s foolish wish. She pushed aside the tangles of her mind and looked about at the passing scenery. As often happened, her gaze went to the mountains.

  They soon reached the ranch and Conner handed Ellie to Kate before he jumped down to assist his grandfather. Then he took Ellie, held out a hand for Kate and smiled up at her. Her heart stalled at the welcome in his face. The world tipped and then righted as she sucked in air and reminded herself of the realities of both their lives.

  Her heart and mind steadied, she took his big, warm, work-hardened hand and stepped to the ground. Immediately she slipped her hand free and adjusted her skirts.

  The entire Marshall family had assembled.

  “Looks to me like we’re going to have lots of help,” Conner said.

  “I expect we need it. I’ve made a list of how many ribbons we need. It’s going to take a long time to make them all.”

  Kate went to the kitchen to help Annie and the other ladies while Conner joined the other men in the sitting room. The children played together.

  In a few minutes, the meal was served and the family sat around the dining room table. Grandfather looked around his assembled family.

  “I am blessed beyond measure.” His voice quavered. “I wish your grandmother had lived to see this day.” He cleared his throat. “I’ll ask the blessing.”

  Kate, seated beside Conner, bowed her head.

  “Father in heaven,” Grandfather began, his voice deepening, “we are grateful for Your many blessings. Our family, especially the children. And most especially little Ellie, who is growing stronger every day. We are also grateful for the blessings of this land, the abundance of the garden, and thank You for the bounty we are about to enjoy and the loving hands that have prepared it. Amen.”

  Kate raised her head. “My grammie would have enjoyed this,” she managed through her tightened throat.

  “And where is she today?” Grandfather asked.

  “She passed away when I was ten, but not before she taught me to love God and thank Him for His blessings.”

  “She sounds like a good woman. I wish I could have met her.”

  As the food was passed, the Marshalls talked, telling of their daily lives, sharing and encouraging.

  Kate listened. If her brothers had lived, they would likely be married by now with children. Would they gather together like this? Enjoying being with each other?

  She rearranged the food on her plate. What might have been did not change what was. One of the things Grammie had taught Kate was to accept the facts of her life and make the best of them with God’s help. And she would. She resumed eating and smiled and laughed at the comments the family shared.

  As soon as the last crumb was gone, the last coffee cup emptied and the last dish washed, Annie put ribbons and glue bottles on the table. When the men headed for the door, she stopped them. “Many hands make light work.”

  Conner laughed. “I think my hands might make more work.”

  “Nope. Beth is going to watch the children and the rest of you are going to help.”

  Grandfather ignored her and retired to the sitting room. Kate sucked her lips in to stop from smiling.

  Bud hurried outside, ignoring Annie’s protests.

  Logan and Dawson edged after their pa, but their wives gave them looks that stopped them in their tracks.

  Kate tried and failed to contain her amusement. Conner, who had seated himself beside her, nudged her in the side. “Looks like we’ll be getting lots of help.”

  The smile they shared was warm and seemed to be only for each other.

  Dawson and Logan sat beside their wives. Annie placed rolls of ribbon before each pair.

  “You men can cut it in these lengths.” She gave them each the directions. “The women can pleat the rosette and glue on the tails. It’s easy and straightforward.”

  Conner murmured, “She’ll soon be eating those words.”

  Again Kate and Conner shared a private smile.

  But Annie called for their attention and showed the women how to pleat the rosettes.

  Kate felt Conner watching her as she did her best to create one. “It’s harder than it looks,” she complained as hers fell apart.

  Annie glanced over at her. “Conner, hold the pleats in place until she can glue them.”

  “Sure.” He reached across her to press the ribbon in place.

  His arms were in the way.

  “I can’t see to glue it.”

  He got to his feet, stood over her, one of his arms at her side and the other across her shoulders so she was virtually within the shelter of his arms. It took a great deal of effort to concentrate on what she was supposed to do.

  Carefully, hoping the tremors in her hands didn’t show, she glued the rosette into place.

  Conner kept his hands in place a moment longer, likely to be certain the ribbons weren’t going to escape, but Kate couldn’t help wondering if he felt the same awareness and was, like her, t
rying unsuccessfully to dismiss it.

  He removed his arms and returned to his chair.

  Kate pushed the rosette toward the center of the table. “It looks okay, doesn’t it?” She glanced around. Why had everyone grown so quiet? Why were they all looking at her or Conner or back and forth? Heat stole up her neck and settled in her cheeks. Had they all seen her reaction? She grabbed another length of ribbon and began to fold it. She would make this one without help. She would not let anyone guess as to the confusion she felt.

  The next rosette stayed together without Conner’s help and each succeeding one grew easier. As she pleated the rosettes, Conner cut ribbons in the right length. The pile of completed award ribbons grew steadily. She began to relax.

  After a couple of hours, she stopped to count the ribbons. “I think we have enough. Thanks, everyone.” She carefully stowed the ribbons in a small crate Annie provided.

  Sadie, Isabelle and Annie went to the window to check on the children. The men pushed back from the table. “Let’s go outside.” But Conner did not follow his brothers.

  “We have another task,” he said and went to the entryway to bring back a stack of boards all the same size. “Grandfather said we had to have signs.” He explained it to Kate and showed her the list of those needed. He had prepared well and brought out a pile of thick paper, pens and ink.

  “Do you need help?” Isabelle asked.

  Conner shook his head. “We can manage.”

  “Then we’ll leave you two to do it.” Sadie hooked her arm through Isabelle’s and they went to the door, Annie in their wake.

  Kate watched them depart.

  “Are you wanting to join them?” Conner asked.

  “No, I’d like to get this done. There’s only five days until the fair and I’d feel better if as much as possible is ready.” Nor did she mind the sense of unity they shared at the moment.

  It didn’t take them long to finish lettering the signs, and as soon as the ink dried, Conner tacked the paper to the wood. He sat back with a pleased smile on his lips. “I think that’s it until Friday when we’ll be setting things up.”

  “Do we have enough help lined up?”

  His grin widened. “All the Marshalls will show up. Grandfather has said they will. So yes.”

  She laughed. “So nice to have family to fall back on when needed.”

  “Can’t argue with that. Now let’s go find Ellie.”

  Ellie was happily entertained by the children but reached for Kate when she and Conner joined them. Kate lifted the little girl, giving her a noisy kiss that brought forth a happy giggle.

  “I can’t believe this is the same baby I saw just three weeks ago. She’d done so well.”

  “Thanks in large part to you.”

  She acknowledged his praise with a nod. “Thanks in no small part to the love you and your family have given her.”

  Their gazes connected. She felt the power of his love for Ellie like an unspoken vow. Ellie would always be safe with him.

  Kate’s eyes stung at the intensity of Conner’s gaze and she turned to Ellie. Love was such a powerful emotion. It would cause a man to marry a woman he didn’t love to be father to a child he did.

  It was love that compelled Kate to pursue a medical career.

  That thought didn’t seem right, but she couldn’t think why not. She loved caring for people, helping them through an illness even though she found the limitations of medicine frustrating.

  She shook her head. Why did being with Conner and his family always bring confusion? She knew what she wanted in life and would soon enter medical school to pursue that goal.

  How long would it take to get her reply from St. Louis telling her the start date for classes?

  *

  Conner was up before the sun Friday morning. He fed Ellie and dressed her in a little cotton dress that Annie had found. Their ma had saved many of their baby clothes, which proved a real help in caring for Ellie. She played contentedly while he prepared to go to town.

  Too anxious to relax, he ate breakfast standing by the stove. Today would be busy with setting up for the fair. He couldn’t wait to get started. He’d visited Kate just once during the week to go over last-minute details, but every day he’d tried, and failed, to find some excuse to ride into town.

  Making rosettes and signs with her on Sunday, it had hit him that soon she would have no reason to keep visiting him…or Ellie or the Marshall family.

  He’d always known their time of taking care of Ellie and then working together on the fair would end. She had a goal that took her away from Bella Creek, whereas he could not picture himself anywhere else than at the Marshall Five Ranch, making sure the family was safe and well cared for. Since Ellie’s arrival, his reasons were even more important to him. She needed the sort of home he and his family could provide.

  But, he promised himself, he would let nothing mar the enjoyment of this day of working together with Kate. Over the past few weeks, he had come to enjoy and appreciate her calmness under stress and her sense of humor. He grinned. Not to mention her pie baking.

  Annie turned from packing a lunch to take with them. “What are you smiling about, big brother? Maybe the thought of seeing Kate again?”

  “Didn’t I hear you ask her to bring a couple of pies for dinner?” He smacked his lips. “I’m looking forward to that.”

  “Uh-huh.” She chuckled as if enjoying a private joke.

  “Well, shoot.” He slapped his thigh.

  “What’s that all about?” Annie asked.

  “Why did no one think of the best money raiser we could have for the fair?”

  Annie turned and considered him with narrowed eyes. “And what would that be?”

  “A kissing booth. You could run it. Maybe you’d be kissed by a handsome prince and fall madly in love.”

  She flicked a towel at him. “And then what? Would I leave you and Pa and Grandfather to fend for yourselves?” She hooted. “You’d all starve to death.”

  He shrugged. “Maybe Sadie and Logan would like to live here.” At the troubled look on her face, he wished he hadn’t mentioned the thought. “But not to worry, baby sister. You’re too young to get married.”

  “I am not!”

  He chucked her under the chin. “Any man who wants to court you has to meet approval from your brothers, your father and your grandfather. You think there’s a man brave enough to try that?”

  She narrowed her eyes and scowled at him. “Maybe I’ll run away and get married.”

  “Don’t even think of doing that. We’d all be hurt. You want that?”

  She sighed. “Of course not. Can you take that to the wagon?” She indicated the box in which she’d stowed the food.

  He carried it out. Grandfather waited on the veranda. “Help me up, boy.”

  “You’re going? What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to make sure you do things right.”

  “Now, won’t that be fun?”

  Grandfather chuckled at Conner’s dry tone. “I’m looking forward to it myself.”

  Isabelle and Mattie trotted over and climbed into the back of the wagon. He kissed Ellie.

  “You be good for Auntie Isabelle,” he said to the baby.

  She gurgled a happy sound that he took for agreement, then he handed her over to Isabelle’s care. Pa, Dawson and Conner swung to the back of their horses and the family made their way to town and the open pasture by the river.

  Dr. Baker drove up in a wagon with Kate at his side.

  Conner didn’t even wait for his horse to halt before he jumped down and rushed over to help her.

  “Are you excited?” he asked.

  “My nerves are jumping madly, but I can’t say if it’s excitement or trepidation.”

  He squeezed her hand as Sadie, Logan and their children joined the crowd. “The Marshalls are here in full force, so you have no need to fear.”

  “That remains to be seen. I know I won’t be able to relax until
this is all over tomorrow evening. I would hate to leave town with the specter of a failed fair to trouble me.”

  He chuckled and pulled her closer to his side as the family gathered round.

  She greeted each one and bent over Ellie. “How are you, little sweetie?”

  The baby reached for her and Kate took her, her eyes bright with the joy of this little girl.

  Everyone spoke at once, offering suggestions, asking questions. Conner leaned closer so she could hear him. “I assure you this fair is not going to be a failure.” Had she purposely reminded him that she would soon leave? How long before that time arrived? It wouldn’t be today or tomorrow and he wouldn’t think beyond that.

  “Conner.” Dr. Baker called for his attention. “I brought the tent.”

  Conner and his brothers went to the back of the wagon to look at the mound of canvas and the stack of poles.

  “The owner gave me instruction on how to set it up,” the doctor said. “But they made little sense to me. I told him there would be plenty of men here who knew how to do it.”

  Conner eyed the makings of a tent. It couldn’t be hard, could it? “Logan, help me unload this stuff.” He grabbed the corner of the canvas and tugged. Nothing happened. It was far heavier than he anticipated.

  Logan grabbed a corner and tugged. He grunted and pulled harder. Conner added his weight and, between them, they dragged the canvas to the back of the box. But if they dropped it there, they would have to wrangle it to the spot where it was supposed to be set up.

  “I’ll move the wagon before we lower the canvas to the ground.” He drove the wagon to the arranged spot and returned to help Logan and Dawson, who seemed to realize they needed his assistance.

  Grandfather had brought a chair and placed it a few feet away, where he sat leaning on his canes, looking like he expected entertainment.

  Conner studied him a moment. “Do you know something you aren’t telling us?”

  “Nope.” The word carried way too much amusement for Conner’s liking. “But I’m going to enjoy watching this tent go up.”

  Somehow Conner didn’t think that meant what Conner wanted it to mean. He glanced toward his brothers. Dawson eyed the old man, a wary look upon his face.