The Baby Barter

by Patty Smith Hall

  “Now, you don’t worry about anything. I’ll hold down the fort while you’re gone. Don’t want to keep your bride waiting.”

  “Right.” Mack stood, straightened his tie, then grabbed his suit coat off the back of his chair and put it on. Once he had the coat buttoned, he reached for the ring box and, with one last look, closed and dropped it into the safety of his coat pocket. He came around the desk and headed for the door.

  The walk to Judge Wakefield’s office usually took five minutes, but the news of his impending marriage had traveled around town as if Betty, the operator at Marietta Telephone Company, had made it her personal job to be the town crier. Folks all along the square stopped him with congratulations and well wishes, so the short trek from his office took three times as long as usual. As Mack rounded the corner on Main Street and hurried up the courthouse stairs, a horn honked behind him, and he turned to see Beau pull up to the curb with his cousin Maggie riding shotgun in the front seat.

  Where was Thea?

  Mack’s heart jumped into his throat. Had she changed her mind? Had she decided marrying him wasn’t worth the opportunity to raise Sarah?

  Beau waved to him as he rounded the front of the car and opened the door for Maggie. She stood, then, seeing him, hurried across the brick sidewalk toward him, her green eyes flashing with happiness, her wide smile as big as the skies she loved. She playfully pointed her finger at him. “You, Mack Worthington, are a very blessed man.”

  He was? Being blessed wasn’t something he’d felt much over the years, at least not since the accident. “Why do you say that?”

  “Just wait. You’ll understand in a minute.” She turned back toward the car and Mack followed her gaze.

  And felt as if all the oxygen had suddenly been sucked out of the atmosphere.

  Thea stood next to the car, her full skirts swirling around her legs, a tiny bow belted at her trim waist and another at the neckline of her bodice. Her blue eyes were hidden by a wisp of a veil, her hair restrained by a band of dark chocolate brown. A cloud of curls gathered about her delicate shoulders, giving him a tempting glimpse of her long, elegant neck.

  “Breathe,” Maggie whispered to him.

  Easy for her to say. Her heart wasn’t racing a million beats a minute. Thea had to be the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and she was about to become his wife.

  In name only.

  Disappointment lanced through him, and he sucked in a much-needed breath. Mack couldn’t expect their union to be anything but a way to adopt Sarah, to share in raising the little girl, not with the baggage he carried. He still hadn’t told Thea about his bad ear, or the part she’d played in the accident that caused it, but he would. Ms. Aurora was right; Thea needed to know the entire story about the night she left town. Just not today.

  Mack started toward her, but Thea met him halfway, her skirts brushing against his legs. “Hi.”

  “Hi.”

  “You look...so beautiful.” The words tumbled out in a husky whisper.

  “You think so?” Thea glanced up then, her gaze meeting his, a faint hint of skepticism clouding their blue depths. Did the woman have any doubt as to how lovely she truly was? Had no one ever bothered to tell her?

  Mack took her free hand and held it in his. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

  A ghost of a smile danced in the corners of her full lips. “You clean up right nice yourself, Sheriff.”

  The simple compliment warmed his heart. “Well, thank you. I try.”

  “And thank you for my flowers.” She lifted the buds to her nose and drew in a deep breath. “It was very sweet of you to think of it.”

  Heat crawled up the back of his neck as if he were some schoolboy going to his very first dance. “Couldn’t have my girl walking down the aisle without her bouquet.”

  “Still, it was sweet of you.” Her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink that matched the mums in her hand.

  He threaded her gloved hand through his, his heart crashing against his breastbone at the touch of her slender fingers against his forearm. “Ready to do this?”

  Silky curls fluttered against her shoulders as she nodded. “How about you? Any second thoughts?”

  Oh, yes. Second, and third, and fourth and...but looking at Thea now, feeling the warmth of her hand against his arm, all the reasons they shouldn’t marry dissipated like the morning mist on Sweetwater Creek. “Not a one.”

  “I don’t mean to interrupt,” Beau broke in. “But it’s warm out here. Mind if we move this indoors?”

  “I didn’t even notice,” Thea whispered to her flowers, almost as if she hadn’t meant to be heard.

  So she’d felt the same thing he had, as if the world had faded away, leaving them completely alone. Her eyes widened when she finally looked up and met his gaze. She lifted her hand from his arm as if to retreat, but he gently kept her there, pressing his fingers against hers. Mack leaned closer, the faint scent of ginger and tea imprinting itself on his memory, growing stronger as her hair brushed against his cheek. “I’d forgotten Beau and Maggie were even standing there.”

  She pursed her lips into an impish grin, and he had to force himself not to focus on the temptation of her mouth, instead holding her close as they started up the stairs. “Let’s get inside.”

  Not more than a minute or two later, the group stood outside the massive doors that led to Judge Wakefield’s chambers. Mack knocked on the door, then waited until it opened slightly, a young man Mack recognized as Wakefield’s clerk lodging himself in the opening as if guarding the gates of the city of Oz. “Mr. Lemmon, we’re here to see the judge on a private matter.”

  The young man nodded. “I’ll let him know you’re here. It will be just a few minutes.” He gave Thea a long look, then smiled. “I’ll come and escort you into his chambers when he’s ready.”

  Mack’s stomach twisted. Little runt had a lot of nerve, eyeing Thea like that. He tightened his fingers over hers. Didn’t the man know she was about to become Mack’s wife? Just proved he had more brains than common sense.

  Why am I getting so worked up over this, anyway?

  The steady clip-clop of work boots against the marble floor drew Mack’s attention to the stairwell where a tall, lanky man stood, the leather bag on his back almost as brown as his weather-worn face. Judson Marsh was the town’s mailman. He was tall and lean, and some folks thought he looked the spitting image of Jimmy Stewart, but Mack didn’t see the resemblance.

  Maybe a string bean, but nothing like the Hollywood actor who had fought in the Army Air Force, and risen to the rank of Colonel.

  “Well, howdy folks. Miss Maggie, Dr. Daniels, Sheriff.” He gave Thea a speculative glance. “Don’t reckon I know you, Miss.”

  “This is my fiancée, Thea Miller. Thea, Mr. Marsh, our mailman.”

  Mack felt slightly deprived when Thea let go of his arm and held out her hand to the older man. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Marsh.”

  The older man took her hand in his and shook it. “Getting married, are ya? I’ve heard what people are saying around town, about the two of you being out at Ms. Aurora’s, and I’ve got to tell you, I find the whole situation shameful, just shameful.”

  Thea tensed beside him, but the expression on her face was resigned. It infuriated Mack. Was this what she’d dealt with when people use to talk about Eileen? Or had she heard some of the rumors that swirled about her, guilt by association? Well, government employee or not, he’d deck the postman before he’d let him bad-mouth his future wife. “Mr. Marsh...”

  “I know how bad it can be, taking care of a houseful of youngsters who’re sick.” He leaned close to Thea as if he wanted to share a secret only with her. “Me and my wife had eight girls and a boy, and when they were down with the measles or the chicken pox...” He shuddered. “Besides, anyone w
ith eyes in their head can see why the sheriff decided to marry this little lady.” A toothy grin split his weathered face. “Married my Edna just so I’ve have someone that pretty waiting at home for me.” Marsh slapped Mack on the back. “You’ve done good picking this one, Sheriff.”

  “I think so,” Mack answered. Thea relaxed against his side, and without even thinking, he dropped a kiss against her hair. For Marsh’s benefit, and for Thea’s, he told himself.

  The man swung his bag around, lifted the leather flap and rifled through the contents. “Seeing as how you’re here, Sheriff, mind if I give you your mail now? It’ll save me a trip to your office this afternoon.” Marsh gave them a cockeyed grin. “My daughter-in-law is bringing our grandbaby home from the hospital today, and I sure would like to be there when they get home.”

  “Of course you would.” Thea glanced up at Mack. “We both understand how you feel.”

  Mack felt for the man. He’d lost his only son in the liberation of Paris and his grandchild was his last link to the lanky boy Mack remembered from church. The stack of letters needing to be stamped and sent from his desk could wait until tomorrow. “Sure, Mr. Marsh. I can take them back to the office.”

  The door opened. “The judge can see you now.”

  Mr. Marsh handed a small pack of envelopes tied with string to Mack, then closed the flap on his bag. “Well, good day to you, Miss Thea. Miss Maggie. Doc.” The older man gave Mack a sly smile. “And congratulations to you, Sheriff. You’ve got yourself a mighty sweet lady here.”

  For once, Mack agreed with the old coot. “Thank you, Mr. Marsh.”

  “Mr. Marsh,” Thea added. “You have a good visit with that grandbaby of yours this afternoon.”

  “I’m going to try, ma’am. Thank you.” He tipped his hat, then turned and headed back toward the stairs, giving them one last look before walking down the hallway.

  “Sheriff Worthington.” The impatient edge in Mr. Lemmon’s voice grated on Mack’s nerves. “Judge Wakefield doesn’t have all day.”

  This scrawny kid was just begging for a lesson in manners. But Mack pushed back his temper. “Would you please tell the judge I’d like to have a few minutes alone with my bride before the wedding?”

  Lemmon pursed his lips as if he’d been sucking on an unripe persimmon, then nodded. “Please be advised that the judge has another appointment on the hour.”

  Mack glanced down at the woman beside him, then back at their friends. “Could you give us a moment?”

  “Sure.” Maggie reached out and hugged him as best as she could, turning to one side to accommodate her growing midsection. “Be happy, my friend,” she whispered on a sniff.

  She turned then and hugged Thea while Beau walked over and shook Mack’s hand. “You’re doing the right thing by Sarah, giving her a mom and a dad. Remember that.”

  Mack nodded. Yes, he needed to remember that every time he thought of Thea, of the tumble of emotions she caused just being near him, of the attraction that made him wish this was something more than a marriage in name only. He waited until his friends had stepped into the judge’s chambers before turning back to his bride.

  She looked so lovely, standing there in her dress made of gold, nibbling on her bottom lip in that nervous way he found endearing, the little bouquet he’d brought her this morning clutched between her hands.

  She pushed a loose curl behind her ear, another nervous habit that he found equally appealing. “Is everything okay?” she asked.

  No, but then he hadn’t been okay in almost two weeks, not since he’d seen her at Merrilee’s wedding. His mind felt muddled, his feelings tangled up in knots all because of this woman. But that night eight years ago still remained unresolved between them, and until Mack had laid all of that to rest, he had to keep his feelings in check.

  Mack reached out and pried one of her hands free of the bouquet. “I thought I’d give you a minute. Figured you might need a breather before all the excitement.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Maybe you wanted to take a breather yourself?”

  Thea always did know how to read him. Mack chuckled softly. “Things have been going at a record speed.”

  “Mack, if you’ve changed your mind, I’ll understand.”

  “No,” he barked, then cleared his throat. “I mean, no. What about you? I just sprang all this on you a few days ago. Any misgivings?”

  Her smile widened, her blue eyes taking on a glow that enveloped him in its warmth, made him feel as if he’d finally come home. She slipped her hand into his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “None.”

  His heart collided with his ribcage, his senses punch-drunk. That Thea—wonderfully smart, assertive Thea—had no qualms about marrying him gave him hope. “Beau’s going to be crowing about this for years.”

  “Beau?”

  “He’s the one who thought it would be a good idea if we got married.”

  Thea tilted her head slightly to the side, her eyes glittering with mischief beneath the lacy veil. “So we should thank Beau for this mess we’re in now?”

  “Yeah, let’s blame Beau,” he answered, pulling her arm through his. Mack glanced down at her once more, his heart quivering like a jar of Merrilee’s apple jelly. “Ready to get married, Miss Miller?”

  For a brief instant, all her lingering doubts clouded those expressive eyes of hers, but then a smile that seemed to come from the very depths of her heart bloomed across her face as she pressed into his side. “I’m ready.”

  In fifteen short minutes, he’d have everything he’d dreamed of most of his life: a wife and child, a family to come home to in the evenings. Everything he’d searched for over the last eight years.

  Well, almost everything.

  Becoming Sarah’s father, being Thea’s husband in name only would have to do for now. Mack turned the knob and opened the door, standing to one side, waiting, watching as she walked into the judge’s chambers.

  Chapter Twelve

  “If you’ll take her left hand in yours, Sheriff.”

  Thea swallowed, the bravado she’d felt just a few minutes before gone, nerves choking the very air out of her lungs. They were really going to do this, get married and raise Sarah together. Thea would have the family she’d been longing for over the past eight years, people she could pour out all her love on, devote herself to, love and be loved by in return.

  Only Mack didn’t love her.

  She didn’t realized she’d lifted her hand until Mack’s warm palm closed over her fingers, his hand like its owner—sturdy yet infinitely tender, strong yet unbelievably kind. His thumb swept over the top of her knuckles, grazing the gentle peaks and valleys as if memorizing each one.

  “Do you, Marcus Fletcher, take Theodora Grace to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

  Thea’s breath hitched, the steel band around her chest tightening with each second as she waited for his answer. What if he’d changed his mind? What if he realized she wasn’t nearly good enough to be his wife? To raise the child he’d claimed as his own? What if she made the same mistakes with Sarah as she’d made with Eileen? Then she would be all alone. Not alone, Lord, never alone. But so very lonely without an earthly family to cherish.

  She glanced up and found herself lost in the inky blue depths of his gaze, the sparks in his eyes lighting a way through the darkness. His fingers tightened slightly around hers as if he never intended to let her go, then he gave her the most tender of smiles.

  “I do.”

  Her heart fluttered in a wild rhythm beneath her breast. Was this what love felt like, this indescribable joy at just being near him, of hearing him pledge his life to hers, anxious for the moment when she could do the same?

  And then the moment was upon her.

  “Do you, Theodora Grace, take this man, Marcus Fletcher, to be your l
awfully wedded husband?”

  “I do.”

  His irises darkened, light flaring to a brilliant glow in his eyes. Could it be possible he felt some of the same emotions she was experiencing at the moment? Or was he simply counting on her to hold up her end of their bargain, a marriage in name only for a chance to raise Sarah?

  “The ring, please.”

  A ring? Thea hadn’t thought of that. Had Mack? Would they still be married if...? Reaching his right hand into his pocket, Mack fished around until he pulled out a slender golden band and slid it into place on her finger, then, without warning, bent and press his lips against the cool metal.

  Her knees wobbled, and she feared there was a very real chance she’d melt into a puddle at his feet. The ceremony needed to end as quickly as possible or Mack would realize what she’d wrestled with these past few days.

  That she’d fallen in love with him. Completely, totally in love with a man who only wanted a marriage in name only.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Thea sucked in a breath and butterflies fluttered in her midsection as if freed from their cocoons for the first time. For years she had developed a sterling reputation, holding herself in check, holding fast to the hard lessons she’d learned from her sister’s behavior. Only now she found herself completely unprepared.

  Mack’s warm breath sent a sweet shiver down her spine. When had he moved to stand so close? Or was she the one who’d moved to be near him? His lips brushed softly against the sensitive shell of her ear, his voice barely a whisper. “Is this your first kiss?”