Christine Johnson

by The Marriage Barter

  Charlotte pressed her hands to Sasha’s ears at the mention of the train robbery. Holly had told Charlotte how the robbers waved guns and crowded aside Miss Sterling—one of the agents from the Orphan Salvation Society—and the orphans in their quest to steal the loan money Holly and Mr. Brooks had brought from Newfield to rebuild Evans Grove. Thanks to Holly’s quick thinking and the orphan boy Liam’s bravery, Sheriff Wright had been alerted in time to capture the robbers. Unfortunately, their victory had come at a terrible price.

  “I wasn’t told all the details, ma’am,” Wyatt was saying, “but I understand the Orphan Salvation Society sends two agents with the children. If Miss Sterling was indisposed, couldn’t the other agent have escorted the children to Greenville?”

  “Unfortunately, Mr. Arlington was shot during the robbery and died before Doctor Simpson could treat him. Since he was the senior agent, Miss Sterling felt she couldn’t in good conscience move forward without the Society’s counsel.” Mayor Evans wrapped up her argument. “As you can see, there was no one available to escort the children to Greenville.”

  “Maybe not at the time, but it’s been two weeks,” Wyatt pressed. “Surely Miss Sterling has recovered and gotten her orders from the Society by now.”

  “She has, and they accepted our offer to place the orphans here in Evans Grove. So you see, there’s no need for an escort. The children will be staying.”

  “No, ma’am, I’m afraid they won’t. The Orphan Salvation Society had a prior agreement with Greenville, and I aim to see that they deliver on the terms. They can’t go changing their minds halfway through.”

  “The Orphan Salvation Society is the children’s caretaker,” the mayor reminded him.

  “That is not my point. They already had an agreement. Those children are supposed to go to Greenville. Now, if there’s no one to escort the orphans there, I’ll take them myself. There are eight, I believe.” Wyatt Reed’s words shot through her.

  All eight? Charlotte gasped and clutched Sasha to her side. He would take her daughter away from her?

  Never!

  Without the slightest concern of being overheard, she scooped up Sasha and fled the building.

  * * *

  Wyatt heard the gasp and turned in time to see a shadow of black flit across the doorway. Mrs. Miller. She must have heard every word.

  If the mayor saw her, she gave no indication. “Several of the children have already been placed. Surely the citizens of Greenville would not want to tear children away from their new families.” A triumphant smile slid into place. “For instance, Mrs. Miller—the woman who brought you here—took in Sasha Petrov.”

  So Sasha was one of the orphans. An icy finger of doubt slid into his well-constructed plan. Focus, Reed. You need that money to get to San Francisco. He took a deep breath. The mayor said several of the children, not all.

  “How many?” he said between his teeth.

  “How many what?” she asked cheerfully.

  So, she would play a game, would she? “How many of the orphans are already taken?”

  She hesitated, as if counting. “Four of the eight, but other families are in the process of selecting children. One of the boys was just claimed, pending the selection committee’s approval. I expect the rest will be placed soon.”

  Wyatt quickly calculated his options. If he insisted on taking all eight, Evans Grove would fight him. The new parents would fight him. That orphan society might fight him. He could lose all eight and the rest of his fee. Better to settle for something.

  He stared down the mayor. “But only four are now placed.”

  She drew in a sharp breath. “At this moment, but as I said—”

  “The four can stay.”

  Her eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”

  “The four children who’ve already been taken can stay, but the rest go with me to Greenville tomorrow.”

  The mayor raised herself to her full height, completely in control of her emotions, which at this moment indicated she would not budge one bit on this subject. “It is late, Mr. Reed. I suggest we continue this conversation tomorrow afternoon with the entire selection committee present.”

  “I can’t wait until tomorrow afternoon.” The woman’s firm command was beginning to irritate him. “The train passes the Evans Grove whistle-stop at noon. I’ll need to arrange in advance for the train to stop. Let’s make it a morning meeting. Say nine o’clock.”

  Her smile faded, but just for an instant. “The committee members do have businesses to operate. One of the members, our schoolteacher Miss Sanders, will need to arrange for someone to watch her class. In truth, Mr. Reed, tomorrow evening would be best.”

  He had to give her credit for quick thinking. She’d managed to push the time even later. At this rate, he wouldn’t be out of Evans Grove until Saturday.

  He pushed back. “Ten o’clock, Mayor. In the morning. No later. I expect to put those children on the noon train to Greenville tomorrow. Miss Sterling may accompany them if she wishes.” It seemed a generous concession at this point.

  “That is up to her,” the mayor said stiffly, “but I will convey your demands—and your offer—at once.”

  He nodded, and picked up his hat. “Pleasure doing business with you, Mayor.”

  “Ten o’clock, Mr. Reed.” Her words were tough, but she looked worried.

  She should be. Wyatt Reed always got his man.

  * * *

  Even after feeding Sasha, Charlotte still quaked with fear. What could she do? Where could she go? Who would help her? Since Charles’s death, life had been filled with uncertainty, but never as much as right now.

  She couldn’t lose Sasha. The little girl meant everything to her. But now Wyatt Reed was trying to take her away. She had to do something.

  The sun’s waning rays illuminated the Bible sitting on the trestle table. Charlotte ran her fingers over the leather binding. God’s Word had brought her comfort in the past. It helped her understand the loss of her parents and Charles, but could it gird her for the loss of her daughter, too?

  “Mama?” Sasha’s voice trembled, and Charlotte realized the little girl had seen her tears and was frightened.

  She blinked away the moisture and folded her arms around Sasha. “It’s all right. Everything will be all right.”

  Still, the girl shook, and a sob wrenched out.

  Charlotte smoothed her hair. “Look at me, dearest.” When the girl finally lifted liquid eyes to her, she smiled with more confidence than she felt. “Everything will be fine. Understand? I love you, and I will always love you. You’re my little girl, my forever little girl.”

  Unable to hold back the tears any longer, Charlotte hugged Sasha close and kissed her repeatedly until the trembling passed. She must do something to cheer Sasha.

  Holding her at arm’s length, Charlotte asked, “Would you like a new doll?”

  Sasha’s eyes brightened. Clearly, the promise of a doll had distracted the little girl. Charlotte pulled some blue muslin from the bottom of her trunk. “Won’t this make a pretty dress for her? She’ll have black hair, like you, and blue eyes. Would you like that?”

  Sasha nodded vigorously and stretched out her hand for the fabric.

  Charlotte almost told her to wait, but Sasha had waited for so much already—parents and love and a real family. And it could all be taken away tomorrow. Why make her wait for anything more?

  She dug some more in the trunk and found her tattered old rag doll. “This is the doll I had when I was your age. You can play with her while I make your new one.”

  Sasha hugged the ragged old doll.

  Charlotte smiled to think Sasha could like something so misshapen. “Let’s think of a name for your new doll.”

  “Katya.”

  Charlotte wished she would have chosen a more common name like Katy or Katherine, but she supposed the girl couldn’t help but hang on to her Russian roots. Unfortunately, people like Beatrice Ward would frown on the foreign name and
hold it against Sasha. But for now, it was better to please a little girl than a bitter old woman.

  “What a pretty name. Katya it is.”

  If only keeping Sasha could be handled so easily, but that man, Wyatt Reed, wanted to take her away. Moreover, she’d trusted him! How foolish. She should have known he was trouble from the start, but she’d been misled by his tenderness toward Sasha. How could a man who’d held Sasha so gently turn around and tear her and the other children from their homes?

  A rap on the door startled her from her thoughts. Even Sasha swiveled in her chair, worry creasing her little brow.

  “I’m sure it’s nothing,” Charlotte said, forcing a smile, but all she could think about were Wyatt’s words. He’d come to take away the children. Was he here now?

  Her heart pounded as she grasped the door handle. What could she say to persuade him to leave Sasha with her?

  “Charlotte, it’s me,” said a female voice on the other side of the door. “Holly.”

  Holly? Relief coursed through her until she remembered that Holly should be with Mason tonight. Something must have come up. Maybe she wanted to help Charlotte tonight instead of Saturday.

  She opened the door. “I can’t sort through Charles’s things tonight.”

  Holly shook her head and motioned for Charlotte to step outside. “There’s news.”

  Judging from the distress on her face, Charlotte knew what that news was. She closed the door behind her.

  “This man came from Greenville to take away the orphans,” Holly said breathlessly.

  “I know.”

  “You know?”

  “We met already.” Charlotte swallowed hard. How could she have misjudged the man so badly? Worse, she’d led him straight to the mayor. “I overheard him talking to Pauline.”

  Holly drew in a shaky breath. “Then you know that Liam would have to leave.” She choked. “Oh, Charlotte, I can’t lose him. Mason can’t lose him. We...we love him.”

  Charlotte wrapped her arms around her friend, marveling that they found themselves in a similar situation. In the past couple weeks, they’d both come to love a child. Holly adored Liam, and Sasha had claimed Charlotte’s heart.

  “I know, I know. I can’t bear to lose Sasha, either.” Charlotte fought back tears of her own. “What will we do?”

  “We’ll fight.” Determination fired Holly. “The mayor had Rebecca cable the Orphan Salvation Society office. Then she called an emergency town meeting for first thing in the morning. Nine o’clock. She told the Greenville man to come at ten o’clock. By then we’ll have figured out what to do.” She squeezed Charlotte’s hands. “Pauline is on our side. She won’t let anyone take away our children.”

  That anyone meant Wyatt Reed. Charlotte felt sick that she’d trusted him.

  Holly let go of Charlotte’s hands and dashed toward the street. “I have to tell the Hutchinsons, the Hollands and the Regans. We’ll win this, Charlotte. With Mayor Evans in the lead, we’re bound to win.”

  As Holly flew off into the night, Charlotte hugged her arms against the chill wind. She hoped Holly was right, but hope alone wouldn’t do it.

  She cast a prayer high into the star-filled sky. Lord, You love all Your children. Be with us tomorrow. Show us the way to keep Sasha and Liam and all the children here where they’re loved. We’re counting on You.

  In the meantime, Charlotte would do all she could to stop Wyatt Reed.

  Chapter Three

  The next morning, Wyatt sat in the hotel dining room eating breakfast and waiting for the ten o’clock meeting. From his seat at the window, he could see people scurrying through the grove of hackberry trees toward the town hall. He checked his pocket watch. A quarter to nine. Something was afoot, and he wouldn’t put it past Madam Mayor to work some shenanigans ahead of the scheduled meeting.

  He left enough money on the table to cover his meal and strode out onto the porch, where he put on his hat. When he saw Charlotte Miller hurry from the general store toward the town hall, he knew he’d guessed right.

  It took less than a minute to catch up to her. “Good day, Mrs. Miller.”

  She jumped but didn’t slow.

  He matched her stride. “How is Sasha this morning? Any ill effects?”

  She shook her head, but her shoulders squared defensively. “She’s visiting her friend, Lynette Gavin.”

  He hadn’t accused Charlotte of losing the girl, but she’d clearly taken it that way. He tried again. “You’re sure in a hurry this morning. Anything I can help you with?”

  “No.” Her reddened cheeks said otherwise.

  The rosy tinge became her, and again, Wyatt fought the urge to touch her cheek. “I’d gladly help.”

  “You’ve done quite enough already.”

  Her sharp words caught him in the gut. She wasn’t embarrassed. Those flushed cheeks came from anger. Why? He wasn’t going to take her daughter away from her. But had she heard that part? He thought back to yesterday. The gasp. The slamming of the door. Had it come before or after he’d agreed to let Sasha and the other placed children stay?

  Charlotte accelerated her pace.

  He chased after her. “Let me explain.”

  “There is nothing you can say to me,” she choked out.

  “But I—”

  “Y-y-you heartless man.” She halted and faced him, her fists balled and her eyes blazing. “How could you?”

  “I—”

  “Innocent children.” She shook a fist at him. “You’re taking innocent children from their homes. What sort of man are you?”

  Wyatt’s temper piqued. He’d done plenty that he wasn’t proud of, but not this time. He wasn’t taking any children from their homes. He was trying to give homes to the orphans who hadn’t been selected. But Charlotte got him so addle-brained that he couldn’t piece together the words.

  He settled for pointing out the facts. “I’m a man doing a job.”

  “A job.” She trembled with emotion, which only made her prettier. “You’re ruining children’s lives for money?”

  She said the last word with so much distaste that he couldn’t keep back a smile. If she’d just give him a chance to explain, most of that anger would go away. “First of all, I’m not ruining children’s lives. Second, if I didn’t do it, someone else would. But you need to understand—”

  “Oh, I understand perfectly.” She lifted that gorgeous little chin, her eyes afire. “The only thing you care about is money. Well, if that’s all you want, then maybe we can work something out. How much are you getting paid?”

  He stared at her. She was offering to top Baxter’s fee? He wouldn’t take money from a widow, especially when it wasn’t necessary. “More than you can afford.”

  Her cheeks darkened, and her spine straightened. “I see.”

  But he could tell she was struggling to hold back tears. “Let me explain.”

  “I don’t want your explanations, Mr. Reed.” Without waiting for a reply, she stormed off toward the town hall, where quite a crowd was forming.

  He started after her, but she quickly fell in with a pale, somewhat plump woman. Wyatt rubbed his chin, half frustrated by Charlotte Miller and half intrigued by what was going on. Once the last person entered the hall, he made his way to the wooden steps and carefully cracked open the door. A gavel pounded on a tabletop, and the murmur of voices hushed.

  Ten o’clock meeting, eh? According to his watch, it was nine o’clock. He slipped inside and let the door glide shut. Mayor Evans wasn’t going to surprise him with this little early meeting. He’d hear every word.

  * * *

  Charlotte tugged at her bonnet strings as she settled onto a seat in the crowded room. Even at this cool hour, the hall was hot and her old wool mourning dress pinched at the waist so she could barely breathe. So much had happened since Charles’s death that she hadn’t found time to dye one of her everyday dresses. She’d have to do that soon or suffer through the heat of summer in thirteen-year-old dresses t
hat had been made for wintertime. Still, that prospect, miserable as it would be, couldn’t top her distress today.

  That man, Wyatt Reed, had made her lose her temper, something she never did. But how could she remain calm when he was going to take Sasha away? For money, no less. Tears stung her eyelids. She’d thought he was a good man. He’d held Sasha so tenderly. He’d rescued her. Or had he? Maybe he’d been whisking her off when Charlotte saw him carrying Sasha down the street. Anger welled up again. He’d dismissed her offer to pay him to keep the children in Evans Grove without even hearing her out. Men like him had no heart.

  Mayor Evans called the meeting to order with a rapping of the gavel. “Good morning.” Her strong voice carried above the chatter, and talk ceased in seconds. “I’m pleased to see so many of you here at this early hour.”

  Theodore Regan stood. He and his wife had taken in one of the orphan girls. With three boys already, Helen Regan had wanted a girl, and snapped up little Galina Denikin at once.

  Mr. Regan’s thick shoulders and arms gave him an imposing figure. “We heard Greenville’s tryin’ to take away our children.”

  A murmur of protest rose until Mayor Evans put it to a stop with an upraised hand.

  “They did send a Mr. Wyatt Reed to request the orphans continue on to Greenville as originally scheduled.”

  “Well, Reed can’t have ’em,” Regan said.

  A jolt of emotion shot through Charlotte. Could the town succeed where she’d failed? Could they convince Mr. Reed to leave without the children? She started to tell them he’d refused her offer to pay him, but the grumbles made her realize they were already angry enough to run Wyatt out of town, perhaps at the end of a pitchfork. She didn’t need to do a thing.

  Mayor Evans calmly regained control. “Let’s not act in haste. Even though the Orphan Salvation Society office in New York confirmed the agreement with Greenville, Mr. Reed agreed that those children already placed in homes could stay.”

  Charlotte’s jaw dropped. Had she heard correctly? Considering the nods of approval and diminishing anger in the room, she had. Wyatt wasn’t going to take Sasha away. She could keep her daughter. Was that what he’d been trying to tell her outside when she kept interrupting?