A Baby For The Minister. Laurel Blount

wanted her to wait here? In Pine Valley? How was she supposed to do that?

      Cora already had her hand on the doorknob.

      “I don’t have any place to stay.” Natalie’s cheeks burned as she blurted out her admission. She’d given up her apartment, and she couldn’t check back in to the ratty motel where she’d spent the last two nights. It might be the cheapest place in town, but it was still out of her price range.

      Cora halted, frowning. “Well, you certainly can’t come home with me. My retirement complex has very strict rules.” She hesitated, then shrugged. “Fine. Here.” She rummaged in the green purse swinging at her elbow and brought out an old-fashioned key. “I suppose you can go on out to Lark Hill. Adam’s been staying there for the past week, supposedly making some repairs. You know how men are when they’re living alone. I expect by now the house needs a good cleaning. You might as well spend your time doing that until he turns back up.”

      Lark Hill.

      Even the name was beautiful. Natalie had been daydreaming about that farm for weeks. She felt a rush of sweet relief.

       Thank You, God.

      Maybe, just maybe, He hadn’t completely abandoned her, after all.

      “But mind you, this is a temporary arrangement. I won’t sign over the deed until the two of you are married. And if I were you,” Cora continued, “I’d stay out at Lark Hill and keep to myself as much as possible until all this is settled. People are a lot more old-fashioned in these small towns than they are in Atlanta. There’s no sense stirring up any more gossip. Folks will have plenty to say about your...situation as it is. Oh, they’ll be nice, at least to your face. Some of the churches may even offer to help you, but—”

      “Don’t worry. I won’t need any help,” Natalie interrupted. Especially not from a church, she finished silently. Cora’s warning wasn’t necessary. Atlanta wasn’t as different from Pine Valley as Adam’s grandmother seemed to think. “I’m used to taking care of myself.”

      “Good. Now—” Cora drew in a deep breath “—I’m going to go home. This whole thing has been most unpleasant. When Adam calls about the money, I’ll let you know.” With that, the older woman bustled out of the room, leaving the door ajar.

      Money. Natalie’s eyes widened as an awful realization hit her like a slap. She’d only brought her purse and a little overnight bag into the church. Nothing else. She’d left all the rest of her belongings in the back of Adam’s Jeep. That meant Adam had driven off with everything she owned, including the small amount of money she’d hidden in her suitcase after cashing her last paycheck. It wasn’t much, but apart from a couple of twenties tucked in her billfold, it was every penny she had in the world.

      What was she going to do?

      If Adam found that money, he’d spend it. Even if he didn’t find it, Adam was awfully good at mooching. In spite of Cora’s predictions, there was really no telling when he might show up. The baby wasn’t due for nearly another month, but on her last clinic visit, she’d been told that he might come early. Any day now, the doctor had said.

      Natalie suddenly found it hard to breathe, and the cramped dressing room began to spin.

      “Miss Davis? Natalie! You need to sit down.” A deep voice spoke urgently in front of her. She was dimly aware of a pressure on her arms, pushing her back into the chair. “Breathe. In and out. Good, slow breaths.”

      She followed his instructions. In and out. The swirling mist in her mind cleared, and she was able to focus her eyes on Pastor Jacob Stone’s face.

      He’d gone pale. “I’m calling 911.”

      “No! No, I’m all right,” she managed. She didn’t have the money to pay for an emergency room visit, or anything else.

      He looked unconvinced. “In your condition, it might be a good idea to get checked out. You have to think about your baby.”

      Natalie’s hand strayed to her rounded stomach. Ever since the ultrasound technician had told her she was having a boy, she’d been thinking about nothing but her baby. Right then and there, she’d made her child a silent promise.

       You’re not going to be like me. You’re going to have a good life.

      Remembering that moment now, she felt a fresh rush of resolve. She meant to keep that promise. Her son was going to grow up healthy and strong in a safe place, and he was going to finish high school and maybe even go to college.

      “Natalie?”

      Jacob Stone was still waiting for her answer. She took a steadying breath. “I’m fine, really. I’m just tired. It’s been a hard day.”

      “I’d say that’s an understatement.” The sympathetic lines around his eyes deepened, and he gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “This is all going to work out, Natalie. I know it doesn’t seem like it right now, but it will.” He sounded so sure; she almost believed him. “In the meantime, is there anything I can do for you? Anything at all?”

      Natalie tightened her fingers, pressing the hard metal key into her palm. Cora’s blunt warning echoed in her memory. They may offer to help you.

      But what choice did she have?

      She cleared her throat. “As a matter of fact, there is...”

       Chapter Two

      “Could you give me a ride?” Natalie asked. “My car wouldn’t start this morning. Adam had to drive to the motel to pick me up.” Her poor old car had rattled all the way here from Atlanta, and she’d prayed every mile that it wouldn’t strand her on the side of the road.

      It hadn’t, but it had sure been as dead as a rock this morning.

      “Absolutely.” The pastor spoke firmly. “I’ll take you anyplace you want to go.”

      “Thank you.” She offered him the brightest smile she could manage. It must not have been very convincing because that sympathy crinkled around his eyes again.

      He gathered up her overnight case and tucked her Bible under his arm. “My truck is just outside.”

      Pastor Stone asked her to wait in the hallway while he had a quick word with the group of people lingering in the sanctuary. Natalie kept her gaze on the floor, but she could feel their curious looks. She was glad when the minister came back and led the way out the big front doors of the church into the drizzly afternoon. To her surprise, he veered toward a battered blue pickup and opened the passenger side door.

      This old beater didn’t look much better than her car. It sure wasn’t the kind of vehicle she’d expect a minister to drive, but it obediently rumbled to life when he twisted the key.

      He shrugged off his suit jacket and held it out to her. “That dress looks thin. You’ve got to be cold, and it’ll take the truck a few minutes to warm up. This weather is weird for April, isn’t it? Usually we’re all running our air conditioners by now, but this year winter just keeps hanging on.”

      She hesitated, but he was right. She was freezing. She took his jacket, tucking it over herself like a blanket. The warm satiny lining felt comforting against her chill-bumped arms, and it smelled like the soap she’d noticed earlier.

      He raised his eyebrows. “So, where can I take you?”

      “405 Chinaberry Road.” She’d been reciting that address over and over to herself ever since Cora had first told her about the farm. “Do you know where that is?”

      “Sure.” The minister leaned back in the seat of the rumbling truck, looking confused. “That’s the old Lark Hill farm. Why do you want to go out there?”

      “Adam’s grandmother is letting me stay there until...for