The Baby Barter. Patty Hall Smith

to consider finding a wife. It would solve the immediate problem with the judge.”

      “And who would I marry, Red?”

      “You’ve got to know a woman who’d love the chance to help you raise Sarah. Someone who would love that baby as much as you do.”

      The image of Thea, her deep blue eyes staring up at him, drifted through his thoughts. No doubt Thea was in love with the idea of raising the baby right now, but what would happen when she learned Sarah wasn’t Eileen’s daughter? Would she up and leave town without a backward glance the way she’d done before? Mack couldn’t risk his daughter losing her heart to the woman. Or maybe it was his own heart he was worried about getting stomped on again.

      “It’s just not possible, Red.”

      “Well, think about it,” Red answered before he grabbed the folder and stood. “Because getting married might be your only hope of getting Judge Wakefield to budge on Sarah’s adoption.”

Chapter Four

      Thea closed her eyes and relaxed into a cushioned chair in the hospital waiting room, her mind drifting aimlessly as fatigue settled into her bones. Sleep had been elusive these past few nights. She’d been on edge, too worried by thoughts of Eileen, of losing her last link with her sister, to find any rest. It didn’t help that Momma had taken to pacing the halls at night. Each morning Thea got up with the same questions. Would this be the day she’d finally bring Eileen’s baby home? Or would she and her mother be coping with another loss soon?

      She drew a deep breath in through her nose, her body relaxing even further. Once she brought Eileen’s baby home, everything would get better. Her mother would become alert and engaged again. Guilt would ease its weight off of Thea’s shoulders. They’d all be happy. At least, that’s what she hoped. How in the world would she take care of Sarah and work an eight-hour-a-day shift if her mother didn’t snap out of this fog of sadness and confusion?

      Thea forced her eyes open and glanced around the hospital’s waiting area. Maybe she could work part-time for a little while, at least until they figured out a routine at home. Maybe they’d be able to hire in a teenage girl to help when Thea couldn’t be at home. There might not be any extra money for a lawyer if she needed one, but she’d figure that out when it came down to it.

      She would manage. She didn’t have much choice. Thea’s eyes slid closed again. Just a few more minutes, a cat nap, and she could face her interview with the head nurse alert and fresh.

      “Thea?”

      She snuggled deeper into the chair, the rumbled whisper settling over her like a comfortable blanket. What was it about this deeply masculine voice that set her mind at ease? Familiar, with warm undertones, deep, almost dreamlike. She’d clung to the thought of that dark, manly voice throughout the long nights of the war, let it lull her as bombs burst in the distance. She hadn’t been able to place it at first, but then she remembered the boy who’d once been her friend. Thea drew in a deep breath, felt a smile form on her lips.

      Mack.

      “Do you usually take naps in the hospital waiting room?”

      There was a gentle sternness to his voice that caused her eyelids to flutter open to find the man standing in front of her. Tall and broad-shouldered, this Mack was the quintessential lawman, though she’d confess she’d never met an officer quite so handsome. “What happened?”

      The cockeyed grin he gave her as he pushed back his hat had her sitting up in her chair. “You fell asleep.”

      Thea drew in a deep breath and blew it out, her fuzzy world coming into focus. “Old habits, I guess.” At his confused look, she explained. “When you work the mobile surgical unit, you either learn to grab a nap anywhere you can or never sleep. Standing up in the corner. Sitting in mess hall.” She smiled. “One of the girls in my unit got caught napping in the latrine.”

      “That must have been...interesting.” Mack’s voice deepened with mirth, his lips curved up into a slight smile. Then, as if he remembered who she was, he straightened, any evidence of a smile gone. “What are you doing here?”

      Needing something to do with her hands, Thea opened her purse and pulled out her compact. “Interviewing for a position.”

      “A job?”

      For some odd reason, the way he said it irritated her. She opened the lid and studied her reflection in the tiny mirror. Anything to keep from looking at him. “I have to put food on our table and keep a roof over our heads. Momma’s income is really only enough for one person.”

      The space between them suddenly grew smaller as he pulled off his hat and sat down next to her. “And what about Sarah?”

      “What about her?”

      The clean tang of his aftershave swirled around her, making her head spin in a pleasant sort of way as he leaned closer. “How do you plan on taking care of Sarah if you’re working?”

      She leaned back and drew in a cleansing breath. It wasn’t any of his business how she handled Sarah’s care. “If I’m given custody of Eileen’s baby, I’ll work something out.”

      “Sarah is going to need special care, at least until she’s old enough to have her second corrective surgery.” He crossed his arms over his broad chest, glaring at Thea, looking every inch the protective father, the kind of daddy any girl would have been blessed to have.

      Just not Sarah’s daddy. Didn’t he understand the little girl was the only link she had to the sister she’d lost? Mack could make gaining custody of the child difficult, there was no doubt about it. Well, she’d lived through one war. If Mack wanted to battle it out, she was ready. “What about you?”

      He blinked. “Me?”

      Ah, she’d caught him by surprise. Well, good! “You have a job. How do you plan to care for Sarah while you’re off catching the bad guys?”

      His blue eyes pierced her all the way to the depths of her soul. “Ms. Aurora has volunteered to take care of her during the day, but I’ll have her at night. Plus, I’m turning one of the rooms in my house into an office so I can do most of my paperwork at home.”

      “So it’s okay for you to have someone care for Sarah while you’re at work, but not me.” She slammed her compact shut and cocked her head to the side. “Why is that?”

      Mack glared at her for a long moment, then much to her surprise, he gave a regretful chuckle. “Stuck my foot in it, didn’t I?”

      Thea’s heart did a sudden flip at his crooked smile. Mack had always been a charmer. It would be best if she remembered that. “I’d say so.”

      “Sorry.” He leaned back, leaving Thea suddenly bereft of his warmth. “Just had a rotten morning.”

      “Please say it’s not the baby. She’s not sick or something, is she?”

      He shook his head, twirled his hat between nervous fingers. “Doodlebug is doing fine.”

      Now it was her turn to gawk. “You call her doodlebug?”

      He cocked an eyebrow at her. “Is something wrong with that?”

      No, quite the opposite. It was endearing, the sort of sweet name a man would give his baby girl. Thea shook her head. “It suits her.”

      He seemed glad she agreed with him, at least on his pet name for Sarah. “The first couple of days after I took her to Ms. Aurora, the kids fought over what to call her.”

      “I thought she’d always been Sarah.”

      He shook his head, the ghost of a memory playing along his smile. “That was Merrilee’s idea. Ms. Aurora generally lets the kids decide what to call any new additions to their family.”

      The older woman let the children name