The Baby Compromise. Linda Ford

she reached the wide step, she heard his boots clatter across the floor toward her.

      On the nearby bench she sat beside the baby’s basket, pulled Heidi down on her other side and, with a rigid spine, waited.

      Colton Hayes had to be the most annoying, most domineering man she’d ever met. But nothing he said would make her change her mind. She would not relinquish her measure of control in this situation to live on Colton’s charity. She’d pay her way when money was called for, and when it wasn’t, she’d figure out how to earn her keep. Everyone would sooner or later acknowledge that Rebecca Sterling was a capable young woman.

      The door opened with a squawk of protesting hinges then slapped shut.

      She did her best to pretend she wasn’t aware of Colton standing a few inches away, though the air pulsated with his annoyance. Instead, Rebecca kept her attention on the tiny baby in her arms. He was so sweet and innocent, filling her heart with a protectiveness like nothing she’d ever felt before.

      She wouldn’t let him down. She wouldn’t.

      * * *

      Colton stared down at Rebecca’s bent head. Her shiny blond hair had been wound into some kind of roll around her face, allowing him plenty of chance to admire her slender neck. Though how he could so dispassionately do so while his insides boiled defied explanation. “Has anyone ever mentioned how annoying you are?”

      “Never.” She didn’t even dignify her response by glancing his way.

      “Well, someone should have.” Though he supposed rich girls were allowed to act any way they wanted without incurring correction. “Seeing as he’s a member of my family, I will pay for this baby’s needs.”

      She lifted her head and fixed him with one of those hard blue looks.

      He tried again. “We agreed to share the work.”

      She lifted one shoulder in a dismissive gesture. “Yes, we did.”

      He let his breath out in a long, exaggerated sigh, hoping she would understand how difficult she was being.

      She ignored him.

      Smiling, Heidi sat on the edge of the bench, glancing from one to the other as they talked. She’d forgotten to hide her face. The kid was enjoying the quarreling, as she called it.

      He caught Rebecca’s eye and tipped his head to indicate Heidi.

      Rebecca gave a slight nod to inform him that she saw, and for a moment Colton forgot his annoyance, lost in the pleasure of Heidi’s amusement—and something as fragile as butterfly wings that hovered between himself and Rebecca.

      Then he noticed the baby bottle in the basket, and all he could think about was the discord between them.

      He leaned against the hitching rail and studied the three people he’d invited into his life—Rebecca, who seemed bound and determined to challenge him at every opportunity; little Gabriel, who was tucked into her arm as content as anyone had a right to be; and Heidi, who suddenly ducked out of sight behind Rebecca’s shoulder. Fierce protectiveness clutched at his throat, and he was filled with the sense that none of the three had anyone but him to watch out for them.

      Nonsense, of course. He’d heard tell that Heidi had a brother trying to track her down, and he imagined that Gabriel’s ma would come back for her son sooner or later. He also knew Rebecca had family back in New York. And she’d made it abundantly clear that she did not welcome anything from him. So why did he feel that it was his job to look after them all? Why would he want to, with all his responsibilities to the ranch and to his parents?

      Even trying to see to their needs would be difficult. He already recognized that sharing the care of the baby at the ranch could prove to be more difficult then he’d initially thought. Would Rebecca resist every move he made, demand to be in control? His skin crawled at the thought.

      “We’re in this together,” he said with as much patience as he could muster. “That’s what we agreed. Why don’t we cooperate and make it a pleasant arrangement?” She should find the idea appealing, but he knew when she looked at him that she had no intention of cooperating.

      “If you mean I should give in to all your suggestions, the answer is no.”

      “No? Just like that?”

      “Mr. Hayes, I did not come west to sightsee. I came with a job to do. And I am determined to do that job. I will not turn my responsibilities over to a—” She paused as if to consider what to say and her gaze drifted toward his boots. “Anyone.”

      “A dusty cowboy with big feet, you mean?”

      A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Admit it.” She lifted toward him one dainty foot, clad in a beautiful brown leather ladies’ boot. “Yours are pretty big.”

      In comparison to hers, they were gigantic.

      Heidi’s muffled giggle came from behind Rebecca.

      Colton threw up his hands in mock defeat. “Okay, I have big feet. But that doesn’t mean we can’t cooperate.”

      She nodded, amusement making her eyes flash a brighter blue. “I don’t mind cooperating, but I am not relinquishing my duties.”

      It didn’t feel like cooperation to him. More like arguments about everything and nothing.

      Baby Gabriel started to fuss.

      Rebecca glanced at the bottle of milk from the store. “I’ll pay for the child’s needs. You’re already providing shelter for all of us, room and board for Heidi and me—so I can cover the rest of Gabriel’s expenses. That’s a fair division, don’t you think?” She didn’t wait for a reply. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’ll take him to Holly and Mason’s house.” She rose. “Heidi, can you carry the basket?” They headed away without so much as a by-your-leave, the basket bumping against Heidi’s legs.

      He called after them, “I’ll get a buggy to take us home.”

      She jolted to a stop and faced him. “Home?”

      “The ranch.”

      “Oh. Fine. You know where I’ll be.”

      She continued on her way, Heidi at her side.

      He stared after them. This was not turning out at all well, and he hadn’t even gotten her to the ranch yet. How would she react to living so far out of town? How would his parents respond to having her and the two children in their home? He lifted his hat and rubbed his head. If not for his concern for baby Gabriel, he’d be sorely tempted to change his mind about this arrangement. But no, he couldn’t shirk his responsibility. Particularly not his responsibility to family.

      His gaze shifted to the orphanage.

      And, he reluctantly admitted, one other thing stopped him from rescinding his offer—concern about Rebecca’s safety, since someone was clearly trying to destroy the place.

      He slammed his hat back onto his head. His concern would always, first and foremost, be his family. That meant his parents and now Gabriel. Heidi and Rebecca would temporarily be part of his family, as well.

      Sure, Rebecca was a rich girl with a father, but he was back East and Colton was right here. So he would give her the help and protection she needed. Even if she resisted.

      Chapter Four

      Rebecca resisted the temptation to glance back at the cowboy. She ignored the way the skin on the back of her neck twitched, as if aware of his stare. If she encouraged him in any way, he would run roughshod over anything she suggested. She couldn’t allow that to happen.

      Heidi bounced along at her side. “Are we gonna keep the baby?”

      “Until arrangements can be made.”

      Gabriel’s fussing swelled into desperate wails.

      “He’s