Bargain For Baby Read online

  “Thank you, Mrs. Franklin. I appreciate your kind words, but I will marry him on Monday. It’s what I need to do for me and my baby.” Becky put her hand on her belly and stroked the child sheltered there. “I think this is for the best.”

  “I do, too. Just remember I’m here if you need me.”

  “I will.” Becky took a big platter of bacon and sausage and carried it to the table. “I’ll be back in just a minute.”

  Mrs. Franklin watched her go with a tear in her eye. She’d never gotten so attached to one of her boarders, but Becky was special.

  * * *

  Early Monday morning, Becky had her room packed up, and she’d given it an extra thorough cleaning so Mrs. Franklin wouldn’t have to before another guest could move in. She had often helped with cleaning the rooms after one guest or another would move out, so she was comfortable with what needed to be done. She put fresh sheets on the bed and made it up the way Mrs. Franklin would have done it herself before walking down to find the older woman. “My room is made up and ready for the next guest.”

  Mrs. Franklin smiled at her, a tear popping into her eye. “Thank you for thinking of that. It will save me work later.”

  “Thank you for taking a chance on me, Mrs. Franklin. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been willing to take me in when no one else wanted me.”

  “I still don’t understand those parents of yours. You’re their only child, and they just pushed you out of the house as if you were yesterday’s slop. Promise you’ll visit me?”

  Becky flew into the woman’s arms, hugging her tightly. “I’ll visit you every single chance I get. I promise!”

  “You’re a sweet child!” Mrs. Franklin hugged her back, finally stepping away to see the bag at Becky’s feet. “I’m always here for you. If you have the slightest need, you come see me. You understand?”

  Becky wiped her own tears off her face. “I promise, I will.”

  Amos stopped beside them, noting the tears on both of their faces. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but the pastor is expecting us in ten minutes.”

  Becky nodded, taking the arm Amos offered her. “I’ll miss you,” she said softly.

  Mrs. Franklin nodded, wiping away her tears with her apron. She stood at the window and watched the two of them until they were out of sight, saying a quick prayer. “God, you make him take care of her! She deserves all the love a man can give.”

  As they walked, he turned into the small church there in Creede, and she knew she was going to have to be married by Pastor Eugene, who had once tried to get her to move out of town, because her being allowed to stay in her condition would make other young ladies think they could behave the same way she had.

  “I don’t like him,” she said softly as they entered the church.

  “Pastor Eugene? No one does, but unless we want to drive to Bachelor to get married, he’s our only option.” Amos wasn’t particularly fond of the man, but they were headed out of town the opposite direction of Bachelor, and it would just add time to their already-busy day.

  “I understand. I’ll deal with him.”

  When they reached the front of the church and stood before the pastor, Eugene’s eyes narrowed. “Why are you bringing this Jezebel into the house of the Lord?”

  Amos frowned at the pastor. “You will marry us with as few words as you can possibly use, and then you may tell my bride that you’re happy she found a man who will care for her and her child. Not another negative word, or I’ll be the one gathering the next lynch mob myself!”

  Becky bit a lip to keep from laughing when she saw the fear on Eugene’s face. She’d heard stories about how the pastor had been found with his new wife, and she wasn’t at all worried about anything he had to say about morality. She’d made a mistake, and she’d owned up to it. It was more than she could say for him.

  The wedding took less than three minutes. When Pastor Eugene said, “You may kiss your bride,” Amos took her into his arms and kissed her softly.

  Once again, her lips tingled and feelings washed through her. How could she feel so much when she was just weeks away from delivering her child?

  “Thank you, Pastor,” Amos said, shaking his hand. He slipped him the smallest amount of money he thought was reasonable for the service the man had performed. “We’ll see you on Sunday.”

  Amos offered her his arm and picked up her bag. Becky held her head high as she left the church, more than a little happy that they’d managed to get the wedding done so quickly. “Let’s go see the house,” he said softly.

  Chapter Two

  The ride out of Creede and to Amos’s house took them past Becky’s parents’ house, and she sat rigidly beside him on the seat of the wagon as they passed. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her mother in the front yard, watching her, but she refused to even turn her head. Too much water had passed under that bridge for her to feel comfortable discussing anything with her.

  Their new house was a scant ten-minute ride past her parents’ ranch, and she wasn’t looking forward to being so close to them. As they pulled up to his house, she was surprised at how grand it was. “It’s beautiful!”

  He grinned over at her, pleased by her reaction. “I still have a little work I want to do, but it’s mostly done. I want to add a small barn, so we can have a couple of cows. Babies need milk, right?”

  She smiled at that. “Well, at first, they drink only their mama’s milk, but soon he or she will need cow’s milk. You’ll definitely have time to build a barn first.”

  “And a chicken coop! I want us to be self-sufficient here as soon as we can be. For now, you’ll have to shop in town, if that’s all right.”

  She nodded. There hadn’t been many people who had been kind to her in town since she’d gotten pregnant, but the wife of the mercantile owner had been one of the few who had. She couldn’t wait to tell Toria she was married. She knew the older woman would only be pleased for her. And Toria was expecting as well, so maybe their babies would one day be friends.

  He jumped down from the wagon and walked around, holding a hand up to help her down. “Easy does it. Can you get in and out of a wagon on your own now?”

  She laughed, nodding. “I’ve always been extremely active and flexible. Being pregnant hasn’t changed that one bit. I do as much as I can every day of my life. I like being self-sufficient. It makes me more confident.”

  “All right. Let’s see our house!” He couldn’t believe how very excited he was to lead his new wife inside and show her the house he’d built.

  He opened the door, and the first thing she saw was a big parlor. There was one sofa there but no other furniture. “I’ll give you a budget to buy what you need to furnish this room and some others. I was so worried about getting everything built that I didn’t much think about the décor.”

  “I can understand that. Looking around, I already have some ideas. Can we order furniture from the mercantile?”

  He shrugged. “As long as you stay within budget, I don’t care if you order it from China. I wish we had a little more time before my mom gets here, but we don’t, so you’re just going to have to work fast.”

  “I’ll do my best.” She walked to the middle of the room and thought about what she could do in the meantime. “How about if I make a few large pillows until we get more furniture in?”

  “That’s fine. Or there’s a small furniture store in town you can go to. They should deliver for you. I don’t have time to go unless we do it today, but you can get what you want within budget.” He led her into the kitchen, which he was sure she’d love. There was a table with six chairs pushed up to it. “You should get a high chair as well. It’ll look more realistic that I’m the baby’s father that way.”

  “I’ll do that. I should probably get a cradle, too.”

  “Absolutely. Just make sure the baby is taken care of when you buy things.” He led her to the back of the house. “There’s one bedroom on the first floor. We’ll share it while my m
other is here, but it will be yours when she’s not. You can share it with the baby after he arrives.” He opened the door to a large bed, a dresser, and a wardrobe.

  It would be perfect for her. She could put the cradle at the foot of the bed. She wouldn’t think about having to share the bed with him while his mother was there until absolutely necessary. “This will work beautifully!”

  “Good. I was hoping it would.” He led the way up the stairs, and she followed. “There’s a big room up here that I’ll usually use, but we’ll have it all cleaned out and looking fresh for my mother on Friday. She’ll use it while she’s here. She’s a particular woman, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she showed up with a potential bride for me.”

  “Really?” Becky didn’t want to have to endure anyone being upset with her over the marriage.

  “Really. She’s been trying to get me to move back to New York and marry for years. I haven’t seen her in two years, and I’ve lived in Creede for over a year. It’s perfectly plausible that the baby is mine.” He showed her the large room he’d use. “This will be my room. I’m only going to ask you to come up here and clean it on Friday morning. You don’t need to be climbing a lot of stairs in your condition.”

  “I promise you that I’m perfectly capable of doing everything I did before I was expecting. I have worked every day of this pregnancy in one way or another.” She’d been so relieved to give her notice at the restaurant she couldn’t even express it. “At least I won’t be serving dozens of smelly men every day.”

  He laughed at that. “Nope. Just one.”

  She grinned. “Well, hopefully you’ll bathe a little more often than most of my customers at the restaurant did.”

  Amos smiled. “I think we’re going to get along just fine. I don’t have any food here yet. We’re going to have to head back to town to do some shopping, but I wanted you to see what you were working with first. You know . . . maybe we do have a little time to look at furniture today. I won’t go back to work until tomorrow.”

  “And you’re a builder?” Becky wasn’t sure if he’d told her that or if Mrs. Franklin had . . . or if she’d made it up in her own head. She just knew she thought he was a builder.

  “I am. I have a crew of men who work under me. I’m working on rebuilding the town after the latest fire.”

  “What time do you want me to serve breakfast?”

  He shrugged. “Around six is usually good. I won’t be home for lunch most days, but if you’ll pack one for me, that would be good. And I will be home around six for supper.”

  She nodded, making a mental note of the times as she followed him out to the wagon again. “I can make all that happen with no problem. Do you have a favorite food?”

  “I’m not picky. You’re talking to a man who has cooked for himself for more than three years. I am happy with anything I don’t have to cook.”

  “All right.” She settled herself on the seat, hearing her stomach growl. She patted the baby there. “I’m starting to get hungry. Let’s get that shopping done so I can come home and feed us both.”

  “I’ll take you to a restaurant in town. Then you can eat a little faster. We wouldn’t want to starve that baby, would we?”

  Becky smiled over at him, and her eyes met her mother’s as they drove past the ranch where she’d been raised. Her smile faded, and she looked down at her hands.

  “What is it?”

  “We just passed my family’s ranch . . . and my mother was standing out front.”

  “I see.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “She’s still not speaking to you?”

  “Neither of my parents have since the day they kicked me out. It broke my heart, but I didn’t know what else to do.”

  “Have you thought about talking to them? Now that you’re married, maybe they won’t be so angry.” Amos hated that she was so distraught over the situation.

  “Maybe.” But Becky knew she wouldn’t. How could she? Her parents had turned their backs on her in her hour of need. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to forgive that . . . but more importantly, she knew they’d never forgive her.

  “I’ll go with you if you’re afraid.”

  She shook her head. “I’ll think about it, but it won’t be this week.”

  As they drove, he talked to her about his vision for his future. “I didn’t expect to stay here in Creede, but there’s something about the place that’s calling me. I knew as soon as I set foot in town that this was where I needed to be.” He didn’t mention that a strange person had come up to him that night, telling him he needed to make Creede his home. He wasn’t sure who the man was, but he’d come to him again and again.

  “I’m glad you stayed. I don’t think I’ve thanked you for getting me out of the situation I was in, but I want you to know that I am grateful. I never thought I’d end up pregnant and alone.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t. I’m very sorry about your fiancé,” he said.

  “Me too. He was a good person, and no one should ever die the way he did.”

  “How did he die?”

  “He was a miner, just like his father before him. There was a cave-in at the mine, and he didn’t make it.” She stared straight ahead as she told the story, her heart sad all over again. “His father made it out. Only three men died in that one.”

  “I’m very sorry for your loss.” He was, but he found he wasn’t. He was proud to have her as his wife, riding beside him on the wagon seat. She was a beautiful woman, and her pregnancy didn’t detract from it at all. He’d always wanted children, and he would raise hers as his own. Why not? It didn’t hurt him that another man had fathered him or her.

  When they got into town, he went to the restaurant in the hotel first, the one where she’d worked. “It’s going to be strange coming here as a customer.”

  “Is this where you worked?” he asked, walking around to help her down.

  She nodded. “It is. The manager isn’t happy with me.”

  “I’m sure he’s not. I am, though.” He held the door open for her, and she stepped in before him.

  The manager glared at her from across the room. “Have you come to beg for your job back? I’d normally say no, but I have lots of tables that need to be seen to . . .” He stopped when he saw Amos behind her. “Oh, Mr. Bowen, I didn’t see you there.”

  Amos put his arm around Becky’s waist. “We’d like a table please.”

  Mr. Statler closed his eyes for a moment, obviously struggling with his temper. “Of course, sir. Right this way.” He led them to a quiet table in the corner of the restaurant. “May I offer my congratulations on your marriage?”

  Amos pulled out a chair for Becky as he nodded at the manager. “Thank you.” He sat down across from his wife and waited while the manager brought them menus.

  Becky leaned forward. “He’s angry. He’s having to wait tables today, and he’s always made it clear that’s beneath him.”

  Amos shrugged. “He’ll survive.” He accepted the menu. “My wife and I would both like water to drink, please.”

  The manager hurried away while Amos looked down at the menu. “Any idea what you want?”

  Becky’s stomach gave a growl loud enough for him to hear. “I’ll just have the soup.”

  He frowned at her. “You’re a lot hungrier than soup. Why don’t I order for both of us?”

  Becky nodded happily. She didn’t want to order something that was out of his price range, and she had no idea what that price range was, so she needed to let him do it himself. That would be much better for her. “I’d like that.”

  Twenty minutes later, she had a steak and a baked potato on her plate, and she cut into the steak hungrily. She’d had decent breakfasts and suppers every day, thanks to Mrs. Franklin, but her lunches had always been lacking. She’d served plates of rich food to all the customers that had come into the restaurant without being able to eat anything of what she served.

  After their meal, they walked next door to the
mercantile. “What’s my budget for groceries?” she asked in a whisper.

  He frowned at her. “I’m not going to put you on a budget for groceries. Just pick out what you need.”

  Becky bit her lip, walking through the store and thinking. She grabbed a loaf of fresh-made bread, which she knew had been made by Beatrice, the wife of the telegraph operator. She wouldn’t have time to make bread before their evening meal. She picked out flour, sugar, beans, and everything else she remembered seeing in her mother’s kitchen. She was a good cook, and she looked forward to showing him just how good of a cook.

  “We don’t have any pans,” she overhead Amos say at the counter, and Toria hurried over to show him the pan she thought he should purchase for Becky.

  Becky looked at the price tag with wide eyes. “Those are too much!” She pointed to another set of pans that were a little more than half the price. “These will do fine.”

  “What’s the difference between the pans?” Amos asked Toria.

  “Those are good for a young couple who has a tight budget, but they won’t last more than a year or two. This other set of pans will last at least twenty years or more. If money isn’t terribly tight, I would get this set,” Toria said, indicating the set she had shown him.

  “All right. We’ll get this set.”

  Becky put her hand on his arm. “I’m not trying to contradict you, but I really can use the other set just fine.”

  “There’s no need for you to.” He picked up the crate with the pans in it and carried it to the counter, setting it down. “Are you finished picking out the food you need?”

  She nodded. “I made a pile on the counter. I hope I didn’t choose too much.”

  “I’m sure you didn’t.” He pulled a roll of cash from his pocket and carefully counted out the amount Toria gave him. “Will you deliver that? I finally moved into the new house.”

  Toria wrote down the directions he gave her. “It’ll be there within a couple of hours. Is that soon enough?”