The Marriage Barter. Christine Johnson

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СКАЧАТЬ dislike of Baxter, he wanted to see if anyone else here had dealings with the man. If he found anything against Baxter, he might reconsider taking the case to the judge.

      He would not reconsider the sheriff’s not-so-veiled suggestion. Wyatt was not a marrying man. Period.

      The first two farms yielded nothing, but the Hayes ranch was a different story.

      The tall rancher eyed him solemnly, his strong jaw taut. “We don’t do business with men like Baxter.”

      Though Wyatt pressed, Colton Hayes refused to elaborate.

      What sort of business? As near as Wyatt could tell, Baxter made his money in trade. He shipped supplies out to the mines in Colorado and the big farms in his area. His storefront was small but well stocked. At first glance, Greenville seemed an odd place to plant such a business, but it was the last large town on the rail line. Baxter must be using that to his advantage. Maybe he overcharged. That would explain the rancher’s disdain.

      Baxter’s orphanage also seemed to pass muster. From what Wyatt heard, it handled cases of children in Greenville and the surrounding area who became orphans, and also took in almost all the orphans the Orphan Salvation Society brought through that didn’t find homes. Greenville’s mayor spoke glowingly of it and of Baxter. “A first-rate philanthropist.” “Above reproach.” Over and over he heard the same words. Everything had checked out, or he wouldn’t have taken the job.

      When Wyatt had stopped by the orphanage, it was empty. Baxter had taken considerable pride in his ability to place the children. That hadn’t struck Wyatt as odd at the time, but now he wondered how Baxter succeeded when the orphan society couldn’t.

      He shook his head. None of this explained Greenville’s determination to get the orphans and Evans Grove’s equal insistence on keeping them.

      Frustrated, he rode Dusty hard on the return. The steed appreciated the gallop, but Wyatt hadn’t gotten any answers. He had pieces to a puzzle, but none of them fit together. Mayor Evans standing oh so confident next to that distinguished banker fellow, sure she’d find a way to thwart him. The sheriff out-and-out suggesting he hightail it back to Greenville and give up a lucrative job. Charlotte Miller.

      His heart caught in his throat. He had no idea the orphan society would take away Sasha. It wasn’t fair. Making her marry to keep her daughter? Ridiculous. The whole thing made him so angry that he wanted to walk into that town and shake some sense into those orphan society rule makers. And that was the trouble. He couldn’t get involved. He couldn’t let emotion get hold of him, or he would ruin yet more lives.

      He unclenched his fist and flexed his hand. He’d been holding the reins too tightly. That was the trouble with emotion. It hurt. And Wyatt couldn’t risk hurting any more women and children.

      The faces in the fires still haunted his dreams. Atlanta burning. The march to the sea. The echoes of cannon and crackle of flames. His hand on the torch, anger seething until it overflowed. Houses burning. Screams. Cries for mercy.

      He drew in a rattling breath. Wyatt Reed couldn’t be trusted around women and children. Ever.

      * * *

      Marry Wyatt Reed?

      The thought niggled at Charlotte’s mind as she walked Sasha home. The man kept his emotions in check, much like Charles. The only hint of feeling came when he held Sasha, but did he care enough for the little girl to tie himself to a woman he didn’t know? It was a preposterous idea. She couldn’t believe Holly had suggested it. Worse, her friend insisted Wyatt had looked at her in a special way, the same way Mason looked at Holly.

      Impossible.

      She’d never seen it.

      Yet what choice did she have? Elmer Droll?

      Sasha slipped from Charlotte’s grasp to greet the Hutchinsons’ dog Sparky, like she always did when they passed. The beagle mix had started to wait expectantly each day for his hug and kisses. Sasha squealed with laughter as the dog lapped her face.

      The little girl was starting to fit into the community. To Charlotte, she’d become dearer than life. Charlotte would do anything for her—even marry. Thirteen years ago she’d wed Charles Miller out of necessity. She could do it again. Given the slim selection of available men, she preferred Wyatt by far.

      But how could she convince him to marry her? The brides of old used a dowry to lure an eligible husband. Her parents had left her nothing, but Charles had. That was it! She’d offer him money.

      Wyatt Reed would take any job for money. Hopefully, the sum she had would be enough. She felt a flash of panic at the thought of giving up the money—her security to take care of herself and Sasha—but she pushed it away. Sasha was worth it. At first, Charlotte would offer only part of the total amount of money she had, but even if Wyatt demanded every last dollar, Sasha was worth the price. When all this was over and the little girl was truly hers, Charlotte would do anything—even scrub floors—to put food on the table. Whatever it took, she’d do it to keep her daughter.

      Charlotte gathered Sasha and marched toward the hotel. If she was going to do this, she’d do it now, before Wyatt Reed had time to run and she lost her nerve.

      The distance had never seemed so short. Before she had time to formulate how to broach the subject, the hotel porch came into view. What on earth would she say to him? Good evening, Mr. Reed, would you be looking for a wife? Or perhaps, Mr. Reed, perhaps you would prefer not to eat alone each night. Or even outright begging.

      Every approach made her blush madly.

      When Mrs. Regan stopped to console her, she fanned her face and made up excuses. “This mourning dress is so hot and heavy.”

      If the woman recognized the true source of Charlotte’s discomfort, she had the grace not to point it out. “I’m so glad we get to keep Lina. Teddy and I were beside ourselves over this whole mess. Why, that Mr. Reed should go back to Greenville where he belongs and leave us alone. I say if the Orphan Salvation Society agreed to keep the children in Evans Grove, then that’s where they should stay.”

      As she rattled on with her condemnation of Wyatt, it took all Charlotte’s strength not to walk away. If even those who’d benefited from his concession despised him, how would they feel if she married him? Would they hate her, too? Would they spurn Sasha?

      She glanced at her daughter, hoping she didn’t understand all that was swirling around her.

      “I’m sorry to hurry away, but we have business.” Charlotte couldn’t listen to another word. “Urgent business that can’t wait.”

      Taking Sasha’s hand, she hurried toward the hotel. The little girl appeared not to have understood what Mrs. Regan had said. But Charlotte wondered how to break the news to Sasha if she couldn’t find a husband.

      Her stomach churned as she envisioned handing Sasha to Rebecca to take on the train to Greenville. The little girl wouldn’t understand. She’d cry and wail. She’d reach for Charlotte and wonder why her mama was abandoning her. And then to board a train again after the horrible robbery and shooting that had occurred on Sasha’s last train ride. Charlotte couldn’t bear to think of her little girl scared and alone, without her mama to comfort her. She stumbled and had to stifle a sob. No one could take away her daughter. She’d do anything, marry anyone to prevent it. Even Wyatt Reed.

      Please, СКАЧАТЬ