Joline's Redemption (15 page)

“What's his name?”

“It's James, but I call him Jamie.”

Unfathomable joy billowed through Baron as he stared at the child—his nephew. The boy looked a lot like Jo, but he thought he could see Mark in him, too. As far as he knew, Mark wasn't aware he had a son—and maybe that was for the best. Abigail would go on the warpath and run the family name into ruin if she learned about Jamie. He wasn't sure how Mark would react.

Wouldn't his mother be delighted to hear the news? Baron frowned. No, she wouldn't, not when she learned the child was illegitimate. There were numerous people who would be happy to bring down the Hillborne family if they learned of the boy. And yet, Jamie was their blood relative. As thrilled as he was to be related to the boy, he needed to tread carefully. Would Jo expect him to help her? Not that he wasn't willing …

“Why are you scowling?” Jo crossed her arms, glaring at him.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs as Baron rubbed the back of his neck. “We need to talk, but not now.”

“I have nothing to talk to you about.”

“Maybe not, but there are things I need to tell you.” He couldn't blame her for being apprehensive, not after she'd lived with his brother. Who knew what Mark had done to the woman? He remembered a pretty brunette who'd come to the estate, badly beaten. She claimed Mark had done the deed and threatened to run down the family name if he didn't help her. At his father's orders, he'd paid for the woman to see a doctor and then gave her enough money to leave town and get a fresh start somewhere else.

He glanced at Jo, whose back was to him at the moment. Even with her hair kinking around her red face and wearing that stained apron, he could see what had attracted his brother to her. It wasn't just her pretty face, but that fiery spark in her gaze. Hadn't Gabe said she'd only been sixteen when his brother first charmed her? That had to have been just before the land run in '89. That meant she was only about twenty now. Gabe was right when he said she looked mature for her age. He would have guessed she was closer to twenty-three, but she wasn't. That meant she was nine years younger than he, not that it mattered.

Gabe walked in, beaming, with a lovely woman on his arm, who somewhat resembled Jo, except she had darker blond hair and eyes less vivid than Jo's blue ones. Both women were the same height, about five foot five, he guessed.

“This is my wife, Lara.” Gabe's wide smile sent a shaft of unexpected jealousy coursing through Baron.

She smiled at him. “Welcome to our home, Mr. Hillborne.” Her gaze lingered on his for only a moment before she shot a worried glance to her sister, who was slicing the meat.

“Thank you for having me, Mrs. Coulter. You have a most impressive home.” He hoped to lighten the tension and assure them he was no threat to their family. Why had Gabe invited him? Baron could imagine how awkward his presence must be for them, especially Jo. Her odd behavior at the store now made sense. She must have been scouting him out—or perhaps she'd come to see if Mark had returned. Did she still pine after him?

He certainly hoped not, because she was bound to be distraught when he told her that her marriage to his brother was not official since Mark was already married. Or had Gabe told her? If he hadn't, Baron hoped she didn't fall apart, weeping and wailing. He'd never been good with women's emotions. He often dealt with Abigail's when she was upset with his brother, and he never knew how to console her. Women always gravitated to Mark, and Baron didn't want a woman who'd rather be with his brother. The idea that Jo had turned his stomach.

“Where's Sarah?” Jo asked as she set the meat platter on the table.

Her sister smiled. “She offered to sit with Beth while we ate. I'll take her a plate when I go upstairs after dinner.”

Jo nodded and took her seat next to her son on the far side of the table. Baron had a hard time keeping his eyes off them, especially Jamie.

He sat down when the rest of the family did. It was hard for him to be upset with Jo for her relationship with Mark when he just learned he had a nephew. Smiling, he closed his eyes while Gabe said the prayer for the meal. Baron thanked God for the unexpected blessing He'd bestowed on him today. At least Jamie was an unexpected gift. He wasn't so certain about the child's mother.

J
ack stood in the front part of the doctor's office while Nick helped Lee get dressed in the new clothes that Cora had purchased at the store. He glanced at her, glad he'd let her come along and help. She'd done a wonderful job of calming little Lee.

Dr. Vance stepped out from behind the curtain separating the waiting area from his examination room and blew out a loud breath. He walked over to where Jack stood by the front window, shaking his head. “Those boys are in sad condition,” he said, keeping his voice low. “They must not have had much to eat lately, and they're covered in mosquito bites and scratches.”

“I aim to fix the food problem.” Jack shifted his feet, wondering if the boys would be happy with his passable cooking skills.

“They should only have some broth or chicken soup today. If that doesn't upset their stomachs, then you can feed them eggs or porridge for breakfast, but no bacon or anything else greasy. If they hold that down, then whatever you have to feed them should be fine. Be sure to send word if they have any problems.”

Jack nodded. “All right, Doc. Thanks for letting the boys have a bath here. We sure hated putting them in new clothes with all that grime on them.”

Doc shrugged. “No thanks needed. It was necessary. I couldn't very well examine them in that state, either.”

Cora stepped forward. “So, other than what you mentioned and suffering from a lack of good food, you didn't find anything else wrong with them?”

“The bigger boy had some fresh scratches that he probably got when he fell in the creek, but unless he comes down with a cold, he should be fine. The younger boy had a few old scratches on his hands and arms but nothing I wouldn't expect from a child his age.”

Cora smiled, creating odd tingles in Jack's belly. Then again, he'd missed lunch, so maybe that was the cause.

“You let me know if either boy takes sick.”

“Will do, Doc.”

“I'd best make sure they aren't getting into anything back there. You know how children can be.” Doc turned and slipped behind the curtain.

“What are we going to do with the boys, Jack?”

“I promised them they could stay with me, so I reckon they will.”

“But for how long? And are you sure the church leaders will even allow that since you live in the parsonage?”

“How could they refuse two orphans?”

Cora glanced toward the curtain and lifted a finger to her lips. “They can, and they might, so you should be prepared.”

He leaned toward her. “I already decided that I won't put those boys in an orphanage.”

“Not all of them are bad places.”

He straightened. “I know that, but the officials would more than likely separate them because of their age difference—and they've lost enough already. They need each other.” He thought back to how he and his sisters had been sent to different homes right after the fire that killed his parents. No one wanted to take in three youngsters at once, but at the same time, no one stopped to consider that maybe they needed to be together. The man who took him only wanted him for the work he could do. No matter that he was grieving the loss of his parents while suffering the overwhelming guilt of knowing he was responsible for their deaths. He'd wanted to protect and care for his little sisters, but well-meaning churchgoers had said it wasn't proper for a youth his age. And besides, they had no home to live in. Jo wailed when Mr. and Mrs. Olander had taken her and Lara away. He gritted his teeth. He could still hear her screams. Thank the good Lord his grandparents had come for them a week later.

“Did you hear me, Jack?” Cora tapped her foot. “I said we'll just have to pray for God to send a loving couple who will take both boys and raise them to be their children.”

Jack gave her a quick nod. The curtain parted, and Doc stepped back into the room. He held open the white linen so Nick could pass through with Lee behind him. The younger boy held tight to his brother's hand. Jack was amazed at the difference in them with the dirt scrubbed off and new clothes on their backs. Both boys' hair was still damp and combed to one side.

“Are you two ready to get something to eat?” Cora walked forward. “My mother made chicken and rice soup for Sunday dinner, and I think it's just the thing you youngsters need.”

“That sounds wonderful, ma'am.” Nick glanced at his brother and smiled.

Jack took Cora's cue, glad he didn't have to go home and scramble to prepare a meal. “That sounds delicious. I never had lunch myself.”

Cora shot him a surprised look. “I'm sure there's enough for you, too, Pastor.”

He smiled. “I'm right glad to hear that.”

She turned to the doctor. “Have you eaten? I'm sure Mama has plenty.”

Doc held up one hand. “Thank you kindly, Miss Sommers, but I did eat—at the café.”

“Thanks for checking over the boys.” Jack held out his hand, and Doc shook it.

An hour later, with their bellies sated and having said his farewell to Cora and her parents, Jack bent over a checkerboard in his parlor, playing a game with Nick. The boy was good and had already beaten him once, partly because Lee distracted him when he got into the kitchen cupboard.

He rubbed the back of his neck. What had he gotten himself into?

He knew nothing of entertaining children. At least he didn't have to figure out where they could sleep since the house had an extra bedroom. Evidently, pastors often came with families.

Jack studied the board then reached to make his move when someone knocked on the door. “Hang on, pardner. I'll be right back.”

He rose and ambled across the room, but when he saw three men from the church board, his hackles rose. They didn't look to be in a benevolent mood. He stepped outside, nodding at the men, and closed the door. “What can I do for you gentlemen?”

Ted Sizemore glanced at the other two then cleared his throat. “Is it true you're housing the children of the man who drew a knife on Mrs. Parnell?”

“It is.” Jack crossed his arms over his chest.

Burt Gladstone crossed his arms. “Well, Zeb Parnell came to us, madder than a rooster whose henhouse had been upset by a thievin' weasel.”

Jack suspected the weasel he referred to was Mr. Beatty.

“He said it ain't right that them boys stay here when the church owns this house and pays your salary.” Burt shifted his feet, as if not completely comfortable relaying the news.

Jack narrowed his gaze, annoyed at the men's lack of compassion. “The Beatty boys are children—young ones at that. Just what does Mr. Parnell think they will do?”

“It ain't so much that,” Bill Arnold offered. “It's what their pa did.”

“So, the boys are guilty because their father did the wrong thing, when all he wanted was to get food for them?”

All three men stared at their feet.

“They are not guilty of any crime,” Jack said, taking advantage of the silence. “And you should see them. Those poor orphans are as scrawny as fence wire.”

Mr. Sizemore looked up. “Zeb said he'd quit giving to the church if you don't get rid of them.”

“Fine! Let him, because they are staying until I find them a proper home.”

“No, they're not.” Mr. Sizemore lifted his chin. “The church board has decided. You have two weeks to find a place for them or else.”

“Or else what?”

Mr. Sizemore glanced at the others, who nodded. “Or we find us a new preacher.”

Carrying Jamie, Jo reluctantly led Baron into the parlor while Gabe and Michael helped Lara clean up. Right after the meal, she had escaped to check on Grandpa, but he was sleeping. She blew out a sigh, dreading her talk with Baron Hillborne. What could she say? That his brother was a charming snake who told her what she wanted to hear at the time she had been most vulnerable?

She took a seat on the sofa and placed Jamie next to her. Baron sat in a chair at a right angle from the sofa, his eyes on her son. What would he expect of her? Would he want to be part of Jamie's life? Would he
demand
to be part of Jamie's life?

Baron looked at her and smiled. “I have to say this is quite a pleasant surprise. When I got up this morning, it was just a regular day … and now … I'm an uncle. I can't seem to quit smiling.”

At least his smile was different from Mark's. He only had one dimple where Mark had two.

Jo's hand shook. Why was she afraid of him? What could he do?

Dumb question. She of all people knew what men were capable of.

“Do you think Jamie would let me hold him?”