who had been instrumental in that improvement.
Her gaze held his, searching for what he could not say. But he longed to be the one to give her what she sought.
He trailed the back of his hand along Kate’s cheek. His fingers lingered at the corner of her mouth and his gaze dipped and then he caught her lips in a gentle-as-dawn kiss. If not for the baby between them, he would have held her close.
She pushed away. “How can you kiss me when you belong to Thelma?”
“Kate, it’s not what you think.” He pulled the baby closer as if it would anchor his thoughts.
It failed to do so. He wanted to explain about Thelma.
“I’m not interested in dillydallying with a man. I will be pursuing my studies in medical school as soon as it can be arranged.”
He wasn’t interested in dillydallying either. Nor was he interested in a relationship of any sort with a woman whose plans left no room for him.
But if she knew the truth about the baby and Thelma, would she be willing to consider a different option than the one she seemed committed to? He’d heard loneliness in her voice when she talked about the difference between the family next door and her own. Kate, he knew, wanted and needed family. But she fought it. He wanted her to see that even if there remained no room for him in her heart. But before he could say anything, Grandfather shuffled from his bedroom. “How is the patient this morning?”
Conner realized with a start that the night had flown by. Holding the baby, he told the older man of the improvement.
Grandfather patted her cheek.
Suddenly Conner held the baby away from him. “I believe our little girl’s kidneys are working just fine.”
Kate burst out laughing.
He narrowed his eyes. “You think it’s funny?”
“The look on your face is priceless.” She seemed to try to muffle her amusement as she found a dry diaper in the basket, then took the baby from his arms.
He was glad to have lightened the tension between them. He watched as she changed Ellie’s diaper.
Conner saw her spindly legs and thin thighs. “She’s gaunt.” He blurted out the words without thinking.
Kate finished pinning the dry diaper in place, then turned her serious gaze to him. “She’s been ill or neglected for a long time.”
Conner’s jaw muscles tightened. “I will find Thelma and get an answer as to why this baby is like this.” His heart thudded. Finding Thelma was likely going to make his life even more complicated than it was now.
Grandfather had gone to the kitchen.
Kate faced him. “I know you belong to another woman. We should not have kissed. It must not happen again.”
He had no response. What could he say?
Kate laid the baby in her basket and hurried away without a backward look.
Conner took his time going to the kitchen. How could he explain to Kate he didn’t belong to Thelma in any way? He looked at the baby snuggled in her blankets looking more content than she had since she’d arrived on his doorstep. It was more important to protect Ellie than anything else that he might want to do.
He joined the others for breakfast. Kate sat across the table from him and kept her attention on her plate. Would it make a difference to her to know Ellie wasn’t his daughter? He failed to see how it would. She had made it crystal clear that she would soon be going to medical school with plans to never marry. Imagine not wanting a family. He couldn’t understand it.
Would anything make her change her mind?
Someone banged on the outside door and Pa hurried to open it. He led the sheriff into the kitchen.
“Jesse. Good.” The man was practically a brother and would have helped even if his job didn’t require it.
Jesse greeted everyone.
“Did you get your business tended to?” Pa asked.
Jesse grabbed one of the hard chairs and plunked down, his hat dangling from his hands. “Turned my prisoner over to the marshal and rode home again. But what can I do for you?” He looked at Conner.
Before Conner could answer, Annie clattered into the house. She saw Jesse and Kate. “What’s going on? What did I miss?”
Conner got to his feet. “I’ll show you.” He led the way into the sitting room. Everyone followed. Conner scooped the baby from her basket.
“Ahh,” Annie said, her eyes full of tenderness toward the baby.
Jesse’s mouth fell open. He closed it, swallowed hard and stared. “It’s yours?”
Conner didn’t answer. Let his friend draw his own conclusions.
Jesse tried again. “You have a baby?”
“Thelma does.” He wondered if Kate would notice the distinction he made.
“Thelma is back?” Jesse glanced around. “Where is she?”
“She’s not here.” Everyone waited for him to continue. “I need you to find her for me.”
“Where do you suggest I look?”
“She was with the traveling show last I heard from her. But that was a year and a half ago.”
“I know the show you mean. I’ll make some inquiries,” Jesse said. “So this is your baby? A boy or girl?”
“Little girl. Elspeth, but we call her Ellie.”
Jesse watched the baby for several minutes, shook his head as if he still didn’t believe what he saw. “You sure you want me to find Thelma?”
Conner opened his mouth but could not utter a word. What did Jesse mean?
Jesse continued, “She could take the baby away and it’s obvious you’re very fond of her.”
Conner wondered how Jesse had come to that conclusion. From the look on Conner’s face, the way he held the baby close to his heart or had he seen some other indication?
Kate crowded to Conner’s side and stroked Ellie’s head. “Doesn’t he have as much right to keep the baby and care for her as Thelma?”
Grandfather harrumphed. Pa gave Conner a very pointed look.
“Not if I’m not the father.” He spoke quietly, knowing his news would shock her.
Silence followed his admission.
Jesse broke the silence. “Then why is the baby here?”
“I don’t know, and until we learn the reason, would you keep the fact she isn’t mine a secret?”
“Of course.” Jesse headed for the door. “I’ll start inquiries about Thelma.”
The others quietly slipped away, leaving Conner and Kate.
Kate came round to face Conner. “You’re not the father? Why would you lead me to think otherwise?”
“I didn’t know why Thelma sent her to me. I still don’t.”
Kate kept her head down so he couldn’t see her face. It left him floundering to guess how his announcement had affected her. “Does it make a difference?”
“It changes nothing.” Her head high, she returned to the kitchen, not once looking his direction.
He had his answer as to whether or not she would reconsider her decision regarding a family.
There was no reason he should feel a weight of disappointment pressing on his heart.
She’d never given him reason to think otherwise.
Nor