As if to echo his tumultuous thoughts, the baby let out a small cry. Weak, thready, almost as if he, too, was cold and weary.
“It’s all right, Moses, we’re almost there,” Emma Jane said gently, the wind having shifted so that it carried each and every word straight to Jasper’s heart. So gentle and loving, the tenderness made him yearn for some of that directed towards him.
But how could they ever hope to find common ground when Emma Jane seemed determined to do everything her way? She hadn’t even asked him what he’d thought of the baby’s name. Jasper shivered, forcing his hands to maintain their grip on the reins. He had so many reasons to be angry with her, yet as he felt Emma Jane tremble against him, he found it easier to hold on to the icy reins than to count them.
They reached the hotel, and Jasper slid off the horse, his body half-frozen, then helped Emma Jane down. She landed, unsteady, but never losing her grip on the baby.
Jasper pounded on the door.
Stephen Lewis opened the door. “Jasper?”
“We got lost in the storm. Emma Jane is nearly frozen through.”
Stephen ushered them in quickly as Mrs. Lewis came around the corner. “Olivia, put some water on.”
“Oh, my!” Mrs. Lewis scurried off, and Stephen helped them get settled by the fire.
Emma Jane’s lips had turned blue, and her normally pale skin had turned such a deathly pallor that Jasper feared they’d gotten her inside too late.
Stephen handed her a thick buffalo robe.
But Emma Jane, fool that she was, said, “Wait, we need to be sure the baby is all right first. Help me untie this shawl.”
Another woman scurried over and quickly helped Emma Jane with the bundle.
“It’s a baby.”
“Yes,” Emma Jane said, the exhaustion in her voice obvious. “I’ve done everything I could for poor Moses, but I’m afraid...”
As much as Jasper resented Emma Jane taking on the baby without his consent, it didn’t mean Jasper wished him ill. Just as he started to say a prayer that the baby would be all right, the woman took Moses in her arms.
“Oh, the little dear. He is chilled to the bone. But he’ll be fine. Nothing a little of his mother’s milk and a good cuddle won’t fix.”
The woman held the baby out to Emma Jane, and she shook her head.
“His mother is dead. I’ve been taking care of him.” She turned to Jasper. “His bottles and milk are in the saddlebags. Hopefully, it’s not too frozen for him to drink.”
“Don’t worry about it,” the woman said, pulling the baby closer to her. “I’ve a baby of my own and plenty of milk. I’ll just take him in the other room and feed him.”
“Could I...” Emma Jane’s fatigue was more visible now, and she closed her eyes for a moment before continuing. “That is, I know you need your privacy, but I’ve been caring for him like my own, and I just need to be sure he’ll be all right.”
“Of course. We’ll sit by the stove in the kitchen, where it’s warm. Perhaps Mother will have some warm broth ready for you to drink.”
Emma Jane seemed to gain more strength with the woman’s words, and Jasper watched as the two women exited the room.
“Don’t you worry none about the wee one. Abigail is my daughter, and a fine mother, if I do say so,” Stephen said, smiling as his wife reentered the room, carrying a tray with a pot of tea and a bowl of steaming broth.
“Indeed she is.” Mrs. Lewis smiled back at her husband. “I was thinking it was too early for the two of you to have a baby already, but knowing your generosity in taking in a foundling child, oh, how it does my heart good.”
She handed Jasper the bowl. “This’ll warm you right up. You’re a good man, Jasper Jackson, and we are so pleased to once again be of service to you. The world needs more people like you.”
He tried sipping the broth, but his throat was too clogged with emotion for it to go down. The Lewises might think he was a good man, but Jasper had his doubts. His desire to be a good man and bring justice to poor Mel was what had landed them in this situation. He’d nearly killed himself, Emma Jane and an innocent child.
As for his generosity in taking in the baby, how could it be considered generosity when it had been foisted upon him? He’d never agreed to raise the child, and despite what Emma Jane said on the matter, he wasn’t sure he was going to. Jasper had done his duty by saving the baby, but now...now they could find the baby a real home, with a real family.
Chapter Twelve
The next morning, Emma Jane held Moses as the women sat near the fire, working on some embroidery. He hadn’t fussed at all since coming to Spruce Lakes Resort. Abigail said that, most likely, the goat’s milk had been upsetting the baby’s stomach. She’d said she had plenty of milk for both her baby, who was nearly weaned, and Moses. And so, since their arrival, Abigail had been feeding the little boy.
“I declare, I haven’t seen a baby fill out so fast in all my life,” Olivia Lewis said with a smile as she handed Emma Jane an embroidered cloth. “Just look at those chubby cheeks.”
“What’s this?” She looked at the fine stitching and held it up to the light.
“Those rags you came with for him are disgraceful. I’ve made so many diapers for my babies and grandbabies that putting together a few things for little Moses was simple.”
Emma Jane warmed at the older woman’s generosity. For the second time, she felt so loved and well nurtured by this virtual stranger. And yet, Olivia felt dearer to her than her
