The Marriage Barter - Christine Johnson

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name. Katya it is.”

      If only keeping Sasha could be handled so easily, but that man, Wyatt Reed, wanted to take her away. Moreover, she’d trusted him! How foolish. She should have known he was trouble from the start, but she’d been misled by his tenderness toward Sasha. How could a man who’d held Sasha so gently turn around and tear her and the other children from their homes?

      A rap on the door startled her from her thoughts. Even Sasha swiveled in her chair, worry creasing her little brow.

      “I’m sure it’s nothing,” Charlotte said, forcing a smile, but all she could think about were Wyatt’s words. He’d come to take away the children. Was he here now?

      Her heart pounded as she grasped the door handle. What could she say to persuade him to leave Sasha with her?

      “Charlotte, it’s me,” said a female voice on the other side of the door. “Holly.”

      Holly? Relief coursed through her until she remembered that Holly should be with Mason tonight. Something must have come up. Maybe she wanted to help Charlotte tonight instead of Saturday.

      She opened the door. “I can’t sort through Charles’s things tonight.”

      Holly shook her head and motioned for Charlotte to step outside. “There’s news.”

      Judging from the distress on her face, Charlotte knew what that news was. She closed the door behind her.

      “This man came from Greenville to take away the orphans,” Holly said breathlessly.

      “I know.”

      “You know?”

      “We met already.” Charlotte swallowed hard. How could she have misjudged the man so badly? Worse, she’d led him straight to the mayor. “I overheard him talking to Pauline.”

      Holly drew in a shaky breath. “Then you know that Liam would have to leave.” She choked. “Oh, Charlotte, I can’t lose him. Mason can’t lose him. We...we love him.”

      Charlotte wrapped her arms around her friend, marveling that they found themselves in a similar situation. In the past couple weeks, they’d both come to love a child. Holly adored Liam, and Sasha had claimed Charlotte’s heart.

      “I know, I know. I can’t bear to lose Sasha, either.” Charlotte fought back tears of her own. “What will we do?”

      “We’ll fight.” Determination fired Holly. “The mayor had Rebecca cable the Orphan Salvation Society office. Then she called an emergency town meeting for first thing in the morning. Nine o’clock. She told the Greenville man to come at ten o’clock. By then we’ll have figured out what to do.” She squeezed Charlotte’s hands. “Pauline is on our side. She won’t let anyone take away our children.”

      That anyone meant Wyatt Reed. Charlotte felt sick that she’d trusted him.

      Holly let go of Charlotte’s hands and dashed toward the street. “I have to tell the Hutchinsons, the Hollands and the Regans. We’ll win this, Charlotte. With Mayor Evans in the lead, we’re bound to win.”

      As Holly flew off into the night, Charlotte hugged her arms against the chill wind. She hoped Holly was right, but hope alone wouldn’t do it.

      She cast a prayer high into the star-filled sky. Lord, You love all Your children. Be with us tomorrow. Show us the way to keep Sasha and Liam and all the children here where they’re loved. We’re counting on You.

      In the meantime, Charlotte would do all she could to stop Wyatt Reed.

      Chapter Three

      The next morning, Wyatt sat in the hotel dining room eating breakfast and waiting for the ten o’clock meeting. From his seat at the window, he could see people scurrying through the grove of hackberry trees toward the town hall. He checked his pocket watch. A quarter to nine. Something was afoot, and he wouldn’t put it past Madam Mayor to work some shenanigans ahead of the scheduled meeting.

      He left enough money on the table to cover his meal and strode out onto the porch, where he put on his hat. When he saw Charlotte Miller hurry from the general store toward the town hall, he knew he’d guessed right.

      It took less than a minute to catch up to her. “Good day, Mrs. Miller.”

      She jumped but didn’t slow.

      He matched her stride. “How is Sasha this morning? Any ill effects?”

      She shook her head, but her shoulders squared defensively. “She’s visiting her friend, Lynette Gavin.”

      He hadn’t accused Charlotte of losing the girl, but she’d clearly taken it that way. He tried again. “You’re sure in a hurry this morning. Anything I can help you with?”

      “No.” Her reddened cheeks said otherwise.

      The rosy tinge became her, and again, Wyatt fought the urge to touch her cheek. “I’d gladly help.”

      “You’ve done quite enough already.”

      Her sharp words caught him in the gut. She wasn’t embarrassed. Those flushed cheeks came from anger. Why? He wasn’t going to take her daughter away from her. But had she heard that part? He thought back to yesterday. The gasp. The slamming of the door. Had it come before or after he’d agreed to let Sasha and the other placed children stay?

      Charlotte accelerated her pace.

      He chased after her. “Let me explain.”

      “There is nothing you can say to me,” she choked out.

      “But I—”

      “Y-y-you heartless man.” She halted and faced him, her fists balled and her eyes blazing. “How could you?”

      “I—”

      “Innocent children.” She shook a fist at him. “You’re taking innocent children from their homes. What sort of man are you?”

      Wyatt’s temper piqued. He’d done plenty that he wasn’t proud of, but not this time. He wasn’t taking any children from their homes. He was trying to give homes to the orphans who hadn’t been selected. But Charlotte got him so addle-brained that he couldn’t piece together the words.

      He settled for pointing out the facts. “I’m a man doing a job.”

      “A job.” She trembled with emotion, which only made her prettier. “You’re ruining children’s lives for money?”

      She said the last word with so much distaste that he couldn’t keep back a smile. If she’d just give him a chance to explain, most of that anger would go away. “First of all, I’m not ruining children’s lives. Second, if I didn’t do it, someone else would. But you need to understand—”

      “Oh, I understand perfectly.” She lifted that gorgeous little chin, her eyes afire. “The only thing you care about is money. Well, if that’s all you want, then maybe we can work something out. How much are you getting paid?”

      He stared at her. She was offering to top Baxter’s fee? He wouldn’t take money from a widow, especially when it wasn’t necessary. “More than you can afford.”

      Her cheeks darkened, and her spine straightened. “I see.”

      But he could tell she was struggling to hold back tears. “Let me explain.”

      “I don’t want your explanations, Mr. Reed.” Without waiting for a reply, she stormed off toward the town hall, where quite a crowd was forming.

      He started after her, but she quickly fell in with a pale, somewhat plump woman. Wyatt rubbed his chin, half frustrated by Charlotte Miller and half intrigued by what was going on. Once the last person entered the hall, he made his way to the wooden steps and carefully cracked open the door. A gavel pounded on a tabletop, and the murmur of voices hushed.

      Ten

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