Baby Makes a Match Read online

  The elderly man standing before her shifted his weight, his bushy eyebrows drawn together over the tops of his wire-rimmed glasses in a frown. All the Chatams, Bethany noted, seemed to have cleft chins. She brought her hands to her waist—or, rather, to where her waist had once been—and frowned right back at him.

  “You are wrong about your son.”

  Dull red crept up Hub Chatam’s throat from the open neck of his shirt collar, and he stuck out his chin. “My sister said yesterday that you were practically a member of the family. Then today he shows up here with you in that condition. What should I think?”

  Bethany rolled her eyes. “My brother, Garrett, is the gardener at Chatam House. Your sisters treat him like he’s a member of the family. I suppose that’s what she meant. All I know is that they’ve been more than kind to me. They gave me a home when I had nowhere else to turn.” She smoothed her hands over her belly as her muscles began to tighten.

  “So you and Chandler both are living at Chatam House,” Hubner said. “Well, that explains a good deal.”

  “Separately,” Bethany pointed out. “We’re not together. We moved in separately.”

  Hub scoffed at that. “I wouldn’t expect anything else. But if you and Chandler aren’t together, why did he leave the ranch?”

  She could only shake his head. “I don’t know. That’s his business.”

  “I see.”

  She doubted that, but she didn’t feel like arguing just then. Her stomach muscles clenched painfully. “Do you mind if I sit down?” she asked, trying to relax. “I feel like I’m carrying around an anvil in here.”

  “Of course, of course.” He swept a hand toward the desk. “This way.” He waited for her to walk over and sit down, then pulled a chair close and sat facing her. “I must say…Bethany, is it?” She nodded. “I must say, Bethany, it’s rather unusual for a woman in your condition to be out looking for a job.”

  “I don’t see why. A woman in my condition has to live just like everyone else. I was working as a clerk in a convenience store until a couple weeks ago, but it’s too hard now for me to stand on my feet all day.”

  “Ah. Well, the standing would be at a minimum here.” He folded his hands and regarded her thoughtfully for some time before quietly saying, “I’m sorry for what Chandler has done—”

  “Chandler has been very good to me,” she interrupted sharply. “We first met beside the road a few days ago, and he brought me to my brother at Chatam House.”

  “And my sisters believed that tale?” Hubner exclaimed.

  Meaning that he obviously did not! Exasperated, she started to get to her feet. “I see that Chandler was right. I’ll just wait outside for him to return.”

  “I didn’t say I wouldn’t hire you,” Hubner quickly told her, lifting a hand.

  She sat back once more, surprised. “I can have the job? But why, if you don’t believe me?”

  “I can’t imagine anyone else would hire you in this condition, so, yes, you can have the job. It seems the best thing to do.”

  Bethany wasn’t about to talk her way out of a paycheck by arguing further. Surely, in time, he would see that he was mistaken about her and his son.

  “Thank you,” she said.

  “You’re welcome, but there is a process to go through.”

  “Fine. No problem.”

  He rose then to go into his office for an application.

  Bethany wondered what had occurred between father and son to foster such distrust on Hubner Chatam’s part, but it was really none of her business. Besides, she needed this job, if only to pay her doctor bills. She knew that she had to have her cramps checked out, which meant that soon she had to find a doctor here in Buffalo Creek, and doctors expected payment.

  Pastor Hub, as he told her to call him, went over a folder that outlined the ministry’s objectives before leaving her to fill out the application. Bethany made short work of the form and eagerly scanned the list of programs and classes soon to be available.

  “Oh, this is wonderful,” she said when Hubner returned, “but you’re open for business only three days a week?”

  “Yes, that’s right. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. We have an emergency number that is answered through the church, and I don’t mind telling you that I’ve been working much more than three days a week getting this off the ground. I hope to be able to cut back to that soon, and then eventually to hand off my duties to a younger person. I think perhaps I’ll continue to teach some of the classes, though.”

  Part-time work was better than no work, Bethany mused. After the baby came, she could look for something better paying. Until then, this would have to do. They agreed that she would start first thing the next morning, primarily to field calls from people wanting information. They discussed her other duties, which were minimal, and then Hub showed her around the place.

  Their business concluded, they wandered back to the reception area to resume their seats.

  “Would you be offended if I said that I would pray for you?” Hub asked after a moment.

  “Not a bit.” Especially, she thought, since God did not always seem to hear her own prayers.

  “Good, because I sense that you have been deeply hurt.”

  She didn’t deny it, but quickly qualified, “Not by Chandler.”

  “Then perhaps you will tell me who it is that has hurt you,” Hubner urged.

  She met his gaze, quipping, “You want the whole list? Or just the worst one?”

  “Let’s start with the worst one,” he said gently.

  Her answer didn’t even require thought. “My stepfather.” Jay’s perfidy barely even registered when compared with what Doyle Benjamin had done. “He murdered my mother.”

  Hub reared back in surprise, but then his expression softened into sympathy. “Oh, I remember now. A great tragedy.”

  She nodded, and they discussed that time in hushed tones, including how Garrett had gotten caught up in the fallout.

  “I didn’t realize that about your brother,” Hub said, “but I’m glad you told me.”

  Chandler pushed through the door at that moment. He glowered at his father in silence, then switched his gaze to Bethany. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes.” She slid to the edge of her seat and paused, hoping Hub would apologize for his earlier behavior, but instead he lifted his chin and looked away. Heart sinking, she rose to her feet.

  Hub, too, stood. Never taking his eyes off Bethany, he said, “I’ll expect to see you tomorrow morning promptly at eight o’clock.”

  “I’ll see you then.”

  He patted her shoulder, saying, “Casual attire. We want a relaxed atmosphere. No need to drag out your Sunday best.”

  “That’s good,” she replied wryly, “because this dress is about the extent of it.”

  Hub chuckled, and she answered with a smile before turning toward Chandler. He nodded, a pleased gleam in his warm cinnamon eyes. Whatever his problem with his father, he wasn’t bothered by the idea of her working with the man. Bethany allowed Chandler to sweep her back out into the July heat. The two men never spoke to one another, but she was too happy to worry about it just then. Only later, in the front seat of Chandler’s pickup truck, did she stop to think about that and its implications.

  “I’m sorry if I created problems between you and your dad,” she told Chandler sincerely.

  He lifted an eyebrow at that. “Hardly. My father and I have had problems since I was in high school.” He shifted in his seat then, adding, “I had a particular friend that my father did not approve of.”

  “Ah. But that was a while ago,” she pointed out.

  “Not long enough,” Chandler drawled. Sighing, he admitted, “The truth is, Dad was right about my friend. It just took me this long to find it out.”

  “He’s not right about you, though,” she said. Chandler shot her a surprised look. “I mean, he wasn’t right about you today.”

  “Nope.”

  “So, what makes you th
ink he’s right about your friend?”

  Chandler shrugged, and she thought for a moment that he would fob her off with some clever, muddled quip. But then he gripped the steering wheel with both hands and told her how his “friend” had betrayed him and how slim his chances were, according to his attorney, of ever receiving restitution.

  “That’s why you’re looking for another partner,” Bethany said.

  “That’s why.”

  “And all that money is just gone?”

  He literally squirmed over that. “Yeah, according to my cousin, the attorney. I was too stupid to insist on drawing up a contract or having my name put on the deed, and Ash doubts a lawsuit would succeed because I was living there, working there and keeping my horses there while I was giving Pat money. Even though we had a verbal agreement that half of it would go toward a down payment on my share of the ranch, it would be his word against mine, or at the very best, an arbitrated settlement that I already know Kreger can’t pay.”

  “I’m so sorry,” she told him softly. “I know what it feels like to trust someone with your future and be betrayed.”

  Turning a grim face toward her, Chandler shook his head. “It’s nothing time and prayer can’t resolve. Lots of time and prayer.”

  She couldn’t help grinning at that. “You sound just like your father now.”

  He couldn’t have looked more stunned if she’d belted him, but then he laughed. “Don’t say any such thing to him. It’s liable to give him another heart attack.”

  She gasped at that. “He has a bad heart?”

  “No. He had a heart attack due to a blockage in one of his veins, but his heart is still strong. My sister, Kaylie, explained it all to us. She’s a nurse.”

  “I see.”

  Bethany thought about what he’d told her. They had more in common than she could have imagined, and she wasn’t so sure that what had been done to her was so much worse than what Chandler was dealing with. Betrayal was betrayal. But at least he still had one parent. How sad that they should be at such odds.

  “So what are you going to do now?” she asked. “Any plans?”

  Chandler nodded. “I’ve placed my horses with a friend, and I’ve already been to see another man about taking me on as his partner. As soon as I get some money in hand, I’ll find a place of my own. Until then…thank God for my aunties and Chatam House.”

  “Amen!”

  “It’s humbling, though,” he said, tossing a wry smile her way. “Starting all over when you thought you were on the right track to begin with.”

  “Humbling,” she echoed, nodding.

  “And a little scary,” he added.

  She rubbed her hand over her belly. “No kidding.”

  “But it’s going to be okay,” Chandler said, sounding as if he was trying to convince himself as much as her. “Right?”

  She looked up to find him watching her, concern etching a line between his brows. It was the same expression that his father had worn earlier, but she doubted that he would care to know that, so she merely smiled and told him what he wanted to hear.

  “Yes, we’re all going to be fine.”

  Somehow. Eventually.

  She hoped.

  “See you soon,” Chandler said, offering his hand to Drew Shaw.

  “Sure thing, partner,” Drew said, grasping Chandler’s hand in a hearty shake.

  Chandler had been pleased and hopeful when Drew had called Tuesday to suggest that he come to Stephenville a few more times to see how things went with the two of them. Anxious to devote as much time to fostering this partnership as possible, Chandler had toyed with the idea of finding someone else to get Bethany to and from work. With his father working feverishly to get the ministry offices ready to go public next week, his sister out of town and Chester busy with the aunties, however, Chandler didn’t know of anyone on whom he could call to give Bethany a ride. Magnolia had suggested his brother Morgan, but Chandler had thought of Morgan’s fast little sports car and nixed that idea. He’d just have to make it to Stephenville and back while she was working.

  After meeting with Drew Wednesday, Chandler had decided to withdraw from the individual events that he had entered and concentrate on securing a partnership with Drew. That paid off Friday, when Drew and Cindy offered him partnership papers. He’d taken them to Asher, who’d found no fault with them, and had carried them back this bright Saturday morning, signed, sealed and now delivered.

  “I’ll get those entries in today,” Cindy said as Chandler slid behind the wheel of his truck. “If there are any problems, I’ll let you know.”

  They had agreed that she would be the manager in this newly formed partnership, but she would not take care of Chandler’s individual entries. Chandler had acted informally as manager for both him and Kreger, and neither had worried overmuch about who paid what, which meant that Chandler had paid most of the entry fees for both of them. Drew, on the other hand, had already set up a special bank account to handle their fees and winnings and an agreement on payouts. Very businesslike. For his part, Chandler had written a check to cover his half of the first entry fee. Hopefully, the next one would come from their joint winnings.

  As he drove toward Buffalo Creek, Chandler let his mind wander. Drew had suggested that they debut their team at a rodeo in Lawton, Oklahoma. The purse wasn’t huge, but the stock provider was well-known and the location was about equidistant for both of them. Cindy had confirmed that slots were still available, so Chandler had agreed.

  A forthright woman, Cindy made Chandler think that she might be uncomfortable to live with, unlike Bethany who was sweetly willing to get along and go along. He didn’t dislike Cindy, and Drew certainly seemed happy with her; Chandler just didn’t think that he would be comfortable married to her.

  Bethany, on the other hand, had an entirely different effect on him. She made him want things, a home and family of his own, someone to share his thoughts, concerns and joys with, someone who looked at him the way Cindy looked at Drew. It was nonsense, of course.

  Chandler was in no position to offer Bethany, or any woman, anything, especially not the monetary kind. His rapidly dwindling bank account testified to that. He was happy to do what he could, of course, like driving her to and from work, and he was glad that the aunts had stepped up to provide a home for her, but Bethany’s brother would have to manage the rest.

  Chandler wondered idly just how much money Garrett made. The aunties were generous, but they couldn’t be paying him much above minimum wage. Then again, they also provided housing and food. Still, he couldn’t be taking in much, and working only three days a week, Bethany wouldn’t be in a position to add to their joint coffers.

  On the other hand, Chandler himself had nothing at all coming in just now and quite a lot going out, which meant that he had nothing to offer a woman at this point in his life. If things were different, though…

  He mentally shook his head. Better not to even go there. The last thing any woman, even a pregnant and unmarried one, needed was a broke cowboy who couldn’t even put a roof over his own head, let alone hers and her child’s. Besides, Bethany didn’t have any interest in him. Best he go about his own business and leave Bethany to God.

  He was so distracted by his thoughts that he found himself pulling to a stop in front of the mansion rather than going on around to the side of the house. He decided to leave the truck right there for now, eager to share his good news with his aunts. Smiling to himself, he climbed up onto the porch and let himself in the front door.

  Bethany practically fell into his arms, gasping, “I need a doctor!”

  Barefoot and wearing only shorts and a T-shirt, she hunched over and grasped her belly, telling Chandler without words that the need was urgent. Scared half out of his boots, he swept her up into his arms, shouting for his aunts.

  “They’re at a meeting,” she groaned. The aunties supported numerous causes, which meant that they could be anywhere in town, and wherever they were, Chester an
d the town car were with them.

  Chandler didn’t bother to suggest that they fetch her brother or wait for him to be informed. Instead, he practically ran across the porch with her, leaving the door standing wide open, and dropped her onto the backseat of his truck before sprinting around to jump beneath the steering wheel once more. Lights flashing, he drove her to the emergency room at Buffalo Creek Memorial Hospital as rapidly as possible, while she wept and moaned in obvious pain.

  Terrified for her and the child, he went to the only place he knew to go to at such times, straight to the throne of God.

  Chapter Six

  Chandler brought the truck to a stop at the curb in front of the emergency room door and hopped out. Bethany slid to the edge of the seat and let him gather her into his arms.

  He carried her through the automatic doors into the crowded waiting area, calling out, “We need some help here!”

  Immediately, the crowd parted, and Chandler rushed toward a cubicle that contained a registration desk.

  “She’s in pain,” he said to the woman behind that desk. “It’s too early.”

  Within moments Bethany was being whisked into the treatment area by a nurse pushing a wheelchair. Chandler fell into step with the chair. The nurse began shooting questions at them, questions only Bethany could answer. Chandler was horrified to hear that she had been feeling a regular “tightening” since rising from her bed that morning and that in the last hour the “cramps” had become increasingly painful.

  The nurse delivered them to a curtained bed, but when Bethany made to rise, Chandler lifted her into his arms once more and placed her on the gurney. Another nurse swooped in to take her vitals, while the first promised that a doctor would be with her shortly. The new nurse took a hospital gown from a stack on a nearby counter and shook it out. Chandler immediately stepped outside the curtain. The clerk from the front desk was waiting for him with a clipboard and ink pen in hand. “Name?”