Shelter in Seattle Read Free

cheek.
    Expecting the offensive odor of sweat, Julianne was surprised when the clean scent of lye reached her sensitive nose.
    Earlier in the day, when he had brought the baby in and passed him off to Maggie, Julianne had been so wrapped up in her own problems that she hadn’t paid much attention to the man.
    Now with him sitting inches away from her, he was the only thing she could focus on. Light brown hair touched his collar. It curled on the ends making her wonder if it were as soft as it looked. His profile was sharp and confident, his skin bronzed by the wind and sun. His firm mouth curled as if always on the edge of a smile. The fingers that stroked the baby’s cheek were calloused, tapered and strong.
    But the thing that drew her attention most was his eyes. They looked moist as he studied the baby in her arms. They were an unusual color of green, polished jade, and she detected a touch of sorrow in their depths. As if too much heartbreak had entered his life.
    Again she wondered about the baby’s mother.
    As if he could read her mind, Caleb answered. “His mother is dead. She didn’t even have time to name him.”
    Julianne heard the heartache in his voice and felt the urge to comfort him. “I’m sorry,” was all she could get out of her tight throat.
    He raised his head and studied her face. Julianne felt like a bug under glass. She knew she was no beauty. Her aunt had told her she had hair the color of dirty coal and that her lips were too big for her face.
    Not that it mattered; the last thing she wanted was for a man with a baby to find her attractive. The baby squirmed as if in protest to her thoughts. She gently transferred him into Caleb’s arms.
    Caleb put a diaper over his shoulder and then rested the baby over the cloth. He gently patted the baby on the back until a loud burp reached their ears. When he eased him from his shoulder, a small dribble of milk escaped the corner of the baby’s mouth. She watched him wipe the edge of the baby’s lips with the diaper.
    Settling the baby in the crook of his arm, he stood. “Thank you for watching him.”
    For reasons she didn’t understand, Julianne didn’t want him to go. “Have you eaten?” He mounted the horse with the baby in one arm, emphasizing the force of his thighs and the powerful, well-muscled arms.
    “Not yet, but I’m heading home. I’ve got food at the cabin. Thanks again for taking care of the little one.” He turned the horse to go.
    Julianne watched Caleb and the baby until they could no longer be seen through the trees. Then she turned wearily to help Maggie with the massive clean up of the kitchen. She tried to maintain a positive outlook, but tomorrow loomed like a giant thundercloud, much like the ones hovering over the sawmill camp right now. In fact, in the hours since she’d arrived she’d only caught an occasional glimpse of the sun.
    That sat slightly at odds with her nature.
    ****
    The next morning, Caleb tramped through the logging camp. Young and old men alike practiced for the upcoming contest.
    Caleb stopped beside the man who had started the whole mess.
    Sloan glanced over at him and gave a brief nod. “Did you come to compete too, Hansen?” His gaze moved to Julianne. “If I’d known how beautiful she was, I might have waited on marrying Susan.”
    The foreman joined the two men. “You could put a stop to this now, Sloan. I could change the prize to a day off with pay and the men wouldn’t argue too much.”
    “She owes me.” Sloan spit on the ground and stomped away.
    Caleb watched him leave. What caused a man to turn so bitter? He pulled his attention from the young man and turned it on the foreman. “You going to join the competition, boss?”
    “Nah, I have to keep everyone in line. How about you?”
    “I’m not sure.” He’d ask himself the same question last night. The baby needed someone to take care of him, and with the cabin already up, Julianne could have a home. Caleb refused to explore