The Lumberjack's Bride Read Free

shavings off their boots and came in from their hard day’s work. They cast furtive glances Julianne’s way, the braver ones studying her with curious intensity. Each man accepted a bowl of stew and a generous hunk of cornbread from Maggie and made his way to a table.
    Julianne felt uncomfortable under their stares. They talked in soft whispers as they ate, their eyes darting back and forth between Julianne and their plates.
    As if the baby sensed her unease, he began to fret. Stiffening his little body, a single cry of protest escaped. Maggie thrust a bottle with a sticky rubber nipple into her hands and shoved her toward the back door.
    Julianne walked outside and sank down on the back step. The baby snuggled against her as he drank from the bottle. He was such a tiny little thing. He couldn’t be more than a few days old. Helpless in the situation life had placed him. Same as Julianne.
    She brushed the fine blond hair across his forehead. Deep blue eyes stared up at her as he drank. Julianne remembered a woman aboard the ship she’d traveled on. She’d had blond hair and soft blue eyes, and had been pregnant. Had she been Caleb’s wife, and was this their child?
    â€œWe’ll make it, little fellow. Just you wait and see.” She whispered the words of encouragement with a slight smile of defiance. They weren’t beaten yet.
    â€œHe seems to like you.”
    Startled by the voice, Julianne glanced uneasily over her shoulder.
    A man stepped out of the shadows.
    â€œI didn’t mean to scare you.” He offered, easing down to sit beside her on the wooden step. Julianne eyed him nervously. She’d learned quickly not to trust any man, even if he did have a pleasant look, nice smile and soft voice.
    She didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. The only sound in the evening air was the mewing sound the baby made as he ate. She sought a topic of conversion to fill the silence but found nothing of interest. Only her problems were uppermost in her mind.
    â€œHe’s a greedy little fella, isn’t he?” The man leaned forward and touched the baby’s soft cheek.
    Expecting the offensive odor of sweat, Julianne was instead surprised by the clean scent of lye soap.
    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 troubles that she hadn’t paid much attention to the man. So this was Caleb. The Caleb Maggie seemed to think so highly of.
    Now, sitting just inches away from the man, she took the time to get a better look at him. Light brown hair touched his collar. It curled on the ends, making her wonder if it was as soft as it looked. His profile was sharp and confident, his skin bronzed by the wind and sun. His firm mouth tilted upward slightly as if always on the edge of a smile. The fingers that stroked the baby’s cheek were callused, 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 shade 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. I buried her the day the ship arrived in port. 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.
    â€œMaggie tells me your name is Julianne. I’m Caleb Hansen.” He raised his head and studied her face. Julianne wondered what he saw. She knew she was no beauty. Her uncle had told her she had hair the color of 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