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"It won't matter what we tell him, because he's never going to claim this child."
"I believe Melissa meant to tell Ian the truth," Alanna explained. "But I don't know how to put it, when he's already heartbroken over losing her."
"Do you know the father?" Moses Earle asked.
That was not a question Alanna wanted to answer, but the doctor was a trusted family friend, and she could not bring herself to lie. "Yes."
"I'm right, aren't I, he's an Indian brave?"
"Yes, but I think I ought to discuss the matter with Ian and let him decide if he wishes to make that known."
"Yes, of course," the physician agreed. "There's also Melissa's parents to consider. They won't be pleased to learn their darling daughter was unfaithful to her husband."
"She wasn't unfaithful to Ian, Dr. Earle. She was with Christian's father before she married."
"He's a bastard then!" Polly moaned.
"Please, Mrs. McBride," Moses scolded, "his dear mother's body is not even cold."
"Forgive me," Polly begged, but she again crossed herself.
Taking note of the cook's horror, Dr. Earle rocked back on his heels. "I don't know Ian Scott well, but I would not want to compound the pain of any grieving widower by presenting him with a child who obviously wasn't his. I think we should leave here right now, Alanna, and take Christian to Mrs. Wade's. It may be an entirely unnecessary precaution, you understand, but I think we ought to do all we can to safeguard his life, when it cost his mother her own."
"Ian wouldn't harm an infant," Alanna argued.
"Not intentionally perhaps, but newborns are fragile. If Ian were to become enraged, and shook the child, or knocked him from your arms, the tragedy would occur before you could stop it. Let's not take that risk. Get dressed, gather up some clothes for the boy, and let's go."
Uncertain what would become of the babe in her arms, Alanna rose slowly. "Polly, wrap Christian's clothes in one of the small blankets, and take them out to the doctor's carriage for me, please."
While the cook hastened to do her bidding, Alanna carried Christian downstairs to her room. She laid him in the middle of her bed, and hurriedly pulled on one of the faded dresses hanging at the back of her wardrobe. She had no dark attire suitable for mourning, but the somber colors of the old dress mirrored her mood far better than any of her new garments did. Melissa had not shared the room in months, but the sight of her bed called forth memories Alanna could not tarry to savor. When she went downstairs, she found Dr. Earle waiting for her in the hall.
"I cautioned Polly not to say anything about Christian, ever. To trust a servant not to gossip is foolish I know, but I do believe I convinced her to hold her tongue temporarily at least. I gave Rachel enough laudanum to keep her sleeping most of the day. John's sitting with her. Ian is still getting dressed, but let's be on our way before he attempts to stop us."
The urgency of the physician's tone frightened Alanna, but she hoped Christian was more in need of nourishment than protection from his family. Byron and Elliott were seated in the parlor, and she paused at the doorway while Dr. Earle spoke with them. Depressed beyond tears, neither appeared to possess the energy to argue with what he had to say.
"Alanna is coming with me to take the baby to a wet nurse in town. It will be better for everyone, if you don't have the bother of an infant in the house for the next few days."
Moses and Alanna had already reached the yard when Elliott caught up with them. "I don't want Alanna to
be stranded in town. I'll saddle a couple of horses and follow you, so she'll have a way to come home."
"Thank you. I've been so concerned about the baby, I'd not thought about getting home."
Embarrassed by her gratitude, Elliott just nodded and loped off toward the barn.
"Elliott's a very considerate young man. What do you intend to tell him?" Dr. Earle asked the moment they had gotten underway.
"The truth," Alanna replied, "or at least what I know of it."
"One look at the babe will tell Elliott all he needs to know."
"Perhaps not."
"Don't romanticize what happened, child. What Melissa did was wrong."
The rocking motion of the carriage had lulled little Christian to sleep, and Alanna relaxed her hold on him slightly. "Yes, and she paid dearly for it. I've not had time to cry for her, but I don't want you to consider me unfeeling."
The doctor glanced over at Alanna and noted the sweetness of her expression as she studied the sleeping child. "You ought not to get too attached to the boy. Ian won't want him, and I doubt that his grandparents will either. Might be best for all concerned, if he goes to a family that will welcome a child. He's half-white, and with the proper upbringing, his Indian blood might not even be suspected."
