Although she’d shared some of her hardships, he suspected he didn’t even know the half of what she’d suffered. Her hurts likely went deeper than he could begin to understand.
Even so, Herman Cox was the baby’s father. Abe planned to find the man and point him to the only One who could truly carry his burdens. Once he was sober and right with God, Herman would be as good a father as he’d been a husband.
“Miss Hart,” Abe started, uncertain how to communicate his thoughts.
“I’ve had the night to think about it. And I’m keeping the babe.”
How had this situation become so complicated so quickly? “I understand your concerns.” He was grateful for his practice using patience with the miners so that his tone didn’t betray his mounting worry. “But even if I’m unable to find Herman, you cannot keep the baby, not as a single woman without any means of support.”
“I’ll get a job and place of my own.”
“That’s not so easy to do. And even if you can support yourself, who would take care of the baby while you worked?”
“Who will see to the babe when Herman works?”
She had a point. Without a woman to aid him, Herman would be in a difficult position. Even so, Miss Hart had to realize she would have an even harder time keeping an infant.
“If Herman will not have her, then she must be given up for adoption, hopefully to a real family.” He honestly didn’t know any English families who would be willing to adopt the child, especially since Violet was of mixed race. Perhaps that’s why Herman had been looking for Rose’s tribe—he’d been hoping to place her with a native family. But a tribe might not want Violet any more than the English. The sad truth was that the child likely wouldn’t belong in either place and would be an outcast.
The other sad truth was that the smallpox epidemic among the natives had already left too many orphans and not enough people willing to care for them.
Pete and Arabella would take the child in if he asked them to. They had large and willing hearts. Already they’d adopted two native girls who’d lost their family. But now with Pete’s parents having moved to Victoria, the small apartment above the bakeshop was overflowing. Of course, Pete was in the process of purchasing land and ordering supplies to build a house. However, the project was still months away from completion.
What about Sque-is? Would he and his wife be willing to give Violet a home? Abe hadn’t seen or heard from his native friend since late autumn. Although he prayed for Sque-is and his tribe, that they’d been spared from smallpox, the longer he went without word, the more he suspected something had happened.
“Ultimately,” Abe said, “the best place for Violet is with her family—her father.”
“Absolutely not.” Zoe stood, her body rigid. “It’s the worst place.”
“I’ll talk to Herman and help him—”
“No one can help a drunk unless he first wants to help himself. Believe me, I know.”
How did she know? Had she suffered at the hands of a drunk? Was that why she felt so strongly about protecting Violet?
“I don’t know what you’ve experienced,” he said gently, “but not everyone who drinks is hopelessly lost. I’ve seen many hardened men repent of their sins and turn to the Lord.”
“Herman’s not hardened. He’s dead inside.”
“Not dead. Not yet.” Abe refused to give up on people. Nothing was impossible for the Lord. In fact, the Lord was in the business of bringing the dead back to life.
“Herman was obviously trying to give his child a better life, especially for the sake of his late wife.” Zoe looked down at the sleeping infant and brushed a finger across her cheek. “Let him give his child this gift.”
“There’s no guarantee she’ll be better off with someone else—”
“I can guarantee it. With me. Violet will be better off with me.”
Abe swallowed a frustrated sigh.
“’Course, I’m planning to get married. If I can’t keep Violet without getting married, then I’ll hurry things along and find a husband right away.”
“It’s not wise to rush into marriage. Choosing a spouse is too important to be undertaken without a great deal of thought.”
“And I am planning to think on it long and hard.”
“You’ll need to take your time and get to know the young man. Surely you see the importance of having shared values as well as shared affection?”
“All I need to know is that he’ll take care of me and Violet. And I also need him to take me up to the mining camps so I can find my brother.”
“Your brother?”
“Aye. My twin.”
Miss Hart had a twin brother living in the mining camps? Abe was sure his surprise showed on his face. “My circuit takes me among many of the mining camps and puts me into contact with many men. Perhaps I know your brother.”
“Zeke Hart?” she asked hopefully. “Six feet tall, medium build, dark hair, and green eyes?”
Abe searched his mind for the fellows he’d come to know that resembled Miss Hart. But he’d never run across a Zeke Hart. And of course the description could fit any number of men.
With Miss Hart’s expectant gaze upon him, he continued to mentally comb through the many people he’d met. “When did he arrive? And do you know approximately where he’s located?”
“He left over a year ago, and all he said was that he was going to the Fraser River Valley.”
“The Fraser River Valley spans hundreds of miles. And many of the miners have pushed farther inland into the Cariboo area. Has he written with a more specific address?”
She dropped her gaze. If she was hoping to hide her guilt, it was written into her expression as clear as daylight. “I haven’t heard from him, but I was hoping once I got up into the Fraser River Valley and started asking around, people would be able to point me to him.”
“It’s possible.” Especially if he’d made a name for himself by striking a vein of gold. But it was also possible she’d never locate him, that he could have been one of the many thousands of miners who’d hoped to make a fortune last spring or summer, only to leave more destitute than when they arrived.
“I really need to find him,” she stated, the guilt still creasing her face. “And I need a man who can help me do that.”
Since Abe had been born late in his mother’s life and many years after his siblings, he’d never been close to his older brother and sister. He didn’t have a relationship with them—certainly not the kind of bond that twins had. Even so, whatever Miss Hart’s connection to her twin brother, her predicament didn’t sit well with him. “I would still urge you to use a great deal of caution in choosing a spouse.”
“Some nice fellas came calling last night. I’m sure it won’t take too much longer to pick one of them.” She met his gaze head on, as though daring him to stop her.
With a sinking feeling in his stomach, he realized he couldn’t prevent her from a hasty marriage. But perhaps he could slow her down. “Violet is not yet yours, Miss Hart. Herman could very well show up later today and collect her. It would be best to refrain from any drastic measures until we know Herman’s intentions.”