Carolyn Davidson by The Tender Stranger

with a stilted gait, and Quinn reached for his reins, leading the placid horse to the porch.
    “We’ve come to have a chat with the young woman,” Brother Stephen confided, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “There’s been an interesting development.”
    Quinn’s first inclination was to send both men back down the mountain without delay, but his better instincts took over and he lifted his head, tilting his brow in silent query. There was no way on God’s green earth he would allow this man to upset Erin.
    “That little boy’s settled in real good here with Erin,” Quinn told the visitors as he opened the cabin door. The warmth within issued its own welcome, and Brother Stephen headed for the stove with outstretched hands to seize the glowing heat it offered.
    His head tilted in greeting as Erin rose from the bed. “Ma’am? You’re looking well.”
    “I’m just fine, thank you.” Her voice was thin, her face pale, and Quinn walked to her side.
    One big hand gripped her elbow and he led her to the rocking chair, glancing with warning at the doctor.
    “We’re just here to see that things are going well for the boy, ma’am,” Doc Fisher announced, stepping inside and closing the door.
    “He’s growing, I think,” Erin said, hugging the smallbundle to her breasts. She rocked slowly, her apprehensive gaze darting from one visitor to the other.
    Brother Stephen rocked on his heels, his face beaming. “We’ve found a family for him. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have three of their own, but they’re willing to take in an orphan. They have a little place the other side of town. They’re right anxious to see the boy.”
    Erin’s arms tightened and the chair rocked harder. “He’s doing well with my milk. I’d think this was a good place for him.”
    “This is a chance for him to have a real family, ma’am.”
    Although softly spoken, the preacher’s words contained a degree of censure. Erin flinched, dropping her eyes to the warmly wrapped bundle she held.
    How could another woman ever feel the bond that had been formed? Spun from the depths of her despair and the fount of love she’d held in abeyance since the death of her child, a veritable avalanche of emotion had overwhelmed her during the past days.
    Now this preacher man wanted to take the child who had, with his very presence, begun to mend her broken heart. Her arms tightened and the babe squirmed within her embrace. She bent her head and shushed him with soft words, holding him against her breasts.
    “He’s doing fine right here,” she said after a moment.
    “I can see that,” Brother Stephen agreed. “But the opportunity to have a real family must be seized, don’t you agree?”
    “We’re pretty near a real family already,” Quinn interjected from his place by the window. And that idea was looking better all the time, he decided. His gaze was warm as it rested on her, and Erin smiled as if reassured by his approval.
    “We’re taking good care of him,” she said, her voice stronger with the knowledge of Quinn’s backing.
    Doc Fisher cleared his throat. “Brother Stephen isn’t tryin’ to shed any doubt on that, ma’am. He just feels it would be better for the boy to be taken by folks who could be his parents for the long haul.”
    “The long haul?” Erin repeated the words as if testing their meaning.
    “Married folks, ma’am,” Doc Fisher said, his face flushing as he glanced back and forth from Erin to the man near the window.
    “He thinks we’re living in sin, Erin.” Quinn’s words were hard-edged, his hands rising to rest against his hips. The soft gaze he’d favored her with became a look of chilled anger, and Erin winced as the meaning of his words penetrated.
    Her pale cheeks were flooded with color as she bit at her lip. “I’ve only just borne a child. Surely you don’t think.”
    As though she could not speak the words, her voice faltered and she cast a pleading look at Quinn.
    Brother Stephen’s cheeks