For the Love of Annie Read online

  Atkinson grinned. "A saint? I rather doubt that, Miss Markham. I expect there are very few saints in his profession— he's a county sheriff." He took out a pen and paper from his desk. "I'll write down his name and address for you."

  Mary Louise set down her tea cup and smiled. "I pray you'll pardon my earlier outburst. Thank you, Mr. Atkinson, from the bottom of my heart for telling me about my niece. It's been terrible not knowing what had become of her."

  "I'm glad I could ease your mind." Atkinson handed her the slip of paper, then leaned back and crossed his arms. "So, tell me, Miss Markham, now that you have the information you sought, what do you plan to do with it?"

  Mary Louise stood and shook out her long skirts. "Why, as soon as I can arrange it, I'm going to Alabama to fetch her, of course. Surely you'll agree that Annie belongs with her family."

  Chapter 3

  April 1889

  Hollisburg, Alabama

  AS HE HAD for the past two months, Cooper awoke to the sounds of soft gurgling and cooing. Smiling, he got out of bed and padded over to Annie's borrowed crib. As he'd known she would be, Annie was wide awake, entertaining herself by playing with her toes. The moment her bright blue gaze settled on Cooper, Annie gave an excited squeal and waved her chubby arms.

  "Mornin', Punkin," Cooper said, lifting the toddler out of the crib. "Did you sleep well?"

  Annie jabbered a greeting in her unique baby language.

  "Is that so? Well, I'm glad to hear it," Cooper said, laying Annie on the bed and taking a fresh diaper from the stack on the nearby table. He'd gotten pretty good at changing diapers since he'd been thrust into the role of Papa. Even Lizzie had remarked on his new ability. "There you go, Annie Luv," he said when he'd fastened the safety pin. He swung her off the bed. "Ready for some breakfast?"

  Annie grabbed Cooper's nose and, her mouth pursed into a tiny bow, she blew slobbery bubbles down her chin. Cooper chuckled. "I guess that means, yes, huh, girl?"

  It hadn't taken Cooper long to fall in love with the dimpled— cheeked, blue— eyed pixie. He'd lost his heart to her by the time she'd been with him a week. Until Annie came along, Cooper hadn't known how lonely his life had been. Prior to her appearance, Cooper's life had been his work. He went to his office early and stayed late. He had no reason not to, there was nothing to look forward to at the end of the day but his empty quarters above the jail.

  But Annie changed all that. Now at the end of the day, he could hardly wait to leave his office and rush upstairs to Annie. One look at the child's face and seeing her absolute delight that he was home made him feel reborn. He hadn't known it was possible to love anyone the way he loved this child. And he loved everything about Annie. He loved the way she snuggled against him when he cuddled her in his arms, he loved her sweet, baby smell, and the way she squealed "Da!" when she saw him— as if he were the greatest thing since pop— corn.

  As a matter of fact, Cooper was so completely enchanted that he forgot all about finding a family to take Annie.

  But Rev. Michael Peterson did not forget.

  REV. PETERSON was beaming when walked into Cooper's office. "I've got good news, Sheriff Matthews," he said as he took the seat Cooper indicated. "I've found a family who wants Annie."

  Cooper's gut tightened. "You what?" he croaked.

  "James and Maggie Harrison are a hard— working young couple with four sons," the minister continued, apparently unaware of Cooper's disquiet. "They live on a farm about six miles south of here. Mrs. Harrison is unable to have more children and both she and James are thrilled with the idea of adopting a little girl. They're good people," the minister assured Cooper. "They'll give Annie a loving home."

  The news hit Cooper like a blow to the chest, but he forced a smile. "I appreciate your trouble, Rev. Peterson."

  The older man squinted at Cooper. "Do I detect a change of heart, son? Remember, you're the one who insisted that a home over a jail was no place to bring up a child."

  Cooper looked at the floor. "I just need some time to get used to the idea, that's all."

  Rev. Peterson's smile was sympathetic. "The longer you wait, Sheriff, the harder it will be to let her go."

  Cooper nodded slowly. Then, focusing his gaze on the view outside the window, he said, "If you'll give me directions, I'll take Annie to her new home in the morning."

  THAT NIGHT Cooper sat beside Annie's borrowed crib and gazed at her through its wooden bars. He stroked the child's cheek and tears stung his eyes when he saw her smile in her sleep. Sighing, Cooper stood up and paced the room while his heart warred with his reason. He knew he should let the Harrisons have her. After all, reason argued, other than the legal one, there was no real tie between him and Annie.

  Except love, countered his heart. No one could love Annie more than he.

  Cooper sighed. But love wasn't enough, and he knew it. No matter how much he loved her, Cooper knew Annie would be better off being raised by a loving father and mother. No matter how much it hurt him to do it, he had to do what was best for Annie— even if it meant letting her go.

  Just before dawn, his internal war ended when his heart surrendered to reason.

  As the sun rose higher in the sky, Cooper tried to keep his mind blank as he carefully folded Annie's tiny clothes and packed them in a small valise along with her favorite toys: a rattle Joe Bob had fashioned from a gourd, and Lizzie's gift, a stuffed dog Annie called "Gawgie."

  When he finished packing her few things, Cooper hurried down the stairs and fastened the valise to his saddle. Then he swung up on his horse to wait for Lizzie to bring Annie down to him.

  Lizzie didn't look at Cooper as she carried Annie down the steps to where he waited. He knew she was aware of his pain and that she'd wanted to argue when he told her of his decision. However, she kept her own council during the ordeal and for that he was grateful. This was hard enough without his having to battle Lizzie as well. But, though she'd kept silent, he couldn't ignore the tears in her eyes as she handed Annie to him for the last time.

  "Bye, lil' Sugar— Boo," Lizzie murmured. "You be sweet, now, you heah?"

  Cooper settled Annie in his lap and she nestled in the crook of his arm. Then she popped her thumb in her mouth, and grinned up at him, her wide blue eyes bright with love and trust.

  It almost broke his heart.

  The preacher's directions were easy to follow and Cooper found the Harrison's farm within an hour. The little family greeted him at the door and invited him and Annie into the small, cozy home. It didn't take long for Cooper to realize that Maggie and James Harrison were exactly the kind of people he would have chosen for Annie. The four Harrison boys, ranging from ages three to eleven, were handsome, healthy, and well— behaved.

  "We've always wanted a daughter, and when Rev. Peterson told us about the little girl that needed a home, we knew our prayers had been answered," Maggie Harrison said, her soft gaze caressing Annie's face.

  "Momma just wants another female in the house," the older of the four boys said, and though Cooper knew the boy meant it as a joke, he couldn't produce more than a weak smile.

  James Harrison sat down beside his wife and pulled the youngest of their four sons into his lap. "Raising kids is rewarding, but it's also hard work even for two people. Taking care of a little girl all by yourself must have been exhausting," he said.

  "I had help," Cooper said. "It wasn't too bad." He knew they wanted him to tell them about Annie, and he wanted to ask them questions, to find out more about the people who would raise his little girl, but he didn't trust his voice not to crack like dried kindling.

  "Papa says when she's older, we can teach her to ride," one of the boys said, obviously pleased at the prospect of having a little sister.

  "That...that would be fine," Cooper said. "She'd like that, I imagine."

  Maggie Harrison held out her arms. "M— May I hold her?" Cooper reluctantly handed Annie to Mrs. Harrison and the child went without any protest. "Oh, Sheriff Matthews," Maggie sa
id. "She's absolutely beautiful."

  Cooper nodded, his throat so tight that he had to struggle to swallow as he reached to touch a ringlet of Annie's fine, silver— blonde hair. "She's...her name's Annie and...well, I'd be pleased if you didn't change it."

  "Annie's a fine name." James Harrison's understanding gaze seeming to recognize Cooper's anguish.

  Cooper kept his gaze riveted to Annie's laughing face as he tried to imagine being without the child he'd come to love more than life. He licked his lips. "I...ah, I put some toys in her valise. They're her favorites."

  "That's good," Maggie said, "Having something familiar will make her new surroundings less frightening."

  "She doesn't like carrots," he said abruptly.

  Maggie nodded. "I'll remember that." And after a moment, "Is there anything else you feel we should know about her, Sheriff?"

  He shook his head. "No. That's about it. Just...be good to her, that's all I ask."

  "You don't have to worry. We already love her."

  Cooper drew in a deep breath. "Yeah, she...she's real easy to love."

  Maggie patted Cooper's arm. "Don't worry, Sheriff Matthews, she'll be happy with us, I promise."

  He swallowed hard. "Well, I guess I'd better be going." He bent to kiss the top of the child's head. "Bye, Annie."

  Annie giggled and reached for him, showing a toothy grin. But when Cooper backed away her smile wavered. "Da?" she whimpered, obviously confused by his retreat. Cooper's step faltered, but he forced himself to turn and walk through the door.

  "D— Da," Annie called in a pitiful sob. Clenching his fists to keep from turning back, Cooper resolutely strode toward his horse.

  "Daaaaa! Daaaa!"

  Annie's heart— broken wails pierced his heart, but Cooper closed his eyes against the pain and mounted his horse. For a moment he sat motionless in the saddle listening to Annie's near— hysterical screams coming from the cabin. Finally, he kneed his horse and rode determinedly away.

  It was the hardest thing he'd ever done in his life.

  He'd ridden barely half a mile when his vision became so blurred that he was forced to stop. Frustrated, he swiped at his eyes with a shaking hand and then stared in amazement at the drops of moisture on his fingers. He couldn't remember the last time he'd cried. Not since he'd been out of knee pants, surely. He sat staring at his hand for some minutes until his horse shifted restlessly, jolting him out of the trance.

  Cooper twisted in his saddle and stared over his shoulder in the direction of the Harrison's farm. Almost without thinking, he tightened his grip on the reins and nudged his horse around. Again, he stared at the cozy little home. Then, giving a rebel yell the likes of which hadn't been heard since Gettysburg, Cooper galloped back the way he'd come.

  He had no more than stepped upon the front porch when Maggie Harrison threw open the door. "You've come back for her," she said as the tearful Annie reached for Cooper.

  Cooper didn't reply, but lifted the child into his arms. Annie whimpered and huddled against him. Her sapphire blue eyes, their long lashes spiked with tears, stared accusingly up at him.

  He closed his eyes and breathed in her sweet, baby scent. "I'm sorry," Cooper said quietly. He wasn't sure if he were apologizing to Annie or to Maggie Harrison.

  Annie laid her head on his shoulder and shuddered violently. Pressing her tear— damp face against his neck she whimpered, "D— Daaaa." Cooper stroked her back to reassure her as he gazed at the young couple.

  "I'm real sorry, Mrs. Harrison, Mr. Harrison," he said hoarsely. "I know you'd give Annie a good home, but I can't do this. I love her too much to give her up." Annie raised her head and Cooper kissed her plump cheek. "Annie isn't the child of my flesh and blood, she's the child my heart."

  Maggie looked over at her husband. "Bring her things, James."

  James Harrison ducked inside the cabin and reappeared with the little valise containing Annie's belongings. "I'll tie this to your saddle," he said. Then he patted Cooper's shoulder and smiled. "Don't feel bad. We knew you'd be back."

  Cooper arched a brow and James Harrison smiled slightly. "We saw your face when you left and we knew you wouldn't be able to stay away."

  Maggie nodded. "You looked like a man who'd given up his whole world."

  Cooper didn't reply as he followed James to his horse. James offered to hold Annie while Cooper mounted, but the child sobbed and clung to Cooper, unwilling to let go of him again for even a moment.

  Cooper kissed her brow. "Hush now, Annie— Luv, it's okay." Though James held his horse steady, with Annie in his arms it took several attempts before Cooper was finally able to mount. When his daughter was settled securely in his lap, Cooper looked down at the Harrison family.

  "I hope you aren't too disappointed about this."

  Maggie smiled up at him and patted his knee. "We're disappointed, of course, but we'll get over the loss. I somehow doubt you would have."

  Cooper smiled. "I'm grateful for your kindness and your understanding of how things are with Annie and me."

  James Harrison picked up his youngest son and kissed his freckled cheek. "Of course we understand. We know what it's like to love a child. It would kill us to lose any one of our boys."

  "Yeah, it's obvious how much you love them."

  Maggie shaded her eyes as she looked up at him. "Bring Annie to visit us sometime, Sheriff. We'd love to see her now and again— you, too." Then she smiled. "And, if you should ever change your mind— "

  Cooper grinned, knowing she was teasing him. "Not a chance, Mrs. Harrison. From now on, Annie stays where she belongs— with me."

  Chapter 4

  June 1889

  Hollisburg, Alabama

  COOPER walked up the steps to his living quarters and went inside. As had become his custom in the months since Annie had come to live with him, he shrugged off his gun and holster and put them in the top drawer of a chest that stood just inside the door. Next, he plucked off his badge and dropped it in a dish on top of the bureau. He'd begun doing that after Annie scratched her cheek on a point of the tin star.

  He found Lizzie and Annie in the kitchen. Annie was sitting in her new high chair while Lizzie fed her mashed potatoes. He leaned against the door jamb and watched for a moment. When Lizzie looked up, he put his finger to his lips and shook his head. He knew from experience that the moment Annie spied him she would forget all about eating. Better to let her finish her supper before he made his presence known.

  Cooper smiled. He'd never known it was possible to love anyone the way he loved this child. And, no one, not even his mother or Lizzie, loved him the way Annie did— purely and unconditionally. When he'd first married Marietta he'd known that kind of love. Marietta had needed him, then. He was everything to her, the sun, the moon, and the stars. But as time went by, all that changed. Marietta became independent, self— confident, and soon she no longer needed him. So she'd left him. Just like the others. At the onset of the War Between the States, when he was not quite five, Cooper's terrified mother fled to Europe. Daniel Matthews would not allow her to take their two sons and so she left them at Rose Hill, promising to come back when the war was over. But she hadn't come back. Juliette Matthews died of injuries sustained in a fire six months after leaving. If not for Lizzie's comforting presence, Cooper might have died from grief.

  Then, when Cooper was ten, even Lizzie left him. Freed by the war, Lizzie married Henry Jackson and the newly— weds left Rose Hill to look for work. Ten years passed before Lizzie, now a widow, returned to Hollisburg, bought a house down by the depot and once again entered Cooper's life. It seemed that every woman who'd been important to Cooper had abandoned him at some point. And that was the real reason he hadn't been anxious to marry again.

  Of course, he admitted, it would be nice to have a mother for Annie. But there was one thing certain, if he chose to marry again, and he seriously doubted that would happen, it would be to a woman who needed him, who wanted him, and who wouldn't abandon him lik
e the others.

  "Theah you go," Lizzie said as she wiped the child's hands and face. "All finished."

  Cooper stepped farther into the room. "How's my girl?"

  Annie's face lit up when she saw Cooper and she squealed his name. "Papa!" She held up her arms. "Take, take," she demanded.

  He swung her in the air and then hugged her. "You certainly have become a bossy little thing," he said.

  Annie giggled. "Boss— ting," she mimicked.

  "Yes," Cooper agreed. "A bossy thing."

  She wrapped her arms around Cooper's neck and planted a slobbery kiss on his jaw.

  "Mmmm, sweet sugar," he said, returning the favor. "What do I owe for that kiss?"

  "Cannee?"

  He kissed her button nose. "Oh, so that's it. You're bribing me with kisses for candy, huh?"

  Annie giggled again. "Mmmm, cannee," she said and pointed to his shirt pocket.

  "Think there's candy in my pocket, do you?" He held open the flap. "Go ahead, get it out."

  Annie crammed her hand into his pocket and retrieved a piece of taffy wrapped in waxed paper. She quickly tore off the paper and popped the taffy in her mouth. "Cannee," she chortled, mouth full of the maple sugar candy.

  "You is spoilin' that chile," Lizzie admonished, but she was smiling.

  "Did you see the way Annie tore the paper off that candy, Lizzie?" Cooper said, ignoring Lizzie's gentle scolding. "She's good with her hands for one so young, don't you think?"

  "Sho' is, and smart as a whip."

  When Cooper sat down and settled Annie on his lap, Lizzie handed him a damp cloth. "You gonna need this before she gets done with that taffy. You wipe her hands and mouth good, you hear?"

  Cooper grinned up at Lizzie. "Yes ma'am."

  "Huh," she snorted. "You gonna think, 'yes ma'am,' if I finds taffy in her hair in the mornin', like I did yestiddy."

  "I promise, I'll wipe her hands and face."

  "You see you do." Lizzie pulled on her coat. "I'll be goin' on home. Be back in the mornin' bright and early."