Free Dakota Dawn by Lauraine Snelling Page B

benediction, he began whimpering. By the time she could get out the door, he had progressed into the demanding stage.
    “I’ll take him home and feed him,” Nora whispered to Ingeborg as she passed the Moens in the greeting line at the front door. At the top of the three wooden stairs, Nora stopped for a moment to look again for Carl Detschman. Was that Carl driving his sleigh down the street?
    “Don’t be silly,” she scolded herself on the short walk back to the parsonage. “It doesn’t matter one whit to you if the man came to church or not. Once he picks up his children, you probably won’t even see him again. Ingeborg said he was unpopular—an outcast—because of his German heritage. So just put a smile on your face and enjoy the day. You won’t have to worry about whether this darling bundle of baby eats or not. It’s his father’s problem.”
    So, then, why did her bottom lip feel like it wanted to quiver? And what was that stupid lump in her throat? How could she let these babies go without someone there to take care of them?
    She hurried through the door of the parsonage and slammed it shut behind her. In the time it took her to warm the bottle and settle down to feed the crying infant, the remainder of the family arrived home. They were chattering and laughing about their chores when a knock sounded at the door.
    “Welcome, Carl.” Reverend Moen ushered the visitor in. “I was happy to see you come to the service. Let me take your coat and hat.”
    “Thank you.”
    Kaaren made her usual beeline for her father’s legs.
    “Dinner is almost ready,” Ingeborg said while bending down to remove the roast from the oven. “You’re just in time.”
    Nora clutched little Peder tighter. How have I gotten so attached to these two children in such a short time?
    “Miss Johanson, Reverend, Missus, can we talk for a few minutes? Right away?” Carl ducked his chin, then squared his shoulders. “Please?”
    Ingeborg wiped her hands on the dish towel she had slung over her shoulder. “Of course. Mary, you take the children into the other room to play. Nora, Peder can go back in the cradle now.”
    Nora shook her head. She could not lay the baby down, not when he was to be taken away from her so soon. “I . . . I’ll just rock him. He was fussing a moment ago.”
    “No—I mean, please, could you join us?” Carl motioned to a chair at the table.
    Nora stood and, after laying Peder in the cradle as asked, walked to the table and sank down on one of the oak chairs. With the tip of her finger, she smoothed a spot on the table. Something strange was happening here.
    “Miss Johanson, Nora, would you marry me?”

Chapter 6
    Nora felt her chin drop—clear to her chest.
    “I know this is sudden, but let me tell you what I am thinking. As the Moens said, you cannot come live at my farm without marriage. It would not be proper. But, if we were married, your living there and caring for my children would be all right. I will advertise for a housekeeper in the Fargo and Grand Forks papers and, when we find one, then we will have the marriage annulled and I will pay for your passage to return to Norway.”
    He waited while Ingeborg finished translating.
    I can go home to Norway was Nora’s first thought. I would have a place to work was her second, and I won’t have to give up these babies was the third. At least not for a time, she amended. She closed her eyes, the better to think. But marriage! An annulment?
    Her gaze flew to Reverend Moen’s face. “Will this work?”
    John rubbed his nose with the index finger of his right hand. “A marriage can be annulled only if it is not consummated.”
    Nora felt her cheeks flame at the thought. Surely Mr. Detschman understood that . . . that they would not share a bed.
    “You and the children will share the big bedroom downstairs, where it is warm. I will fix a bed for me upstairs.” Carl ducked his chin and stammered over the last words. “I mean, this