The Brides of Chance Collection

by Kelly Eileen Hake,Cathy Marie Hake,Tracey V. Bateman

  With a final glance at Alisa’s crumpled face, Titus nodded.

  “Don’t worry,” Miriam said for his ears only. “I’ll take good care of her. You concentrate on swinging the vote in your favor. I have a feeling Alisa’s been through a rough time and needs us.”

  “Great hoppy toads, this looks good, Miriam!”

  Alisa’s eyes popped open at the sound of voices in the other room. Light streamed into the room, blinding her for a moment.

  “You boys hush before you wake up Miss Worthington,” Miriam hissed.

  Alisa smiled. After a refreshing sponge bath, she’d changed into a borrowed night gown and had been asleep practically before her head hit the pillow. Now she knew she must be frightfully late to breakfast, but her muscles ached so badly from the past two days’ activities that she couldn’t bring herself to hop right out of bed and face the day.

  “When do you think the new gal’s gonna wake up?”

  Alisa’s ears perked at the sound.

  “Wish I could remember what she looks like. Titus says she’s just about the prettiest thing he’s ever seen.”

  He did? Alisa’s heart thrilled to the information.

  “Well, I like that!” Miriam’s teasing voice filtered through the thin wall.

  “Well, he didn’t mean nothin’ by it, Miriam. I think he’s smitten, that’s all.”

  This conversation was getting better and better. She’d certainly awakened at just the right moment.

  The only question on her heart and in her mind was whether or not she would be allowed to stay. Spurred on by the thought, she pushed back the quilt and swung her legs over the side of the bed. For certain she wouldn’t be hired if her potential employers thought she couldn’t even get out of bed at a decent time in the morning.

  “So when do you reckon she’ll get up?”

  “You asked that already, Logan.”

  Her gown was gone. Panic swelled her throat. She had laid the dress across the chair last night. Now it was gone. Whatever was she to do? Shoulders slumped, she sat back on the bed and listened to the conversation coming from the other room.

  “I don’t remember what she looks like.”

  Something clattered, and the sound of boot steps clacked brusquely across the wooden floor. Miriam’s voice sounded sharp and firm. “You would if you hadn’t imbibed. I’m so ashamed.”

  “We’re sorry, Miriam. But sometimes when his friends want to socialize, a man just can’t help it.”

  “A man of character can always help it. God promised we would not be tempted beyond our ability to do the right thing. So spare me your excuses.”

  Respect for the woman rose inside of Alisa. Suddenly she desperately wanted to be allowed to stay. Her stomach quivered at the thought of a vote against her. She slid to her knees and rested her elbows on the bed. Sometimes her heart felt so full, she couldn’t form the words beyond, “Oh, please.” And now she found her vocabulary once more limited to those words. “Please, dear Jesus. Oh, please, please let me stay.” Slowly the pounding of her longing heart slowed to normal, and she rested her cheek against the back of her hand.

  In a stranger’s room, peace flooded her soul, and the words of entreaty became words of praise. “I thank Thee for giving me a name. For taking care of me so far.” The fact was, she didn’t have to stay at Chance Ranch for God to meet her needs. Whether He chose for her to leave or stay, her heart calmed to the fact that He was well able to take care of her. With a smile, she gathered a deep breath and opened her eyes.

  Whatever happened, God was in control.

  Chapter 6

  Robert Worthington surveyed the two-story frame home critically as his boots clicked on the cobblestone walk. Paint was cracked and peeling off just about every board. He gave two solid raps on the door. A moment later, a girl of perhaps ten years appeared.

  “May I help you?”

  “I’m looking for the woman who runs this place.”

  “Would you like to come in?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  The child stepped aside. “I’ll tell Mrs. Perryman you’re here.”

  Robert looked around at the dingy furniture, chipped tables, and worn curtains and rugs. His daughter had grown up in this dump? He pushed aside the thought as soon as it came. No. She wasn’t his daughter. Alisa was the unfortunate result of a few nights of fun on his part. She never should have been found.

  Anger burned within his breast as it did whenever Alisa’s heart-shaped face and innocent brown eyes came to his mind. Why should he lose everything to a daughter he’d never wanted in the first place?

  The sound of footsteps captured his attention, pulling him from his thoughts. An attractive, middle-aged woman smiled as she entered, followed by the young girl. A girl who might have been Alisa a few years ago. He shook the thought from his mind and scowled. The woman cocked her head to the side, the twinkle in her green eyes replaced with caution.

  “May I help you?”

  “You run this place?”

  “I’m Mrs. Perryman. Yes, I care for the children. Are you looking for a child to adopt?”

  Robert recoiled at the thought. “No!”

  “I see.” She turned to the girl. “Sarah, please let the children know to continue with their lessons.”

  “You teach them here? Why do they not attend public school?”

  “Children can be cruel. Most of these children find they prefer to be taught at home.”

  Robert shrugged off the concern. Why should he care if a bunch of orphans received a proper education or not? He was here for one reason only. To find Alisa.

  “I’m looking for my daughter. I believe you raised her here.”

  The woman’s eyes lit up. “You’ve traced your child to us? This will be the second family reunion this year.”

  Realizing she was talking about Alisa, Robert felt his ears burn. “To tell you the truth, Mrs. Perryman, Alisa is my daughter.”

  Confusion clouded her face. “Perhaps you’d better come into the kitchen, and you can explain over a cup of tea.”

  “Really, that won’t be…” Robert sighed as she turned and headed down the hallway. All he wanted was information, not a tea party, but he followed her swishing gray skirts, nostalgia filling him at the familiar sound. There were times when he missed his mother so badly his throat ached. Unpredictable moments such as this. He cleared his throat to ease the tightness.

  “Is Alisa missing, Mr. Worthington?” she asked over her shoulder.

  “Yes.”

  She opened the door to the kitchen and entered, stepping aside as she waited for Robert to follow. He did.

  “Please have a seat at the table while I prepare our tea.” She moved to the stove with a quiet grace and began preparing a kettle of water.

  Robert sat in the chair she’d indicated. The wood felt wobbly beneath him, and he wondered if it would hold his weight. “It seems there are plenty of things around here in need of repair.”

  She sighed, pumping water into the kettle. “I’m afraid you’re right. Since Mr. Perryman passed on four years ago, I haven’t been able to keep up with much. Some of the boys are handy with tools and can help with repairs, as long as the jobs don’t require funds we simply don’t have.”

  Robert knew she wasn’t hinting. But he knew how to play a situation to his advantage all the same. “How many children do you care for here?” First rule of thumb when trying to weasel something out of a person—make them think you care.

  She turned to him and smiled. “Right now we have seven boys ranging in age from four to sixteen. And ten girls approximately the same ages.” She took in a slow breath. “Unfortunately, Seth, my oldest boy, will have to be moving on soon.”

  She sounded so sad, Robert was prompted to ask, “Why is that?”

  “Once they reach the age where they are able to find work, we must make room for new children. It breaks my heart to see them go. I was little more than the oldest among them myself when we started the
orphanage. But they understand, and most come back often to visit. Some even help out. Alisa always brought her pay over here. I tried to protest, but she left it with one of the children when I refused to take it.”

  She poured the tea and set a chipped cup in front of him, along with a creamer. “I’m afraid I don’t have any sugar at the moment. Little Judith turned eight yesterday, and I used the last of it to bake a cake.”

  “Plain is fine.” Robert detested the way his heart constricted at the thought of anyone being so poor as to make a choice between having sugar for tea or using the last to bake a cake. He gathered himself together. All the more reason for her to take him up on his forthcoming offer.

  “Mrs. Perryman, I can see you care deeply for these…orphans.”

  “You see correctly.” She stirred a drop of cream into her cup. “My husband and I were never blessed with children of our own. The children God brings to us…to me…become part of a family. Now what of Alisa? We missed her yesterday for Judith’s birthday.”

  Armed with confidence, Robert flashed a smile. “I’m afraid she’s run away.”

  A frown creased Mrs. Perryman’s already wrinkled brow. “That doesn’t sound like Alisa. Was she in danger?”

  “Of course not. I’m afraid my mother passed on very recently, and my…daughter took it rather hard.”

  “Oh, how sad.” Her green eyes drew him in, and he almost forgot his objective. Almost. Not quite.

  “Yes. Alisa and I are all the other has in the world now.”

  “How long has she been gone?”

  “My mother passed away two nights ago. I haven’t seen Alisa since.” Robert sipped the weak tea. “The reason I bothered you is that I hoped you’d seen her. I take it you haven’t?”

  “I’m afraid not. But if I do, I’ll be sure to tell her you’re looking for her.”

  Robert inwardly cringed. That would be the worst thing she could do. Alisa would run and never return if she knew he had come here to look for her. “There’s more to it than that.”

  Mrs. Perryman frowned. “I don’t understand.”

  “Alisa is under the impression she is somehow responsible for my mother’s demise.”

  “However would she have gotten such an idea?”

  “I’m as much at a loss about that as you are, Mrs. Perryman. But it’s very, very important that I find her.” He leaned forward, his hands wrapped around the teacup. “If Alisa contacts you, I would appreciate it if you would send word immediately.” He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out ten dollars.

  Mrs. Perryman’s eyes narrowed. She squared her shoulders. “Sir, if you are trying to pay me to betray Alisa, I would like you to leave my home this instant.”

  “Please, Mrs. Perryman. You misunderstand. I am simply donating to your cause.”

  “The Lord provides for our needs. We do not need your donation.” The woman stood. “You may show yourself out.”

  Frustration shook Robert to the core. He looked toward the door and saw a dark head peeking around the corner.

  “Come out here,” he ordered.

  Slowly a small boy moved to stand in front of him.

  “What’s your name?”

  “Spencer.” The freckles on his nose crunched together as he grinned, a wide, gaptoothed smile.

  Robert found himself responding. He walked by, ruffled the boy’s head, and handed him the ten dollars. “Give this to Mrs. Perryman and tell her to buy some sugar. No strings attached.”

  He berated himself as he stalked down the walk away from the nearly dilapidated orphanage.

  What kind of a fool was he?

  Titus felt his stomach respond to the smell of bacon frying and flapjacks staying warm in the oven. True to her word, Miriam had cooked all of his favorites. He scanned the room but didn’t find Alisa present. His gaze traveled to Miriam. Her lips curved. “She’s still asleep.”

  “Good. That was quite a stage ride yesterday. I’m sure she needs her rest.”

  “In the meantime, we can take our vote.” Gideon kept his voice low.

  “What vote?” Bryce reached for a flapjack, then turned his gaze to Gideon.

  “About Miss Worthington staying.”

  “Why do we need to vote on that? I figured she was staying.”

  Daniel wiped the jam from Ginny Mae’s chin. “This life is too hard on a woman. I think we ought to do her a favor and send her back where she came from.”

  Frustration chewed at Titus. He raked his fingers through his unruly hair and glared at his widowed brother. “We’re all sorry Hannah died, Daniel. But that doesn’t mean no woman is cut out for this life. Alisa should have the right to decide for herself.”

  “You could always marry her like Gideon married Miriam,” Logan suggested. Bryce passed him the plate of bacon. Logan’s face blanched, and he shook his head.

  “He’s right,” Bryce offered. “Then we wouldn’t have any choice but to let her stay.”

  Paul and Gideon cackled. “She already turned him down,” Gideon informed them.

  “All right.” Miriam set another plate of flapjacks on the table. “If you don’t lower your voices, you’ll wake her up. Take the vote, and get it over with.”

  “We already know what Daniel thinks,” Titus said.

  Daniel grunted and gulped his coffee.

  “I vote yes. Now can I go back to bed?” Logan held his head in his hands. “I’m not hungry.”

  “I vote yes, too.” Bryce forked another flapjack. “If Logan’s not eating, I’ll take his.”

  Titus shook his head at his brother. So much for his morning pain teaching him a lesson.

  “Paul?”

  Paul sipped his coffee. “I haven’t even met her yet. Where will she sleep? She can’t stay with Miriam.”

  “You’d better believe she can’t.”

  Miriam’s face grew red at her husband’s outburst.

  “I have that all worked out,” Titus said quickly. “How about if I move back in with you, Paul? Alisa can have my cabin.”

  Paul shrugged. “That’d be all right with me.”

  “So you vote yes?”

  “I reckon so.”

  “That settles it, then. We don’t need Gideon’s vote. We have a majority.” Titus felt a smug grin tug at his mouth.

  Miriam walked by and patted his shoulder. “Do I get a vote?”

  No one said a word.

  “After all, I’m part of the family now, too, aren’t I?”

  “Well, sure.” Even if she voted no, the four of them had a majority. Titus smiled to encourage her.

  “Well, of course I vote yes, but that isn’t the point. From now on, I wish to be included in these decisions.”

  “Miriam’s right,” Gideon said. “She’s an adult member of the family and deserves a voice when we vote.”

  “I think we should vote on whether Miriam should vote or not,” Bryce said between bites.

  Miriam sniffed and tossed a dish towel at him. “How about if I vote to stop cooking flapjacks just the way you like them?”

  “Just kidding. I think Miriam should have a vote, too.”

  Gideon slapped him on the shoulder. “You’ll agree to anything if it means the difference between Miriam’s cooking or going back to Paul’s.”

  “Can’t say as I blame him,” Paul said through a grin just before he shoveled another bite into his mouth.

  “All right,” Titus said with a nod. “Then we’re agreed. Miss Worthington stays, and from now on, Miriam gets a vote.”

  Daniel grunted his disapproval but didn’t speak.

  Logan rose. “I’m going back to my cabin,” he said a bit thinly. “You’ll have to do without me today.”

  “Get some rest,” Gideon said sternly. “But when you get up, we’re going to have another talk about you two and your drinking.”

  Logan nodded and slunk toward the door.

  “Then it’s settled. Alisa stays.” Titus glanced toward the other room, his stomach churning with a
nticipation at seeing her again.

  “Someone’s coming,” Logan announced from the open door.

  “Who?”

  “Looks like Miss White.”

  All eyes turned to Titus. Bryce snickered. “Guess she wants to marry you after all.”

  Chapter 7

  Alisa’s heart sank at Bryce’s theory about Prissy and her matrimonial intentions. Guilt pricked her that she’d been eavesdropping the whole time, but the truth was, she couldn’t leave the room without clothes, and so far, hers hadn’t materialized. She could only assume Miriam had taken them to be washed—which was sweet of her—but what would Alisa wear in the meantime?

  She jumped a moment later when Miriam slipped into the room. The other woman’s lips twitched. “I guess you heard the vote.”

  Warmth flooded Alisa’s cheeks. She nodded.

  “I took your dress to wash. But naturally it isn’t dry yet. I brought you one of mine. You’re a bit taller than I am, but it should work until yours is dry.” Miriam deposited the clothing on the bed. “I see you tidied up in here. Thank you. You are going to be handy to have around.”

  Alisa smiled at the praise.

  Miriam walked to her wardrobe and pulled out some white lacy articles. “You’ll need these as well.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Just hurry and get yourself presentable. Prissy White just pulled up.”

  “I—I met her last night, I’m afraid. I—I don’t mean I’m afraid. I mean…” She cleared her throat. “Well, I made her acquaintance at dinner.”

  Miriam laughed. “It’s all right. I completely understand. Prissy takes a little getting used to. Poor Titus.”

  “Poor Titus?”

  “Obviously, Prissy’s predatory nature took over when she saw you with him. She turned down his proposal—and she wasn’t too nice about it—but it looks like she’s changed her mind. It’ll be interesting to see how Titus gets himself out of this bind.”

  “Why would he want to get out of it? If he asked her to marry him, he must love her.” The very words left a bitter taste in Alisa’s mouth.

  Miriam waved her hands. “Nonsense. Love rarely has anything to do with marriage in these parts.” A lovely smile tipped her lips. “There are exceptions, of course. Anyway, I will admit Titus was smitten for a while. But that’s all changed. I can see it in his eyes. You’ve definitely caused the glow of Prissy’s presence to dim. He lights up like a Roman candle every time he looks at you.”