The Brides of Chance Collection

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

  “Paul?” He must have heard her hopeful whisper, because he froze, then turned to face her.

  Oh my. Lord, I just asked for a sign, and there’s no questioning this has to be one, but his eyes are guarded. Why is he here?

  Sunlight framed Delilah, bathing her in gold and making her even more beautiful than he’d remembered. Lord, she seems so serene, like she fits here. I see none of the sadness she bore when she left us. Is she finally happy, and I’m supposed to ask her to leave it all behind?

  He cleared his throat. “I need to talk with you for a minute.”

  “Come on in.” Her warm smile sent tingles down his spine as he followed her into the charming structure. It resembled a cottage more than anything, but her easel stood by a large window next to a worktable.

  With easy grace, she sank into an armchair by the small fireplace and gestured for him to do the same. She waited patiently for him to speak.

  “I’ve come to bring you back to Chance Ranch.” Oh, well done, blurting it out like that. This was a mistake. Will she be disappointed I didn’t come to fetch her as my bride? Even worse, will she be relieved?

  “I’ll be ready to go in half an hour.” He watched in amazement as she began tucking loose leaves of paper into her sketchbook and binding her folio. Dumbfounded, he walked over to explain. Didn’t she want to know why? What if she misunderstood?

  He held out a hand to stop her, only to have her push art supplies at him.

  “Why don’t you go put these in the wagon while I pack my satchel?” She disappeared behind a partition, and he heard the rasp of a drawer opening.

  Lord, what do I do? Dumping her things onto one of the armchairs, he strode over behind the partition, only to be brought up cold. She’d dumped the contents of her drawer onto her bed. He gulped at the sight of delicate stockings and the corner of a white ruffled petticoat peeking out from under them.

  Certain his ears were redder than ripe strawberries, he seized the only option left to him—retreat. He rushed back to the armchair, grabbed her art supplies, and didn’t stop until he stood in the warm sunshine by the buckboard.

  Delilah stifled a giggle at the look on Paul’s face as he fairly ran out of her studio; then she shoved her unmentionables into the valise. Well, no use crying over spilt milk. The bigger question was why he was taking her back.

  Lord, I’m trying so hard to trust in You and in Paul, but I’m going to burst if I don’t find out soon whether he came because he missed me or something else. He doesn’t seem worried like he’d be if anybody was hurt back at the ranch. Give me patience, Father!

  She finished packing as quickly as possible, looked around one last time, and hefted her satchel to the doorway, where Paul took it.

  “Come here.” She picked up a squirming Shortstack, grown far bigger than she’d been on Delilah’s birthday, and tucked her into a large basket. Shortstack gave an indignant meow before settling in. The cat gave a lurch to pop her head up through one of the basket flaps. When she seemed content just to see what was around her, Delilah couldn’t bring herself to shut the basket again.

  As they began leaving town, Paul cleared his throat. “Do you need to talk with anyone—make arrangements so everything’s fine when you come back?”

  Refusing to be discouraged by that statement, Delilah shook her head. “It’s all been taken care of. I left a note on the table.” Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. “Will I be coming back?”

  “That’s up to you. For now, Miriam’s pretty much in bed until the baby comes, and Alisa’s green around the gills every day until the afternoon, but they’re both too stubborn to admit they need help. We took a Chance vote, and I came to fetch you.”

  Another Chance vote, Delilah mused. And to think, once I wondered if one of those famous votes would let me stay at Chance Ranch.

  “But that’s not unusual. Neither of them is ailing other than that?” She had to make sure.

  “Nope.”

  Now what? Is he going to stay quiet all the way home, Lord? Will he not say more than the bare minimum the whole time I’m at Chance Ranch? Give me strength and wisdom, Lord!

  Chapter 19

  I’m so glad to hear that.” Delilah debated whether or not to continue. “I’ve kept Miriam and Alisa in my prayers.”

  “We all have.”

  Delilah knew the instant her words sank in. Paul whipped his head around to face her and brought Speck to a dead halt with one jerk on the reins.

  “What did you just say?” His intense gaze searched her face hungrily, and she smiled to see how desperate he was to hear her say the words.

  “I’ve prayed for you all.” Her heart sang as his face lit up with wonder.

  “You’ve accepted Christ?” His voice was low and gruff. When she nodded, he gathered her in his arms and held on tight. “Then He’s answered my prayers, too. What changed your mind?”

  “I sat in San Francisco, completely independent, with a home of my own and new friends, but it wasn’t what I’d thought it would be. I wasn’t at Chance Ranch anymore, so I had to trust God to take care of the people I love. It was so much easier than I’d thought, once I made the decision. And since then, I’ve remembered all the things you’ve told me about God’s love, and I can see it all around me.”

  “Whatever is good and lovely cometh from the Lord.” He cupped her chin in his palm. “Now do you know why I think of God so much when we’re together?”

  “No,” she confessed, “but it doesn’t make me jealous.”

  “It never detracted from our time together. I think of Him when you’re near me because, to me, you’re the loveliest thing He ever made. I love you, Delilah.” His voice deepened as he took her hand in his.

  “I love you, too,” she whispered, raising a hand to stroke his cheek.

  “Delilah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife before God and man?”

  “Yes.” As his lips met hers, a warm rush tingled from her lips to her toes. Delilah rested in the circle of his arms, feeling more cherished than she’d have ever thought possible. “Let’s go home.”

  “The second I saw you two holding hands, I knew we’d done right by you, Brother.” Daniel clapped a hand on Paul’s shoulder.

  “Now if that’s not the sorriest excuse I’ve ever heard for your meddling, I don’t know what is.” Paul grinned to take the sting from his words. “Truth of the matter is, she’d just told Reba’s friends she was coming back here, so don’t get too cocky.”

  “Aw, I’m just ready for some of those flapjacks tomorrow. Now let’s get to bed. The sooner we wake up, the sooner we’ll be at the table.”

  “I’m all for that.” Paul hung up his hat. “It’ll bring us one day closer to the Sunday you walk Delilah to the altar.”

  Daniel’s brows knit together as he scowled. “About that…”

  “Oh, no, you don’t. A man’s word is his bond.” Paul flopped onto the bed. “Besides, you should’ve seen Delilah’s face when I told her you’d volunteered.”

  “Humph. Volunteered,” Daniel grumbled but ventured one last question as he put out the light. “Made her happy?”

  “You’d better believe it.”

  Delilah watched with satisfaction as everyone—including Alisa—polished their plates. Lord, how light I feel due to Your grace. I sit here as a member of not one but two families. I belong at Chance Ranch, but You claim me as Your daughter. Thank You so much.

  She cleared the table and shooed Miriam back to bed, where Polly and Ginny Mae followed.

  Alisa sank down on the bench. “It’s so good to have you back. It feels as though you never left.”

  “Oh, I don’t know about that.” Delilah smiled and handed her a glass of cool water. “But I’m glad to be here.”

  “You know…” Alisa cocked her head to the side and scrutinized Delilah. “You’re right. You’ve changed over the past weeks—you seem so much happier. Anyone can see the Lord shining through you now.”

 
Delilah laid a towel over a bowl of bread dough and turned when Polly and Ginny Mae tumbled into the room.

  “Auntie Miri-Em!” Polly gasped, pointing to the bedroom.

  “What’s wrong with Auntie Miriam?” Alisa hurried over.

  “She had”—Ginny Mae lowered her voice to a confidential whisper—“an accident.”

  “I’ll go help Miriam while the two of you keep an eye on Auntie Alisa, okay?” Delilah hurried off to find Miriam stripping covers off her bed.

  “What’s wrong?” Delilah hastened to her side.

  “My water broke. The baby’s coming.” Miriam calmly finished stripping the bed and laid down freshly laundered but tattered old quilts. “Go and ring the dinner bell so Gideon’ll know to fetch Reba.”

  Delilah raced back to the kitchen, clanged with all her might, told Alisa the news, and went back to help Miriam change into an old flannel nightgown and get in bed.

  For the next hour, Alisa kept Polly and Ginny Mae busy while the Chance men milled around anxiously, each one steadfastly refusing to leave the house.

  It was obvious the memory of Hannah weighed on their minds, and when Delilah hustled in to boil water, Alisa’s worry was evident.

  Delilah took her aside for a moment. “Listen, the contractions are pretty close together, but she’s in good spirits, and Reba will be here any minute. Why don’t you pray for Miriam and Caleb?”

  “I have been. I want to be with her.” Daniel overheard Alisa’s request and broke away from the pacing herd of men. “Go ahead. I can take care of my little Pollywog and Ginny Mae.” He bent down and started tickling his girls while Alisa followed Delilah back to Miriam’s cabin.

  “How are you doing?” Alisa sank down on the bed beside Miriam and held her sister-in-law’s hand through another contraction.

  “Pretty good.” Miriam gave a wan but convincing smile, and Alisa relaxed visibly.

  Reba sailed into the room and got down to business. After a few minutes, she eyed Miriam suspiciously. “How long have you been having contractions?”

  Miriam waited to reply, gasping through another set before answering. “About three hours.”

  “You’re one of those rare women who get through it in hardly any time at all.” From that moment, there was no room for chitchat, and scarcely an hour later, Delilah handed Reba the twine and scissors to tie and sever the umbilical cord.

  Delilah held a squirmy, slippery red baby and walked over to the basin of warm water to bathe the squalling infant. His little face screwed up as he wailed indignantly, and the only sounds able to rival his lusty lungs were the happy shouts of his papa and uncles as Alisa told them mother and son were just fine.

  Delilah wrapped Caleb in a blanket and walked over to the bed, where an exhausted Miriam smiled beatifically and reached out to hold her son.

  She nuzzled her cheek against the soft duck fluff covering Caleb’s head as Gideon strode into the room, tears of happiness filling his eyes at the sight of his wife and boy.

  “Praise God,” he got out hoarsely as he put an arm around Miriam’s shoulders.

  Delilah couldn’t have agreed more.

  “You may not have heard the news yet,” Gideon announced, beaming at the congregation. “But that’s my son, Caleb, in my beautiful wife’s arms, so next Sunday, we’re going to have a christening.”

  Whoops and cheers from the crowd drowned out anything more Gideon said as the men whistled and stomped their approval over the first boy born in Reliable. When things calmed down a bit, Gideon raised an arm and continued.

  “And that’s not all, folks. We have another special occasion that fine day. I’m pleased to announce that the marriage of my brother Paul to Delilah Chadwick will also be taking place.”

  A hush fell over the crowd before ominous rumblings began. Hats moved back and forth as men shook their heads. Paul stood up next to Gideon.

  “Everyone’s invited.” It did no good. Paul looked out at the sea of faces and saw set jaws, menacing scowls, and knuckles cracking.

  Elias Scudd jumped to his feet. “Oh, no, ya don’t, Paul Chance.” He jerked a thumb toward Delilah. “This un’s spoken for.”

  Paul crossed his arms over his chest. “Yes, she is. By me.”

  “That ain’t what he meant, and you know it!” Ross Dorsey yelled near the back rows.

  “Why don’t you explain it to me.” Paul refused to lose his good humor. In all honesty, he couldn’t blame the menfolk for being put out with him. “Who’s spoken for her?”

  In an instant, benches crashed to the ground as the men of Reliable jumped up to stand their ground. Every male on the premises let loose a resounding “Me!”

  “She can only have one husband,” Reba managed to choke out before she burst out laughing.

  “We know!”

  “Just so long as his last name ain’t Chance,” Rusty growled as the crowd rumbled agreement.

  “We done told ya from the first that was the way it had to be,” Elias Scudd shouted.

  “Yeah!”

  “Sure as shootin’!”

  Ross Dorsey shook a fist. “You greedy gophers already got two fine wimmen to care for ya!”

  “Leave somethin’ for the rest of us!” Rusty roared as the men became more worked up by the minute.

  “She’s ain’t a flapjack, fellas!” Obie, Hezzy, and Mike waded to the front. “Ya cain’t go claimin’ her like that.”

  “Sure we can!” someone shouted back.

  “No, ya cain’t. Ya hafta treat a woman proper. Now if Miz Delilah wants ta marry up with Paul here”—Hezzy clapped Paul’s shoulder so hard his knees just about buckled—“you’ll hafta git your own brides.” Obie glowered from under bushy brows.

  “Whatsa matter with you MacPhersons? None of y’all have a bride, neither!” Scudd glared right back.

  “Sure we do.” Mike stepped forward when Scudd scoffed at him.

  “Yeah, right. How come nobody’s seen ’em?” Rusty challenged.

  “They’ll be here afore winter.” Hezzy rocked back on his heels.

  Stunned, the men stayed silent for a heartbeat. Then someone offered a tentative, “How’d ya manage that?”

  “Like I said, ya gotta court a fine woman, gentlemen. We wrote to ’em and asked ’em ta come down.”

  “Yee-haw! More women are on the way!” Everyone got riled up again at that realization.

  “Now see here,” Obie barked. “Temperance, Eunice, and Lois are taken. Don’t you be thinkin’ they’s fair game.”

  Groans filled the air. “Aw, come on!”

  Paul decided this had gone on long enough. “If you left sweethearts back home, I say you should write to them. Travel a bit—find the woman who makes you happy. But I’ve already found mine, and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

  The throng parted when Delilah swept past the overturned benches to stand beside Paul. “I know you’re all fine men, and I’d be honored to marry any one of you.”

  Elias Scudd preened at that comment, while Ross Dorsey smoothed his sideburns.

  “But you see…” She laced her fingers through Paul’s. “I’ve given my heart to Paul Chance. I had hoped you’d all come to our wedding and share our happiness.”

  Everyone stayed silent for a stretch, the only sound the scuffling of boots in the dust as every man looked down, ashamed.

  “Of course we will, Miz Delilah!” Rusty promised from the back.

  Amid a flurry of “Of course we will’s,” Delilah stood up on her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on Paul’s cheek. Life had never been better.

  Delilah peeked out from behind the barn door and felt her heart might burst from fullness. Paul stood at a makeshift altar, dressed in his Sunday best and looking like the most handsome man on earth. The benches fairly groaned as everyone in Reliable settled in.

  Miriam cuddled Caleb in her arms while Gideon held her. Logan and Bryce sat near the end, holding a place for the girls. Titus began singing “Blest Be the Tie That Bind
s” as he and Alisa marched down the aisle of benches to take their respective positions of best man and matron of honor. Polly carried a basket and strewed petals from their garden as she passed, grabbing handfuls and dropping them in tiny clumps. Ginny Mae toddled after her, carting along a patient Shortstack in a stranglehold until they reached their bench and plopped down in front of Reba and Gus.

  All of these people had come to Delilah’s wedding because they cared for her. Thank You, Lord. You have blessed me beyond my biggest hopes.

  “Ready?” Daniel offered her his arm and a rare smile as she gave her golden dress one last brush.

  Delilah dimly realized that everyone got to their feet as she came into view, but she kept her gaze fixed on Paul and his smile, full of love and warm promise. She was a gambler’s daughter and had sworn not to follow in her father’s footsteps. But here she stood with everyone she loved, taking a Chance who would change her entire life. She’d come home at last.

  LAST CHANCE

  by Cathy Marie Hake

  Dedication

  To Genevieve O’Brien. She reared her younger brothers and sisters, crossed the United States in a covered wagon, killed snakes and cooked them, and became a nurse. Unable to have children of her own, she legally adopted one boy. She also opened her heart to my mom when Dad was oversees in the service and became “Grandma Peggy” to us kids in the fullest, most loving sense of the word.

  Chapter 1

  Salt Lick Holler, Kentucky, June 1872

  I cain’t have it. No, I cain’t.” Silk Trevor stood on the rickety porch of her shack and hung on to either side of the doorsill like a crawdad with juicy bait in both pincers. “You go on ahead and leave my kin here.”