The Brides of Chance Collection

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

  “Colic.” Bryce grunted.

  Daniel immediately grabbed the halter and started pulling. “I’ll walk him.”

  Bryce eased away. “Have at it. He’s been fighting me.”

  Clenching the halter tighter, Daniel hauled the beast up the center aisle of the barn to the doorway and back. They paced that same route several times. He kept his gait steady and slow, careful not to exhaust Blue.

  “I already gave him hot water and mineral oil,” Bryce said.

  It took the two of them to keep Blue upright. The colt tried desperately to lie down so he could roll, but that would be the death of him. His coat grew slick and dark with sweat.

  “He’s sufferin’ something awful,” Bryce said as he tried to wipe down the horse.

  Daniel heard the edge in Bryce’s voice. Calm as Bryce stayed in the worst of cases when the animals sickened, that boded ill. “Walking isn’t working.” Unable to think of anything else to do, Daniel asked, “Think we ought to give him another dose of mineral oil?”

  “I gave him plenty. It didn’t work. Only thing left is an old horseman’s remedy.”

  “We’re going to lose him if we don’t do something quick. Let’s do it.”

  Miriam came into the stable. “Did you need some lunch or help?”

  “Coffee. Strong as you’ve got it,” Bryce ordered. “I want two quarts. Ginger tea, too. Same two quarts.”

  Miriam got a puzzled look on her face, but she didn’t stay to ask why he’d made such an odd request. Something in his tone sent her flying.

  “Keep him upright,” Bryce said. “I need whiskey.”

  “Bryce, drinking—”

  “For the horse.” Bryce shot him an irritated look and headed toward the tack room. When he came back with two sizable bottles, he added, “Seein’ Logan fall off his horse and brain Miriam the night she arrived should have made me swear off the stuff. I was too hardheaded to figure it out, but being drunk as a skunk when Titus brought Alisa here finally made me see the light. I haven’t had a drop since. I keep a store of it for medicinal purposes.”

  Miriam reappeared bearing the coffeepot. Alisa accompanied her with a pitcher. “Lovejoy made ginger tea for us this morning.”

  “Empty them on in here.” Bryce had taken the caps off both bottles and was dumping their contents into a steel bucket.

  Fearing the horse might kick one of the women, Daniel rasped, “You women best get out of here.”

  “We’ll be praying,” Alisa said as she and Miriam scurried away.

  Pouring the remedy into a suffering colt took brute strength and perseverance. As soon as they succeeded, Daniel and Bryce started the horse in motion again.

  “How long before we know if that worked?” Daniel looked over the colt’s withers at Bryce for the answer.

  “Twenty minutes or so.” Bryce’s brow furrowed. “It’s amazing that we already had that ginger tea. Coffee, we always have, but the tea…well, that was nothing short of heavenly providence.”

  “Lovejoy made it.”

  Bryce rubbed the blue as they shuffled along. His voice was slow and thoughtful. “Never seen a woman like her.”

  “She’s one of a kind.”

  “You startin’ to have feelin’s for her, Dan?”

  Dan snapped, “I’ve already had a good woman.”

  “Yup, you did.” A second later Bryce added, “Good, not perfect. Hannah loved you, and she bore you two children.”

  Chest tight, Daniel waited for the other shoe to drop.

  “I won’t recite her shortcomings, Dan. I’m just going to say she had some. We all do. Grieving makes us remember folks fondly.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  Bryce heaved a sigh. “Tell me, which horse is better? This here blue or Cooper?”

  “What kind of nonsense is that? This one is young and untried. He’s worth a bundle. Cooper is trained and useful. He’s proven himself over and over. They’re entirely different. I can’t compare them.”

  “Hannah was like this blue—beautiful, sleek, and young. She meant the world to you. Lovejoy’s like Cooper—ordinary, hardworking, and loyal, but you’re blind to that. She can’t measure up because you’ve let your memories turn a regular woman into a saint.”

  “Who says I’m blind?” As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Dan stopped in his tracks. He stared at his brother. “I can list plenty of Lovejoy’s virtues. It doesn’t mean I’m ready to get hitched to her, though.”

  “I didn’t ask if you were ready to get hitched. I asked if you’re startin’ to have feelings.”

  At that moment the blue managed to get down to business. Bryce nodded wearily. “He’ll make it. I’ll keep him walking awhile yet. You can go on.”

  Dan headed toward the wide-open door. He stopped in the big sunlit square and looked out. His daughters both wore wreaths of daisies in their hair and about their necks, and they each had hold of Lovejoy’s skirts. Drawing in a deep breath, Dan turned back toward Bryce. “Yeah. I’ve got feelings for her.”

  Chapter 15

  Reliable is one fine little place,” Tempy said as she latched a lid on a jar of berries.

  “Purdy as a fawn’s coat.” Lovejoy scooted over and made room for Delilah at the table. Two days ago the Chance women had gone to the MacPherson spread to help put up vegetables. Today the MacPherson women were returning the favor after they’d all gone berry picking.

  “And the folks hereabouts are neighborly as cain be.” Lois came out of the bedroom carrying Caleb, with Ginny Mae and Polly following behind her. The children’s cheeks were flushed from their nap.

  Reba White had come, too. Priscilla refused to join them, but no one pointed that out. Lovejoy had learned Priscilla had refused Titus’s marriage proposal, so she figured it was for the best that Alisa wouldn’t have to spend an awkward day with a disagreeable woman.

  The Chance families couldn’t begin to imagine how blessed they were to have tables laden with plenty and not know what it was to be hungry, to sit at that table where love, not strife, ruled. Lovejoy smiled at Tempy. The true blessing was that her own sister had married up, and the Lord seemed to be smiling down on her in the same way.

  A knock sounded on the open door as someone said, “Is Miz Spencer here?”

  “Yes, she is, Todd.” Miriam motioned her neighbor to come inside.

  “I heard tell she’s good at doctoring. Chris Roland got a gash on his head that needs stitching.”

  Wiping her hands on her apron, Lovejoy headed toward the bedroom. “Let me get my satchel.”

  “What do you mean, you let her ride off with him?” Daniel glowered at his brothers as they got ready to sit down to supper. “This can’t continue. Two days can’t pass without someone wanting her attention.”

  Gideon elbowed Titus. “It’s mostly Dan’s fault. Chopping all that wood, he gets some pretty wicked splinters.”

  Daniel ignored that jibe. “If folks want Lovejoy’s help, they can come here instead of expecting her to wander all over Reliable Township. It’s not safe.”

  “She’s scrappy.” Bryce plopped down and swiped a biscuit. “I reckon she can handle herself.”

  Logan snorted. “He reckons anyone who can lance a boil on a horse can do anything.”

  Paul cast a quick glance at Delilah and whispered hotly, “Watch what you say. Delilah’s barely keeping her meals down. I won’t have you spoil her appetite.”

  “Well, I’m taking a stand,” Daniel announced. “She doesn’t pay house calls unless it’s an emergency, and if that’s what’s up, one of us men will escort her.”

  He kept busy with his daughters at the table, then took them to their cabin. It didn’t surprise him in the least when Lovejoy knocked on the door. “I come to smear some salve on the girls’ arms. They got scratched up a mite pickin’ berries today.”

  Daniel stood back and watched Lovejoy minister to his daughters. Once he’d thought her to be a mousy-looking woman. He couldn’t have
been more wrong. Compassion shone from her hazel eyes, and her mouth perpetually tilted into a warm smile. The string she used to tame her hair into a simple plait snagged on a button of Polly’s nightdress and slipped off. Instead of fussing with her own hair, Lovejoy fretted over a scratch on Polly’s arm then kissed it better. Dan caught himself wishing the braid would unravel entirely.

  “There, now. Sweet dreams, lassies.” Lovejoy turned and pulled one of her dynamite vials out of her satchel. “You’ll probably need this.”

  “What is it?”

  “Dr. J. H. McLeans Volcanic Oil Liniment. I poured half into this for you and gave the bottle to Bryce. After fighting that colicky colt yesterday, it stands to reason yore shoulders might be squawkin’ a mite.”

  “I take care of myself. I don’t need you to coddle me.”

  Polly sat up in the bed. “Miss Lovejoy cuddles good, Daddy. Why don’t you want her to cuddle you?”

  He said coddle, not cuddle. It means to fuss and pamper, Pollywog. I don’t expect no one’s gonna cuddle your pa, on account of him bein’ prickly as a berry bramble.

  Lovejoy woke early the next morning and groaned over the memory of what she’d said to Polly last night. If she hadn’t given her word that she’d stay and help Delilah and Alisa with their birthings, she’d gladly pack her bags and run off.

  Facing Daniel after she’d said that was going to test her composure. Why is he different from every other man? I cain hold my own with any other buck in the world, but Dan—well, he just manages to take me by surprise.

  She dressed and searched in vain for another scrap of string to tie her plait.

  Miriam slipped into the room. “I thought I heard Caleb.”

  “He’d jist started stirrin’ a bit.” Lovejoy lifted him from his cradle. “He’s a fine boy.”

  Miriam took him and rubbed noses with her son. “That’s because you take after your daddy, don’t you?”

  The one thing Lovejoy missed about Salt Lick Holler was that she never had any solitude. Why, back home, when she was feelin’ a mite blue, she could go out all on her lonesome and natter with God about her achy heart. Most days she felt happy with her lot in life, but every now and again she struggled with being a lonesome, barren woman surrounded by blossoming families. Watching the folks at the MacPherson and Chance ranches hip-deep in love…well, now that was a right wondrous thing. But it also hurt. Times like this, her arms ached to hold a young’un of her own, and there were times she wished she wouldn’t be going back home to an empty house.

  But what about how I acted last night? I could end up just as bitter as Daniel if I let this briar patch of self-pity hold me fast.

  “It looks to be a fine morn. I’m gonna go gathering.”

  “Why don’t you wait till after breakfast? Delilah or I could go with you.”

  Lovejoy shook her head. “No need.” She slipped her knife in her sheath and hastened away before Miriam asked any questions.

  “Lovejoy didn’t go pay a house call on anyone, did she? It’s not like her to leave others to do the cooking.”

  “Are you kidding?” Gideon gave Daniel a cocky grin. “We know better than to let her off the property without your approval.”

  “She went to gather more ‘yarbs,’ ” Miriam said. “Don’t worry. She has her knife, and one of the dogs was trotting alongside her.”

  Miriam looked at Delilah and Alisa. “Do either of you have any fabric? Lovejoy’s dresses are in tatters.”

  “I’m doing nothing but sitting around.” Alisa perked up. “I can sew for her.”

  “I’m goin’ to town.” Bryce propped his elbows on the table. “I suppose I could get material.”

  Dan nearly choked on his coffee.

  Logan hooted as the women exchanged horrified looks.

  “Mrs. White would help me,” Bryce muttered.

  “Fine. Have her help you.” Dan nodded curtly. “Get something pretty—orange and flowery.” He stood abruptly, suddenly feeling ridiculous. As if to provide an excuse, he tacked on, “She won’t take payment for healing my girls. At least this way I can cover my debt.”

  Paul elbowed Delilah. “We owe her, too. Are you going to be picky about the color?”

  “I’ll go along and see what she has.”

  The table conversation ebbed and flowed. Daniel ignored it and secretly hoped Lovejoy hadn’t gotten lost. The woman didn’t seem to possess much of a sense of direction. By midmorning he couldn’t stand it anymore. Lovejoy hadn’t returned—he’d been keeping a lookout for her and determined it was time he tracked her down. What if a snake bit her or she fell and got hurt?

  Daniel followed her tracks. It wasn’t hard at all. Lovejoy wore sturdy, albeit badly worn, boots. The Chance women all had dainty lady’s shoes that left narrow heel imprints; Lovejoy’s small footprint was the only one with a broad heel. It wasn’t long before he discovered where she’d gone.

  Her gunnysack bulged with whatever she’d harvested, and a pail of berries sat beside it, but for the first time ever, he saw Lovejoy sitting still. The woman was always in motion—working, helping, rocking a baby. Even for church, she’d either play her dulcimer or keep one of his girls content on her lap. The oldest mutt they had lay with his head in her lap, but she wasn’t stroking him. Something was wrong.

  Chapter 16

  Lovejoy?”

  Her posture straightened, but she didn’t turn around.

  Dan hastened closer and noticed the distinctive motion a woman used to secretly wipe away tears. “Did you get hurt?”

  She shook her head and wouldn’t meet his gaze.

  Dan couldn’t very well ignore her red eyes and tearstained face. He didn’t know what to say, though. Talk is overrated. He’d forgotten his father’s tenet until now, but it fit. Sometimes talk just didn’t suit the situation and wouldn’t improve it any.

  Dan sat beside Lovejoy under the tree, reached over, and silently pulled her into the lee of his body. It was a bittersweet time, her resting against him, neither of them saying a word. Somehow they were sharing the deep hurts of life. After a while, Lovejoy took a deep breath, but he didn’t let go. “Some days are rougher than others, aren’t they?”

  She nodded.

  “I got mouthy last night when you were trying to be kind. I said harsh words, and it made things harder for you. It’s not you. It’s me.”

  Well, isn’t that just the way God works? She’d just about given up hope of being around Daniel—not in a romantic way but just as a friend—and here he’d sought her out, waded in the creek of sorrow along with her, and given consolation. Pa and her husband always blamed her, told her everything was her fault. Here Dan sat a-sayin’ ’twas his doing.

  “I get upset, and I chop wood.” He cupped her head to his chest. “You can’t go tromping off when you’re uneasy. It just isn’t safe. I’ll put a bench by the tree at the curve in the creek. You can go sit there when you need a spell.”

  She eased away from him. “ ’Tisn’t necessary. I won’t be stayin’ all that long, Dan’l.”

  “I’ll do it because I want to.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “Now let’s take you home.”

  When she stood, her hair unraveled more. Only a soiled dove went about with her hair all wild. Lovejoy grabbed it, quickly twisted it, and jammed a twig through to keep the heavy tresses at her nape.

  Daniel pulled it out. “Don’t go putting an ugly stick in such pretty hair.”

  Lovejoy couldn’t think of a reply to make to such an outrageous comment. Daniel had just proven himself to be a man who could own up to his flaws and share someone’s sorrows without prying. For him to pay her a compliment was like…well, sort of like sprinkling sugar atop a pie even though it wasn’t needed. She smiled at that thought because Daniel’s flattery was especially sweet. No one else had ever spoken a word of praise about her appearance. She’d cherish those words for the rest of her days.

  Once they got back to the barnyard, Dan followed her into the house.
“Miriam, how are we set for ribbons?”

  “The girls have plenty. Why?”

  “Lovejoy needs some for her plait.” He turned to leave then said over his shoulder, “And don’t go trying to put it up all fancy.”

  As the day progressed, Lovejoy heard him sawing and hammering. Late in the afternoon he popped Ginny Mae onto his shoulders. “Polly, take Lovejoy’s hand and come see what Daddy did.”

  They walked to the bend in the creek, and Lovejoy let out a cry of surprise. Dan grinned at her. When he said he’d put a bench there, she simply assumed he’d drag one of the benches they kept in the barn and used for church meetings. Only the church benches didn’t have a back to them.

  “You built those!” He’d not built one small bench or chair by the tree; he’d made three benches.

  “Yep. You’re going to stay until the babies are born, so it’s only right that there are seats for when your sister and friends come to visit.”

  “Oh, Dan. Thankee.”

  “Nothin’ better than fresh air and sunshine to perk up a body.” Lovejoy sat back on her heels and lifted her face to the sky. “Ever think on how God made light first?”

  “Can’t say that I have.” Delilah dusted off her hands. “Until this year, I didn’t even believe in Him. It’s a wonder they took me in. I couldn’t cook, garden, or pray.”

  “Seems to me you’ve learnt plenty.” Lovejoy reached over and patted Delilah’s tummy. “And you’re gonna be a good mama and teach your young’un all those things.”

  “You’ll have to teach me that trick you used so Miriam’s baby sleeps through the night.”

  “Time did that, I didn’t. A babe’s born wee little, so his belly cain’t hold much. Give him three, mebbe four moons, and he fills up right fine and cain make it through. Caleb’s next fit’ll come when he’s a-fixin’ to cut teeth. I’ll check in that book your man give me. See if ’n there’s sommat growin’ hereabouts to holp with that.”

  “We have plenty of time,” Miriam said.

  “Not by my reckonin’. I aim to spend the next week or so gathering.” Lovejoy plucked a sprig of mint, dusted it off on her sleeve, popped it between her teeth, and bit. The taste burst in her mouth. “Moon’s on the rise, so the flow tide in the stems will make the flowers and leaves best to pluck.”