The Brides of Chance Collection

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

  “Only it don’t seem like home no more, God. That’s the problem. Well, that’s part of the problem. See, my heart’s here in Reliable. Tempy’s gonna end up in the family way and will need my holp. Mama put her in my care long ago, and now it’s not feelin’ right to leave her. And the other folk here, they need my holp, too.

  “And bein’ dead-level honest, Father, somewhere along the line, I done lost my heart. Dan’l is a fine man—and I love him. I know he’s not interested in me for more than a friend; that’s a sore spot, but I reckon I cain settle for that. It’s plenty more than I ever had. His daughters are a joy, and he’s needin’ holp with ’em.

  “It’s nigh unto tearin’ my heart in twain. I need to go, but I’m a-longin’ to stay. Thou knowest best, but I’m beggin’ you to ease my heart and mind so I cain do what’s right. Amen.”

  “We’ve taken a vote,” Daniel announced at the breakfast table the next morning. He gulped down a bite of Delilah’s incomparable flapjacks and stared at Lovejoy. “You’re to stay here.”

  “It wasn’t just the Chance men who voted, either.” Miriam held Caleb in one arm while drizzling syrup on Ginny Mae’s flapjack.

  Logan groused, “Women voting. What’s the world coming to?”

  “It makes sense for you to stay,” Daniel continued, ignoring his brother. “You’ve filled that loft with all sorts of stuff. Folks come here for you when they need assistance.”

  “And we love having you here.” Alisa cradled Tobias close to her bosom. “You’ve made all of the difference.”

  “Now hold yore horses. God makes the difference—not me. I’m nothing more than a plain, old hillbilly woman with a knack for usin’ yarbs.”

  Daniel studied her from the top of her shiny, fawn-colored hair down the length of her peachy dress. “Only a blind fool would call you plain or old.”

  “So it’s settled,” Bryce cut in. “You’ll stay here.”

  “I’ll think on it.”

  An hour later, Bryce shouldered Daniel. “She’ll think on it. I’m trying to decide whether that’s a good or a bad thing.”

  “We have time. She promised to stay until Delilah has her baby. No use rushing her. I’m going to sneak into her heart one step at a time.”

  “We come to fetch ourn.” Obie MacPherson’s comment rumbled through the barnyard. Eunice sat beside him on the buckboard and nodded.

  “Lovejoy is settled in nicely here,” Miriam protested.

  “She belongs with her kin.”

  “Now, Obie,” Delilah reasoned, “we all understand she’s Tempy’s sister. You have to admit, the women of both families have been doing plenty of visiting back and forth.”

  Lovejoy felt Ginny Mae and Polly clutching her skirts.

  Obie turned his gaze on her. “I pledged to Mike that I’d fetch you back. Your place is with kin. Tempy’s setting up a place in the first cabin. You cain put all your healin’ stuff there. Folk’ll learn to come call for you there if ’n they’s a-needin’ holp.”

  I prayed, Lord. I asked Thee to let me know Thy will. Thou art taking me away from Daniel. Thou art taking me away from these girls. Give me grace to do this.

  She squared her shoulders. “I’ll pack up.”

  Chapter 21

  Gone?” Daniel roared the word in disbelief. He stomped into his daughters’ cabin and looked upward at the loft where Lovejoy kept her healing supplies.

  Empty. Not a berry, scrap of bark, leaf, or vial remained. His heart felt just as empty.

  “You was supposed to make her stay,” Bryce said from the doorway.

  “I’m sure she’ll come visit,” Miriam soothed.

  Dan didn’t bother to hide his glower. “What do those sneaky varmints think they’re doing, dragging her away from us like she’s some kind of pup and they get the pick of the litter? She’s a woman—my woman.”

  “Yes, but—” Miriam began.

  “I’m getting her back.”

  “We’ll watch the girls for you,” Delilah volunteered.

  “Nope. I’m taking them with me. She can’t resist them.”

  Miriam planted herself directly in front of him. “You’re doing nothing of the kind.”

  Dan lowered his voice. “Miriam, I loved your sister, and I was a good husband to her. Hannah’s passed on. It’s no insult that I’ve fallen in love again.”

  A bittersweet smile lit her face. “I’ve been praying you’d find happiness, Dan. I don’t begrudge you that at all. It’s just that though Lovejoy loves Polly and Ginny Mae, you don’t want her to think you’re after a nanny. Either you go on your own, or you shouldn’t go at all.”

  He gave her a quick hug. “I’ll bring her back.”

  The stool teetered beneath her feet as Lovejoy reached to hang a bunch of leaves.

  “Obie pounded them up there for you, hisself,” Lois said as she handed up another bunch.

  “It was shore clever of him to bend them so’s they make hooks. It’s right handy.”

  “Tempy tole him to put in lots.” Eunice stayed over by the stove and took out a loaf of bread. “Obie started funnin’ her, on account it’s gonna look like a dyin’, upside-down garden in here.”

  “But it all smells so good.” Tempy inhaled deeply.

  “That’s my cookin’, not the plants and such.”

  Lovejoy forced a smile. The easy companionship and contentment at the MacPherson spread was an answer to so many of her prayers. God had graciously blessed the gals and settled them into loving marriages. In truth, that’s what Lovejoy had asked of the Lord when she set out on this trip.

  I got no business, askin’ or wantin’ anything more.

  “…pintail ducks and pheasants. They had themselves a great time.”

  “Hmm?” Lovejoy realized she wasn’t keeping up with the conversation.

  “Chances took down as many as our men. Smokehouses are gonna be full unto bustin’.”

  “That’s the last of it,” Eunice called up. “Got every last thing put away now.”

  “A letter came for you, Lovejoy.” Tempy helped her big sister hop down from the stool and gave her the folded paper.

  Running her fingertip over the edge of the page, Lovejoy smiled. The spidery script brought back pleasant memories of Widow Hendricks writing labels to paste on jars and vials. Wheat flour, a pinch of salt, and water mixed together made the paste for those labels, just as it sealed the carefully folded edges of the letter. No one back home used fancy stationery and envelopes like the Chance women did.

  “Widow Hendricks sent all sorts of yarbs on Alisa Chance’s behalf,” Lovejoy said as she carefully coaxed open the paper. “And the Chances holped me gather and send back a whole crate in return.”

  “That’s fitting,” Lois said. “What with her spinebone being so twisty, she prob’ly won’t be able to keep up on stock.”

  “I know.” Lovejoy sighed. “I’m frettin’ over how thangs are back in Salt Lick.”

  “You promised you’d stay for Delilah’s birthing.” Tempy gave her a startled look. “You won’t go back on your word.”

  “ ’Course not. I aim to get busy and gather up sufficient for Reliable and Salt Lick, though.”

  Eunice started laughing. “Get busy? You cain’t sit still any sooner than I cain catch a weasel asleep.”

  Lovejoy sat on the stool, one foot on a rung and the other on the floor, since the silly thing rocked a mite. She read silently—partly because Widow Hendricks might tell her something private about one of their patients and partly because the outspoken old crone didn’t mince words when she spoke of others. Some things didn’t need to be passed on.

  Dear Lovejoy,

  That box came in right handy. Them mule’s ear roots work grand on Otis’s rheu-

  matiz. Mine, too. Send more if ’n you cain spare them. Had the Pleasant young’uns gargle with yore kind of slip elm and healed soar throt right quik. Other than that,

  folk are chipper as cain be. Mayhap we cain trade boxes of yarbs now
an agin.

  Which is why I writ this. Lots of prayer wint into this, so listen with yore heart. Tempy writ and said there’s a widower there with two lassies. You been holping his kin, and she tells me the both of you got on real good. He sent tele-

  grams. First one tole me the whole story in just a few words. “Lovejoy needed.

  Difficult maternity cases. Request you continue serving Holler.”

  Then and thar, my heart tole me the truth. Yore needed there, and I’m needed here. May be, ’tis just yore talent they need. Silk Trevor has conniptions whenever she thinks on you leaving her gals. Yore sisters are keeping watch on your pa, but

  Tempy’s there, and she’ll need you to deliver her babes as the years roll on.

  Parson preached on Titus last month bout old women holping the younger gals. He brung Hattie Thales to me that week.

  Hattie Thales. Lovejoy bit her lip. At thirteen, she’d been married off to a man twice her age. She’d lost a babe halfway through the carrying three times in a row. A deadwood fell in a stiff wind and half crushed her man a year back. She’d tended him till he passed on just before Lovejoy left to come here.

  Nobody wants Hattie. She cain cook and clean, but a man wants sons. I took her in. We been in yore house, and she’s got a clever mind. Learnt yarbs on our first walk and recited them back the next day. I got me a few good years yet to train her up, and this’ll give her a happy life.

  ’Tis yore nest, but I’m fixing to push you out. Less you say otherwise, me and Hattie’ll keep serving Salt Lick, and you cain serve God where He sint you.

  You been like a dotter to me, and I will alwuz holt you in my heart.

  Fondly,

  Willomena Hendricks

  Lovejoy stared at the letter. Tears blurred her eyes. Heavenly Father, I’ve been a-prayin’. Even afore I knew how much I wanted to stay here, Thou wert makin’ it possible. It near takes my breath away. About Dan’l, Lord—

  “What’s a-wrong?” Eunice gave her a stricken look.

  “Bad news from home?” Tempy bustled over and wrapped her arms around Lovejoy.

  “No. No, it’s not.” Lovejoy tried to blink back the moisture and carefully fold the letter on the same creases to keep it in good condition. She didn’t dare look up, else Tempy would read her face just as clearly as she’d just read these words.

  “Ever’body’s okay?” Lois asked. “Aunt Silk?”

  “Widow Hendricks said folks are fine.” And for the first time in my life, maybe things will turn out fine for me, too.

  “That’s all?”

  Lovejoy wanted to go off on her own. Think. Pray. Hope and dream.

  Eunice tugged on her sleeve. “More’s gotta be happening than that.”

  “Well, yes.” Her voice quavered as the realization of God’s provision washed over her anew. “She’s taken to training up Hattie Thales.”

  “Hattie!” Tempy jolted upright. “Who would have imagined that?”

  “Her man was sick a good long while. I swan she’s good at handlin’ sick folks.” Eunice nodded.

  “But nobody’s half as good as you, Lovejoy.” Lois wiped her hands on her apron. “You got the healin’ touch. Don’t be sad. Folk’s are always gonna seek you first.”

  Tempy let out a squeal. “This means you can stay! You won’t be going home!”

  Lord, Thou hast shewed me Salt Lick ain’t home anymore. Thou hast been a-changin’ my heart and mind all this time.

  “You belong here,” Tempy chattered on. “Obie, Hezzy, and Mike have been champing at the bit to bring you back from Chance Ranch. This here cabin’s to be yours.”

  “See?” Eunice beamed. “Yore sister’s right. You belong here.”

  “No, she doesn’t,” a deep voice said from the doorway.

  “Now ain’t that a fine howdy-do.” Eunice gave him a sour look. “Our Lovejoy’s been a-workin’ her fingers to the bone for yore kin and—”

  “Eunice, hobble your mouth,” Tempy said, nudging her away.

  “I’d like to speak with you.” Daniel directed his words at Lovejoy then cast a meaningful glance at the others. “Privately.”

  Lovejoy slipped off the stool.

  Tempy stepped in front of her big sister. “She’ll be out directly.”

  “If she wants to,” Lois tacked on, then rudely shut the door in Daniel’s face.

  Daniel stood there and grinned. He’d grown up with five rowdy brothers and knew that stubborn, protect-our-own look. Well, he’d let them have one last time to do it, because after this, Lovejoy was going to be his.

  Minutes passed.

  Daniel scowled. He could hear soft murmurs from the other side of the door, and he started considering the possibilities of either banging on the door or eavesdropping at the window. What’s taking so long?

  The door opened, and a woman stood there. For a moment he barely recognized Lovejoy. It was her, all right, in her peachy-colored dress. But her eyes and red nose tattled she’d been crying. And her hair—the MacPherson women all standing behind her had messed with her hair. Instead of her customary plait that danced along her spine or slipped over her shoulder and hung to her waist, they’d taken out the braid and twisted sections and pinned them into a cameo-sort-of look.

  A virulent rush of red flooded Lovejoy’s face, and she slammed the door shut again.

  Dan shoved it open and plowed past Eunice and Lois, who clucked like a pair of upset hens, to get to Lovejoy. She stood in the center of the cabin, back turned toward him as she tore out the hairpins. He stepped behind her, stilled her hands, and murmured, “Let me.”

  One by one, he slid the pins from her hair and let them ping on the plank floor. Tempy patted his back, then she and the others scooted out the door. Lovejoy shuddered as he pulled out the last pin.

  Forking his hands through her hair, he purred, “That’s more like it.” He crushed the thick waves in his palms then combed his fingers through the length. “There. Better.”

  She sidestepped and yanked her hair over her shoulder. Quickly dividing it into three portions, she muttered, “Couldn’t convince them. No use trying to prettify—”

  He pressed his fingers over her mouth. “You’re right.”

  She tried to blink away moisture in her eyes.

  “There’s no use trying to prettify a woman who’s already perfect.”

  Beneath his fingers, her lips parted in shock. He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “I planned to take the months until Delilah had her baby to court you. I thought I had plenty of time to take things slow and easy.”

  “Court me?” Hope flickered in her eyes.

  “But I’m not about to be separated from you—not even by a single fence. I’m taking you home with me. Today.”

  Suddenly, all the color in her face drained away.

  Daniel chuckled and wrapped an arm about her waist. He’d shocked her speechless.

  Lovejoy shook her head. Tears started to seep down her face, yet she leaned into him.

  Daniel wouldn’t figure out what was going through her mind, but something told him these weren’t tears of happiness. He was sure of his feelings for her. Did I speak too soon? Rush her when she needed that slow courting? Maybe that time was more important than I knew after her father and husband treated her so badly. “Sweetheart, if you just want a little time—”

  Despair filled her voice. “It cain’t be.”

  “Anything’s possible when you love someone.” Whatever the problem, he’d solve it. Daniel refused to let anything come between them.

  Pain flickered across her face.

  “Salt Lick Holler doesn’t need you like I do. To the depths of my soul, I swear that’s the truth.”

  “ ’Tisn’t that at all. Widow Hendricks is trainin’ up a new gal to holp.”

  He glided his hand along her neck and slipped his fingers into her hair until he cupped her head and tilted her face up to his. “Then stay here. Be my wi—”

  “No!”

  Danie
l stared at her in stunned silence.

  She tried to pull loose of his hold, but he held her fast. “What’s wrong?”

  “Yore offerin’ me every dream I could ever have, but I cain’t give you what you deserve.” Her face crumbled and anguish filled her voice. “Men want sons.”

  “Sons? What does that have to do with me loving you?”

  “I’m barren, Dan’l.” The confession left her sobbing. “Widow Hendricks…Hattie… men and sons.”

  Broken words poured out of her broken heart. Daniel couldn’t stand it. He dipped down and pressed his lips to her mouth to silence them. For a moment, she clung to him, then she tried to push away.

  “Shhh.” He held her tight.

  “I won’t ask you to sacrifice—”

  “I want a wife, not a brood mare.” He tilted her face up to his. “I want you, Lovejoy. I love you.”

  “But sons,” she moaned.

  “With five brothers, Chance Ranch is bound to have plenty of boys running around. We already have Caleb and Tobias. Even if they’re the only ones, we can hire help. I’ve got you, and I’ve got my daughters. I’m more than blessed.”

  “You really feel that, Dan’l?”

  His lips hovered a breath away from hers. “I lost my heart to you.”

  Wonder and hope lit her features. “It really don’t matter to you?”

  “The only thing that matters is, God brought us together.”

  A soul-deep sigh shuddered through her, and she cuddled close. “Truly, Dan, I love you.”

  “Be my wife.”

  “Yes.” She barely whispered her breathless assent, and he pressed his lips to hers.

  The very next Sunday, Daniel pulled Lovejoy into his arms and kissed her again.

  “Daddy, you’re ’posed to do that after Parson Abe tells you to. It’s at the end, not now,” Polly scolded.