The Brides of Chance Collection

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

  “Trust Lovejoy to remember my favorite color,” she said with a chuckle. “Give me airs to wear the color of royalty.” She handed the cloak to Hattie, who hung it on a peg near the door.

  The last things in the bundle were small labeled bags Logan guessed were the healing herbs, since Hattie picked them up and carried them back to the storeroom.

  Next was Hattie’s turn, and she deftly untied the string to find a rose cloak identical to Miz Willow’s purple one. She immediately stood up to try it on.

  “Oh, it’s so warm and soft!” she gasped. “I do believe they made these special for us, Miz Willow!”

  Now Logan never would have thought to give any living soul anything pink, but the deep rose cloak brought a glowing blush to Hattie’s cheeks. It was a good choice.

  She kept it on as she unwrapped a small package of needles and a set of sharp knives. She tested the weight of each knife in her hand.

  “These are wonderful. They’ll shore come in handy, and this one fits my palm jist right!” Logan watched as she removed an older knife that had seen many sharpenings from the sheath around her small waist and replaced it with the new one of the same size. “Good for gathering,” she explained when she noticed him looking.

  “It’s a good thing to have around, period.” Logan suddenly realized how often Hattie must walk around alone. The healer would treat folks from all around, including men. Pretty as she was…well, he wasn’t sorry to see her carry a knife.

  “Go on, off with you young’uns. I’ll do the dishes and rustle up some rabbit stew and corn pone for supper. Hattie’ll know when to come back.” With that, Miz Willow shooed them back to the barn like they were a flock of ornery chickens.

  Hattie found herself out in the barn, holding the head of one of the packhorses as Bryce and Logan lifted on all the parcels. “Shore is a fine animal—not so tall as yore ridin’ horses, but sturdy strong. Glossy brown coat, too.” She patted the mare’s nose and gave her a carrot from the basket on the wall. Whickering, the horse tickled Hattie’s palm with her soft nose, looking for more of the treat.

  Blossom brayed from the stall directly opposite, and Hattie went to offer the old mule a carrot. Blossom ignored her favorite vegetable and snorted, throwing her head up.

  “What’s wrong, girl?” Hattie opened the gate and stroked the mule’s side, but Blossom edged away. She gave a high-pitched sort of whinny and raised her left foreleg.

  “Shh…” Hattie patted her reassuringly and bent down to see if something was caught in her hoof. It had been awhile since she’d been shod, and Hattie thought she might need reshoeing.

  “She okay?” Bryce quietly stepped beside her.

  “I don’t see anything wrong.” Hattie peered at Blossom’s hoof. “I thought she might need shoeing since it was a long winter, but it seems fine.”

  “But she’s favoring that foreleg.” Something about the way Bryce said this made Hattie look at him.

  “She never has before. Maybe she has a cramp.” She turned back to the mule. “Guess I won’t be riding you today, huh, old girl?”

  “Might be worse than a cramp. She’s a bit long in the tooth.” Bryce walked beside Hattie and squatted for a closer look. He ran his hands expertly over the mule. “What’s her name?”

  “Blossom.” Hattie figured she’d best get out of his way.

  “Blossom here might be coming up lame.” Bryce stood up and pushed back his sleeves. “I’ll pack her with mud today and tomorrow put some liniment on it. Why don’t you and Logan go on ahead? You can ride Blaze.” He jerked a thumb at his own gray gelding, whose forehead held a white blaze.

  “I don’t know….” Hattie wavered. Blossom was a good old friend, but her neighbors would have her hide if she didn’t bring around at least one brother today. She chewed the inside of her lip in consternation.

  “Bryce is about as close as you can get to a vet.” Logan gently guided her toward the horse. “He has a way with animals. Besides, Blaze here’s more interested in clover than running, so you don’t have to worry about him being hard to handle.”

  “All right. To tell the truth, if I didn’t show you around, I’d get in a mess of trouble with folks hereabouts.” She turned to Bryce. “Before we go, is there anything I cain get to help you?”

  “Nah. I know where the well is, and you’ve got some clean rags in the corner that’ll serve. You two go on ahead without me and tell me all about it at supper.”

  I hope folks don’t git the wrong notion with it jist bein’ Logan and me ridin’ alone.

  Chapter 9

  Logan led the packhorse; Hattie led the way. He watched her sway ahead of him, completely at ease in the saddle. The winding mountain lane gave way to a makeshift bridge over a full stream where they let the horses drink a little before continuing on their way.

  “I’m leading you out to meet the Trevors. Eunice an’ Lois’ve probably mentioned Silk to you. Jist their aunt, but reared ’em like a mother hen. The Pleasants live in the same area, so you’ll meet them, too. It’s fittin’ that you meet up with yore kinfolk afore anyone else.”

  “I can hardly wait to meet them,” Logan assured her. I can hardly wait to meet everybody. I want to get to know every person in the holler—what they do, why they do it, how I can learn it. After six days of travel and a morning of unpacking, I’m finally going to have some excitement!

  “The Trevors got two twins, Ted and Fred, who’re close to yore age. They’re ’bout nineteen this season. You oughtta get along right well. Katherine married up with the oldest Pleasant boy, and they live here’bouts, too. Charlie’ll be happy to show you the good trappin’ spots.” She reined in her mount.

  “I ain’t quite shore how to say this, but I feel you deserve a wise word or two. You know that folks up here is excited to meet you and yore brother. It’s not ’cuz they’d ever in a million years thunk you brung ’em sommat, mind. But they do hold the notion they might have sommat valuable you’ll take a shine to, iff ’n you know what I mean.” She stared at him with an undeniable intensity.

  “No, not really.” He hated to admit it, but he didn’t have the faintest idea what she was talking about.

  “Do you reckon that Eunice, Lois, and Tempy were the only unmarried women in these parts, Logan Chance?” She sighed. “Fact of the matter is, you might have a care around families with young ladies. Do you know what I mean?”

  Whoa. Why didn’t I see this before now? My perfect adventure has one huge hitch.

  Hattie shifted in the saddle and started talking again. “You see, there ain’t too many fresh faces around here, and yore two good-lookin’ young bucks with a decent living and no wives attached.” She looked away. “Maybe I shouldn’ have mentioned it, but the cat’s outta the bag now.”

  “Oh, no—thanks for the warning! It hadn’t even crossed my mind. Now I’ll know to watch my words.” He waited for her to look at him again. “Hattie, I’m grateful. I’ll be sure to pass this on to Bryce. See, back home it’s the other way around—’bout six men to every woman. We’ve never exactly been in demand before.” No way she knows how truly grateful I am. The last thing on earth I hope to find in Salt Lick Holler is a bride. I need a break from children, not my own factory for ’em!

  If that wasn’ the most awkward conversation I’ve had in my whole entire life, I don’t know what was. Hattie reached to pat Blaze’s neck as they kept riding. All the same, I’m glad I did. Poor guy hadn’t any notion what lay ahead. He and his brother woulda been absolutely ambushed iff ’n I’d hobbled my mouth.

  “Down thar’s the Pleasant place.” She pointed from atop the hill. “We’ll go on to Silk’s first and then stop by on our way back.”

  As they came into view of the modest cabin, Hattie thought to warn him of the dogs. “Ed Trevor breeds hound dogs. The minute you dismount, each and ev’ry blessed one of ’em’ll sniff you up an’ down, but they’re well trained. Ed’s the best breeder in the hills.” As she finished, Hattie realized that the do
gs weren’t the only ones who’d be sniffing him over before the day was done. But he’d been warned, so she wasn’t going to stew about it.

  Silk Trevor came out onto the porch when they arrived, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. She waited as they tied up the horses and unloaded two packages.

  “Afternoon, Hattie.” Silk wrapped her in a hug and waited to be introduced to the stranger.

  “Silk Trevor, this is Logan Chance.” Hattie smiled as Logan held his hat to his chest.

  “Nice to meet you, ma’am. Eunice and Lois tell me to give you their love.” He stopped to grin mischievously. “Obie and Hezzy send their thanks. They’re a happy bunch.”

  Silk took a deep breath as though to stop from crying. Then she changed her mind. “Aw, stuff it.” She enveloped Logan in a hug.

  Hattie bit back a laugh at his surprised look as Silk disengaged and held him at arm’s length.

  “I’m that glad to see you.” She studied him head to toe. “Yore words do an aunt’s tender heart some good. Why don’t you two come and sit on the porch a spell? Ed and the boys’ll be back afore long.”

  They all settled into the chairs before Silk realized they were short one brother. “Weren’t there supposed to be two of you Chance men?” she asked as she started to rock.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Logan agreed, only to be cut off.

  “Oh, you cain call me Silk.”

  “That’s nice of you, Silk. I go by Logan, just so you know.” His friendly invitation earned a nod from Silk.

  “Bryce came with me, but he’s down at Miz Willow’s place right now.”

  “That’s right,” Hattie explained. “He thinks Blossom might be coming up lame.”

  “That’s a sorry shame, Hattie. Blossom’s been ’round long as I cain remember. Maybe there’s sommat cain be done.”

  “If there is, Bryce’ll know it. He has a way with animals,” Logan said, repeating what he’d told Hattie earlier.

  “Just like our Hattie has a way with holpin’ people.” Silk’s compliment made Hattie’s cheeks go hot, so she ducked her head for a minute.

  “I believe you’re right,” Logan said. Hattie could feel Logan looking at her, so she reached down and picked up the package labeled “Silk.”

  She passed it to Logan, since it had been placed in his trust. Besides, she had no business giving the gifts of others.

  “Right.” Logan bent to pick up the one marked “Trevor Men” and held them both toward Silk. “These are from Eunice, Lois, and their husbands, I believe.”

  “Thankee for bringin’ ’em.” Silk put a hand over her eyes and looked out into the distance. “I think I see Ed and the boys, so how ’bout we wait a minute?”

  In no time at all, Silk was introducing Logan to her husband and sons. “This is Ed, and these are our boys, Ted and Fred. Meet Logan Chance from Californy.”

  They all shook hands before taking a seat, the twins hanging a brace of rabbits from the roof.

  “Nice place you got here,” Logan praised. “Good land.”

  “Thankee.” Ed beamed at him. “Hear tell you Chances don’t do too bad yoreself.” He cast a look around. “Say…”

  “Bryce is at Miz Willow’s, tending to her mule. I’ll bring him up this way later in the week,” Logan promised.

  “Yore welcome anytime, anytime.” Ed put his pipe between his teeth. “Me an’ m’ boys was just emptyin’ our traps.” He glanced proudly toward the rabbits.

  “We’d be happy to show you an’ yore brother around,” Ted offered eagerly.

  “I’d like that.” Logan nodded. “Hattie tells me you know the best hunting and trapping spots in the hills.”

  “Shore do.” Fred puffed out his chest. “Why don’t you both come ’round early tomorra an’ we’ll go lookin’ for deer?”

  Hattie gave a slight shake of the head, hoping Logan would pick up on the signal. There were plenty more folks she needed to take Logan and Bryce to see afore they went off gallivantin’.

  “Nice offer, but since we just got here, I think we still have a lot of people to meet.” Logan leaned forward. “Can we take you up on it a bit later? We’ll be here through summer.”

  “Like I said”—Ed blew a ring of smoke in the air—“anytime.”

  Logan rubbed the grit from his eyes and flexed his feet. After meeting the Trevors and Pleasants, they’d set off for home at dusk. Once they’d shared a hearty dinner, he and Bryce had groomed all the horses and given them a good rubdown. Now he and his brother sat in the loft, winding down but not ready to sleep.

  “How’s Blossom going to fare?” At dinner, Logan had heard Bryce assure the women that their mule was feeling better and would be even more improved the next day. But that only meant the animal wouldn’t be in pain—not that she’d be able to work.

  “Better. We’ll see how it goes after the liniment, but she wasn’t suffering from cramps.” Bryce shook his head. “The old girl’s coming up lame in that foreleg, if I’m not mistaken.”

  “You rarely are.” Logan paused before giving voice to his next thought. “We intended to leave behind the packhorses. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather give one to than Miz Willow and Hattie.”

  “Yep.” Bryce settled the matter with one word. “Speaking of which, tell me more about the folks you met today.”

  “Good people, every one. They aren’t well-to-do by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re willing to share what they have.” Logan leaned back and rested his head against his hands.

  “I believe it. Sounds like you’re describing Hattie and Miz Willow.” Bryce lay back. “Fits in with Lovejoy’s ways, too.”

  “Silk Trevor’s a warm soul. She’s the one who reared Eunice and Lois. Looks like them, only softer around the eyes with age.”

  “Sounds ’bout right, since she’s their aunt.” Bryce nodded.

  “Her husband, Ed, is a straightforward man. Raises hound dogs. Takes care of his family best he can. Smokes a pipe.” Logan remembered the perfect rings of smoke. “Their two sons are twins, Ted and Fred. Both are blond and freckled, and I can’t tell ’em apart. Offered to take us hunting and trapping once we’ve met everybody in the holler. They’re probably a year or two younger than I am.”

  “Good. I’d like to explore the land a bit, stretch my legs.” Bryce rolled over onto his side. “It’d be good to bring back some game to replenish Miz Willow’s smokehouse.”

  “Just what I was thinking,” Logan agreed. “Their daughter Katherine married the oldest Pleasant boy. He might come along when we go hunting, might not. His wife’s expectin’ again. It’s her third. Hattie went inside with her to check up on everything. She’s doing just fine.”

  “If she’s anything like Eunice and Lois, she’ll barrel through it like a champ.” Bryce grinned. “Reckon Lois might’ve delivered by now. When we left, she looked liable to pop at any minute.”

  “Could be. Lovejoy will write when it happens.” Logan worked a crick in his neck. “Last stop today was the Pleasant place.”

  “Sounds nice,” Bryce mused. “The Pleasant place. Could be a fancy hotel.”

  “Not by a long shot. It’s a cabin smaller than Miz Willow’s and not as well built. Asa and his wife, Mary, still have three children home. His son wants to take us fishing.” Logan looked forward to the shade and clear mountain stream. Fresh fish was one of his favorites.

  “I’m up for it. Will the other two kids come along?”

  “Sky and Lizzie are young ladies, Bryce.” Now came the time to tell Bryce about Hattie’s warning. “Actually, there’s something Hattie mentioned I need to pass on.”

  “Yeah?” Bryce sat up.

  “Before we visited that family, she gave me notice that there’s more than one family around here with unmarried young ladies.”

  “Well, that’s to be expected,” Bryce said with a snort.

  “I guess. I just never thought about it,” Logan admitted. “Truth is, Hattie said they don’t get a lot of visitors up this way.�
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  “Coulda told you that by the almost-empty train.” Bryce lay back down. “That’s what makes it an adventure.”

  “Still, she was saying they don’t meet new men very often, especially well-established bachelors.”

  “Stands to reason.”

  Logan could tell the exact moment Bryce got it, because he shot up like his pallet was covered in fire ants.

  “You mean they’ll be makin’ eyes at us?” Alarm and disbelief painted Bryce’s question.

  “Yep.” Logan made use of Bryce’s favorite answer.

  “Did Hattie tell us what to do about it?” Bryce did his best to pace around the loft, without much luck.

  “Just watch what we say so we don’t put any ideas into their heads.”

  “Sounds to me like they had ideas before we even got here!” Bryce walked into the bench, banging his shin and sloshing water onto the floor. He sank back down onto his pallet and used one of the hand towels to mop up the spill.

  “Take it easy. Hattie just thought we deserved advance notice. Don’t spend time alone with any of ’em, is all.” Logan blew out the lantern and pulled up the covers.

  Bryce groaned. “Sounds to me like this is gonna be more of an adventure than we reckoned.”

  “I’ll watch your back,” Logan bargained. “You watch mine.”

  Chapter 10

  After serving up and polishing off a breakfast of flapjacks and sausage, Hattie began clearing the dishes.

  “Bryce and I’ll go muck out the barn and load up Legs.” Logan handed her his plate.

  “Sounds fine.” Hattie added the plate to the pile as the men took their leave.

  “Did he just call one of those packhorses Legs?” Miz Willow started wiping off the table.

  “Yep.” Hattie smiled. “His legs look too long for his body, and when he’s loaded up, they say that’s pert near all you cain see of him.”

  “Probably should’ve made him a racehorse,” Miz Willow suggested.

  “Too broad in the shoulders and flanks to summon enough speed. Bryce said it’s kinder to give him work he cain accomplish and be valued for.” Hattie went outside to wash the dirty dishes.