The Brides of Chance Collection

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

  “So long as you don’t put yourself at risk to make a few more dollars,” Bryce warned. “I don’t want to see you set out with a full load of merchandise when you can’t see ten feet in front of you.”

  “I wouldn’t do that.” Logan instinctively looked toward the cabin, although all he could see was the walls of the barn. Bryce knew he was thinking about Hattie. “I don’t want to be stuck away from my wife.”

  “She’s good for you,” Bryce stated. “You’ve made a fine choice, Logan.”

  “Don’t I know it!” Logan shot him a grin. “Seems like you’re following in my footsteps. I heard tell that Daisy’s glad you’re staying.”

  “Mm.” Bryce shrugged, knowing his brother was fishing for answers.

  “If you’re going to clam up, I’m not taking you to Louisville,” Logan prodded. “Especially after you slept practically the whole way to Salt Lick Holler when we left Chance Ranch!”

  Bryce threw back his head and laughed. “I wondered how long it would be before your patience ran out, Logan. I have to say, it took longer than it used to.”

  “Stop trying to get my goat and spill it.” Logan punched him on the arm.

  “I’m staying to court Daisy. She knows it, and she’s agreeable.” Bryce folded his arms across his chest. “We’re taking things slow, seeing how it works out. No pressure and no promises.” Yet.

  “Did we ferget anything?” Miz Willow fretted from the back of the buckboard a week later. The day’s corn shucking would keep them all busy.

  “Nope.” Bryce turned from hoisting Jamie onto the buckboard and spanned his hands on Daisy’s waist. “I’ve got everything I need.”

  Daisy could feel the heat spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears as he lifted her up beside her son. She expected him to go around and take the reins, but instead he jumped in the back and sat next to her. Logan lifted Hattie to sit with him on the seat. She caught Logan sending Bryce a wink, and Daisy knew Bryce and Logan had planned it this way.

  They think they’re so doggone clever. I see straight through it, but I’ll play along. Hattie knows what they’re up to, same as me. It’s almost endearing.

  What’re folks gonna think when they see us like this? It’s so strange having a man sitting this close, knowing we’re courting. Takes me back to when I was a young gal out on hayrides. Bryce is offerin’ me a fresh start, and I want to see where the road leads.

  The trip to the Trevor place went by fast, and before Daisy knew it, they’d arrived at the corn shucking. Today they’d get through the Trevor harvest, and Asa Pleasant was bringing his over by the wagonload. With everybody in the holler showing up, the work should be done by the end of the day—leaving enough time for a nice lunch and a few friendly games.

  “Everybody settle in!” Asa and Ed had already set up the working area. Piles of corn sat ready around every seat. Daisy sat Jamie with the other young children, where he could help, but stayed close. Bryce took the seat next to her, making her the recipient of several scowls from unwed young ladies.

  “You all know the rules. Shuck fast and well, and we’ll finish real quick. Find a red ear and you get to kiss anyone of yore choosin’.” Ed whispered something in Asa’s ear, and Asa held up his hands. “Wait a minute. It seems as though last time around we had a few folks not abidin’ by the spirit of the rule. No kissin’ yore kin anymore, lessen ’tis yore husband or wife. Now get shuckin’!”

  No! Daisy briefly closed her eyes. Iff ’n I cain’t give Jamie a kiss on the forehead, I’ll be in a real fix. This here’s whatcha call an impossible situation. Lord, please don’t let me find a red ear!

  She worked rapidly, tearing the green leaves off the cobs and pulling away the fine corn silk. People chitchatted back and forth as they worked, and Daisy was glad Bryce didn’t require a lot of conversation. They kept shucking in companionable silence for a good hour or so before someone found the first red ear.

  “I got one!” One of the Trevor twins waved a red cob in the air, and everyone stopped to watch.

  “All right, son.” Ed slapped him on the back. “Who’s the lucky lady?”

  Daisy watched Ted as he swaggered around the circle importantly before stopping. As the young man looked at Nessie, Daisy could’ve sworn she saw both of them flush. Nessie had already been married once. Her husband ran off on her, and after he’d been gone almost two years, she’d received word that he’d died.

  Interesting. So one of the Trevor twins fancies Nessie. She’s a good gal; she deserves to have a second husband after what she went through with the first. I wonder, since he’d run off so long ago, should Nessie have to observe a year’s mourning? He’d already been missing longer’n that, after all.

  Daisy kept her thoughts to herself. Truth to tell, it wasn’t any of her business. She didn’t like the idea of folks speculating about her and Bryce, though she knew it was unavoidable. Hopefully we cain keep it casual-like for a while yet.

  Lost in her thoughts, Daisy hadn’t realized how quiet it’d gotten. She looked down at the ear of corn she’d shucked out of pure habit. The contrary thing glowed red, and she was the last one to notice.

  Oh no! What do I do? I ain’t s’posed to kiss Jamie. I cain’t kiss Bryce! He stared at her steadily, and Daisy felt like a fool. Why not? We’re courtin’ now. So what if folks jabber on about it?

  She held the red ear up in the air before turning to Bryce. Daisy gave him a small smile and leaned in to kiss his cheek. Even though he’d shaved that morning, a slight shadow rasped against her lips, making them tingle at the contact. Up this close, she could smell the faintly spicy scent of his aftershave. She closed her eyes and breathed in his closeness before drawing away.

  Bryce looked at her, smiling only enough to show that he was pleased. To everyone watching, he seemed glad to have been chosen but not ruffled by it. But Daisy saw a different story in his gaze. Those blue eyes gleamed with the grin he wouldn’t show off, filling the moment with fire and promise.

  A few catcalls and some applause sounded out as they always did, but Daisy didn’t mind at all. Let them think what they will. I care for Bryce, and he cares for me. It wasn’t a public spectacle, jist a show of affection.

  With the most nerve-racking challenge of the day behind her, Daisy relaxed. The trees wore shades of gold and auburn as the autumn sun shone down upon them. Jamie’s movements, alongside those of the other young children, didn’t appear too jerky. They all struggled to shuck a few ears of corn, uncovering more giggles than anything else.

  “I done got one!” Lily Cleary waved a red ear in the air, chin lifted in triumph. Daisy watched with interest. Lily had been no more’n a child when Daisy moved to Hawk’s Fall. Was there a young gentleman she had her eye on? As the girl purposely made her way around the circle, Daisy thought she knew who it was.

  I wonder which twin Lily fancies. Shore hope it’s the one as didn’t kiss Nessie. It’s always nice when things work out like—

  Daisy felt her jaw drop as Lily stopped in front of Bryce.

  What?

  Chapter 18

  N ot me. Not me. Not me. Please keep walking, Lily. Bryce resisted the urge to lean back and howl in frustration as Lily Cleary, no doubt egged on by her mother, put her hands on his shoulders, leaning close for a kiss—a kiss on the lips that lasted far, far too long in Bryce’s estimation. When Lily let go, Bryce wiped the back of his neck, wishing he could wipe his mouth. Then he snuck a glance at Daisy.

  He’d seen her eyes widen in shock when Lily stopped in front of him, but now her face was blank. Should I be relieved that she’s not upset or disappointed? It would help things if Lily would go back to her mama, so I could think about how to fix this. Bryce looked at Daisy to see if her expression had changed. Nope. But wait. Something about the set of her jaw…

  Daisy’s clenching her teeth! She’s not unaffected by Lily’s ploy. Bryce bit back a grin. He’d rather ease a little pang of jealousy than try to create emotion where none resided. He re
membered her tentative kiss, Daisy’s soft lips lightly grazing his cheek. She kissed me, and she’s not happy that Lily did, too.

  Well, don’t you worry, sweetheart. Bryce tried to send the message without speaking. He didn’t want to embarrass her. There’s only one woman I’m staying in Salt Lick Holler for. Something in his face must’ve reassured her, because her jaw loosened, and she gave him a barely perceptible nod. Then we understand each other. It’s a good start.

  The day passed, the piles of unshucked corn growing smaller while the corncribs strained to hold their bounty. Everybody took a leisurely lunch before getting back to the work at hand. A plentiful harvest this year meant that the fun and games would be postponed.

  A short while later, Otis Nye stood up. “Got to stretch these ole legs of mine,” he muttered. “Rheumatiz.”

  Bryce didn’t pay him much mind until cheers erupted from the crowd. He looked up to find out what all the fuss was about.

  Otis Nye straightened up from bussing Miz Willow’s cheek. He wore a self-satisfied grin on his craggy face as he walked back to his seat and reached for another ear of corn.

  Miz Willow blushed scarlet, eyes wide in surprise. She lifted her hand to touch her cheek before she realized everybody was watching. “What’s so interestin’? Get back to work.” She grabbed more corn and got to shucking. For the rest of the afternoon, everyone snuck glances at wily old Otis Nye, but he stayed put as the day wore on.

  “I gots another one!” Lily Cleary crowed, looking straight at Bryce.

  Oh, no you don’t, Bryce glowered. Don’t even think about trying that again. No matter how much your mama pushes you toward me, it won’t do any good. I’ve already found a woman.

  “Lily Cleary, you set back down this minute.” Miz Willow’s voice cracked through the circle with the force of a whip. “I done saw yore mama pass you that there corn. Shame on the both of you.”

  “Cain’t get anything past Miz Willow!” someone called out.

  “How cain you say such a thang, Willomena?” Bethilda Cleary puffed up like a riled peahen.

  “I cain say it ’cuz I seen it.” Miz Willow didn’t give an inch, and Bryce’s affection for the old woman grew. She’s a fine woman, that Willomena Hendrick.

  “Don’t get all het up, Bethilda.” Ed Trevor intervened with a jaunty step. “Fair’s fair. It’s yore corn, and you do the kissin’.”

  A sour look crossed Bethilda Cleary’s face as she sought out her husband.

  “Good to see you, darlin’!” Ed Cleary waggled his brows at his wife as she stood on tiptoe. He swiftly turned his head so her demure peck on the cheek became a full-blown buss on the lips.

  “Ed!” Bethilda blushed scarlet and scurried back to her daughters, but she no longer wore a frown. It was obvious that she cared more for her husband than she liked to let on. Ed’s mischief had relieved the tension in the air and gotten a chuckle at his wife’s foibles.

  Bryce laughed along with everyone else but started working double-time. The day was almost over, and he had a goal to reach. Come on, one of these things has to be red….

  “I’ve decided not to go to Louisville, Logan,” Bryce announced a week later.

  “Why not, Bryce?”

  “Bad timing. If I go to Louisville with you,” Bryce reasoned, “I’ll be missing the last days before snowfall.”

  “That’s right.” A knowing look passed across Logan’s face. “I should’ve guessed you’d want to be here with Daisy.”

  “And Jamie.”

  “How’s that little wagon coming along? Nate Rucker make those wheels like he promised?”

  “Yep. He slipped them to me at the corn shucking. I’ll have it finished this afternoon.” Bryce paused. “We’ll take it with us to the church social.”

  “Good idea. Jamie’s on the scrawny side for a boy his age, but he’s still almost five. He’s getting too big for the women to be carrying him around.”

  “It should be a good solution for now.” Bryce pulled a scrap of foolscap from his pocket. “But when the snow comes, the wagon won’t work. I’m planning on making a sled for him. Since I’m not going to Louisville, I’ll need to have you pick up a few things.” He handed the paper to his brother.

  “Runners, rope, wood glue…makes sense. I’ll see what I can do.” Logan squinted at the list. “What’s all this other stuff for?”

  “Daisy’s making Jamie a winter coat, but he’ll need gloves, since he uses his hands to get around the cabin. Daisy doesn’t have winter clothing, so I want you to get her a ready-made heavy cloak and a wool dress—somethin’ fancy, like with stripes.”

  “I don’t know anything about dresses.” Logan shook his head.

  “Come on, Logan. I had Hattie write down Daisy’s size so the clerk can help you. The cloak can be simple—light brown, like a newborn fawn, oughtta do it.”

  Bryce watched Logan frown and shake his head some more. Time for a new approach. “Listen, Logan. We can rope, ride, herd cattle, mend fences, judge horseflesh, shoot straight, work with our hands, play a mean game of horseshoes—are you tryin’ to tell me you can’t buy one little old dress?”

  “Of course I can.” Logan jutted out his chin and stalked out of the barn. “But I don’t have to like it.”

  Bryce chuckled and went back to the tack room. He whistled as he fitted the wagon handle to its boxy frame. He’d made it small enough so it wouldn’t be unwieldy but large enough so Jamie wouldn’t outgrow it anytime soon. Tightening a few pieces, he heard light footsteps.

  Without enough time to fling a covering over the wagon, Bryce barreled out of the tack room, all but running straight into Daisy.

  “Bryce!” She took a step back to steady herself. “What’s the rush?”

  “Uh…” Bryce cleared his throat. “I was on my way to see if you wanted to go for a walk during Jamie’s nap.” He cringed at the fib. Truth was, he did want to ask her that very thing but hadn’t planned to go for a few more minutes, at least.

  “That’s mighty nice of you.” Daisy’s smile tugged at his heart. “I was jist goin’ to ask if you wanted to go for a ride.”

  “Sounds good,” Bryce agreed, then panicked when she stepped toward the tack room. “But a walk sounds better.” He snagged her arm.

  “It’s been a long time since I rode around the hills, Bryce.” Her quiet plea melted him. “Soon it’ll be winter, and then I cain’t.”

  “All right. I’ll go get the saddles. Why don’t you…” He paused, unable to think of anything.

  “I’ll get a few sugar lumps for the horses.” Daisy slid past him into the tack room and stopped short at the sight of the wagon. “What’s that?”

  “A wagon I made for Jamie.” Bryce hastened to explain why he hadn’t wanted her to see it. “It’s not quite finished yet.”

  “It’s…” Daisy ran her fingertips along the side of the wagon, reaching out to pick up the handle. She gave an experimental tug, and it rolled forward. Bryce held his breath, waiting for her pronouncement. “Wonderful.”

  “I’m glad you like it.”

  “Yore so thoughtful!” Daisy turned and gave him a hug. “Jamie will love this, and I’ll have an easier time takin’ him around. Thankee, Bryce.”

  She looked up at him, her brown eyes glowing with gratitude. Her lips hovered so close….

  “You’re—” Bryce groaned and closed the distance between them, holding her against him as he touched his lips to hers. Gentle, soft…

  After they both drew away, Bryce touched his forehead to hers. “Wonderful.”

  Chapter 19

  Daisy shoveled ashes from the stove belly into the ash pail.

  Wonderful. She touched her lips, reliving Bryce’s kiss. Had it only been two weeks since he decided to stay? How quickly she’d come to see him as more than a friend. He was so strong, gentle, tender, rough…Bryce.

  The puppy’s cold nose bumped against her elbow insistently, causing her to scatter a few ashes onto the floor. “Nosey!” Dais
y put down the shovel and cuddled the animal close.

  The tiny pup served as yet another reminder of how thoughtfully Bryce attended to the needs of her son. Daisy rubbed Nosey’s silky fur once more before setting her down. The pup immediately scrabbled toward Jamie, nails clicking on the hardwood floors.

  “ ’Ook!” Jamie held up his slate for her inspection. There, in the big, loopy letters of her son’s hand, rested one word. L-o-v-e.

  “Oh, Jamie!” Daisy knelt down and pulled him into a hug. “That’s some mighty fine work. It does yore mama’s heart good to see you so smart.”

  “ ’Ove you,” Jamie crooned, giving her an awkward pat on the shoulder.

  “I love you, too, baby.” Daisy drew away so Jamie could keep working. As Nosey stuck her snout on the slate, giving it a wet imprint of approval, Daisy smiled. Jamie and I love each other. And Bryce loves us both.

  “Hello in there!” Bryce’s voice called from the yard.

  “Yes, Bryce?” Daisy flung open the door.

  “Can Jamie and Nosey come out to play?” His voice sang with mischief and fun.

  “Jist a minute!” Daisy waited for Jamie to get a firm hold on the puppy before carrying them both outside.

  “Hi, Byce!” Jamie positively sparkled whenever they spent time together.

  “Hey, buddy. Got something for you.”

  “Wut?”

  “This!” Bryce whipped the cover off the wagon he’d made just for her son.

  “Wow!” Jamie wiggled with excitement, and Nosey let out a few celebratory yaps.

  “What say your mama and I take you and Nosey for a ride?” Bryce suggested, wheeling the wagon closer.

  “Pease?” Jamie looked at her with wide eyes.

  “Of course!” Daisy laughed and deposited him in his wagon. He still clutched Nosey, who kept very busy snuffling the sides of the wagon.

  Bryce nestled a blanket in the bottom so Jamie would be more comfortable and steady. He’s so good at adapting things to make others feel comfortable.

  Bryce pulled the wagon smoothly along the path while Daisy walked alongside. Jamie squealed with glee when Bryce began making wiggly zigzags. They didn’t go too far—just enough to know that the arrangement would work.