“You must be that Salter buck.”
“Yes, ma’am, I am.”
“I’d ’preciate the holp, but I’d take it kindly iff’n you’d get me up t’other bench instead.”
Matt gently gathered her in his arms and lifted. He no more than took two steps before April’s father stopped him. “I’ll take her.”
Lovejoy patted Matt’s chest and whispered, “Don’t you be takin’ that as a slight to yore strength. Gideon’s a-tryin’ to give you a fair excuse to slide into my spot and sit yourself down aside Kate.”
“That wasn’t my intent,” Gideon rumbled.
“Good thang you Chance boys are strong and handsome. At times yore a tad dense.” Lovejoy reached over and wound her arms around her brother-in-law as Matt slid her into his arms. “Thankee, Mr. Salter, for heftin’ me up. I’d a-been stuck thar like a tip-turned turtle.”
“We couldn’t have that,” Matt whispered. “One of the MacPhersons might make soup out of you!”
Gideon Chance chuckled.
Lovejoy grinned. “If that ain’t a fact, I’m a ’possum.”
Matt shot back, “Eunice and Lois make a tasty ’possum pie.”
April’s father threw back his head and let out a belly laugh. He laughed the whole way up to the front and while he seated Lovejoy on the bench.
Matt sat down beside Kate. She turned to him. “What’s so funny?”
“Not a thing.” He lifted a pair of kids, straightened out his legs, then plopped them back down. Two more kids popped up and promptly sat across his shins.
Kate took in the sight. “You’re not going anywhere for a while.”
Matt looked at how a little tyke climbed into Kate’s lap, squirmed into a comfortable position, and started sucking his thumb. “Neither are you. I wouldn’t change things one bit.”
Discordant twangs and pings made Matt look up. Tempy and Johnna each held a mandolin, Lovejoy had a dulcimer, Titus Chance was tuning his guitar, and Peter drew his bow across a fiddle. A quick glance around showed the MacPhersons and Chances who’d left earlier were all back. Relief flooded Matt. He settled in for a time of worship.
“Since Pastor wanted today to be about neighbors, why don’t we do the one. . .you know. . . .” Mrs. White began to sing, “Ye neighbors, and friends of Jesus, draw near.”
Members of the congregation joined in, and as soon as that hymn ended, the pastor stood and prayed. He scanned the people seated across the lawn. “The Spirit is here among us. Let’s continue to worship in word and song. If anyone wants to give a word of praise or thanksgiving, needs prayer, or wants to request a hymn, please feel free.”
Lovejoy looked at Tempy. Matt couldn’t hear what she said, but they both started to play “O Praise Our God Today.”
April and Kate immediately raised their voices, “His constant mercy bless.” At the end of the hymn, Kate said, “That’s Aunt Tempy’s favorite.”
Peter started to speak. His gaze rested on April. “A man cain’t be blessed more’n God givin’ him a woman whose value is far ’bove rubies. Y’all heard April’s to be my wife, and my heart near bursts with love for her and for a Lord who brung her to me. ’Tis hard to sing and play a fiddle at the same time, but ‘Now Thank We All Our God,’ shore suits me today.”
After a few testimonies, prayers, and hymns, the pastor rose again. “Almighty Father, we thank Thee for being with us always—not just on Sunday mornings, but each hour of every day of the week. How wonderful it is to be surrounded by a great church family that practices Thy commandment to love our neighbors! Bless and keep us all in the center of Thy will. Amen.”
During the worship, little Matilda had crawled into April’s lap. She had fallen asleep, as had the boy sitting on Kate’s lap. Parents came over and claimed the children perched on Matt’s legs, but he wasn’t in a hurry to get up. He reached over and traced the whorls of curls on the little boy’s head.
Stooping in front of April, Peter scooped up his baby sister. He rose, then extended a hand to help April rise. Tobias bumped past them and pulled what had to be the youngest Chance kid from the blanket. “Come on, Perry.” He tilted him upside down and shook him just for fun.
Kate laughed. Abruptly, her laughter stopped and she went tense.
Matt followed her gaze and shot to his feet.
Sixteen
Matt took a few steps forward and stuck out his hand. “Youngblood. Matt Salter. It’s good to see your wife’s feeling better. Sorry she took sick last Sunday.”
Tobias turned Perry right side up and shoved him behind his back.
Mr. Youngblood’s eyes narrowed; then he bobbed his head as he shook Matt’s hand. “Yes, she was better once I got her in out of the sun.”
Kate patted her little cousin and ordered, “Off to the wagon.” This isn’t the place or time, Lord. Please don’t let things get ugly. She wanted to nudge Tobias to silently urge him to make a tactful getaway. Matt had been clever enough to stall for him, but Tobias didn’t budge.
Mr. Youngblood turned to Peter. “I was harsh earlier. My wife and I wish you every happiness. I’ll send a man or two over tomorrow to help.”
Peter shook his hand. “Thankee, sir.”
Mr. Youngblood strode off.
April wilted into Peter’s side, and Tobias’s features eased.
“You’re the only Chance gal who isn’t spoken for,” Mr. Greene said as he claimed his little son.
Heat filled Kate’s cheeks. Mr. Greene was a fine blacksmith, but he had no talent for exercising tact. He’s just saying aloud what everyone else is thinking.
Tobias slapped Greene on the back. “Kate’s like Aunt Lovejoy. Children adore her. Bet it won’t take long before someone snaps her up.”
Kate started to get up. Tobias and Matt both reached to help her at the same time. She accepted both hands and rose. “Thank you, gentlemen.”
“Peter.”
Peter and April turned to face Tobias.
In a muted voice, he said, “We’ll still have a picnic at your place today. Give us time to go home and change into work clothes. You’ll need more logs for the cabin raising tomorrow, and the ox is in the ditch.”
“I’d appreciate that.”
Matt nodded his head sagely, but he couldn’t suppress his grin. “That has to be the first time I’ve heard someone refer to the scripture that allows hard work on the Lord’s Day. Most men quote how it’s supposed to be a day of rest.”
“Reckon I’ve only heard it onc’t or twice in my life, but shore seems fittin’ to me.” Peter elbowed Matt. “Won’t even mention April’s daddy pushed the ox into that ditch.”
Tobias, April, and Peter all sauntered off. Kate stooped down to gather the quilt they’d been sitting on.
“Miss Kate, I’ll help you shake that out.”
“Thanks.” They held the corners and flapped the colorful quilt in the slight breeze. Bits of grass fluttered away. Matt looked across the quilt and coordinated folding the ends together and folding the quilt again lengthwise.
“Things went better than I expected with Youngblood,” Matt said as he approached her. Kate took the corners, and he bent to lift the fold to double the quilt again.
“I guess it doesn’t say much about my faith in my fellow man or in God, but I was sure Mr. Youngblood planned to get ugly.”
“I don’t have any room to talk.” Matt folded his arms across his chest. “I thought the same thing. He took me by surprise.” The corners of his mouth lifted. “So I’ll see you at lunch?”
A thrill shot through her. Kate nodded.
“Just a word of advice: a couple of the MacPhersons gigged for frogs last night.”
“Cold frog legs?”
“That, too.” Matt lowered his voice. “The women saved the skins and were rolling bacon and grits into them today.”
Giggles spilled out of her. Matt looked at her as if she’d lost her mind, so she tried to control herself long enough to say, “A special dish like that ought to
be reserved for the engaged couples, don’t you think?”
“Absolutely.”
“What’s so funny over there?” April called.
“We were both saying how wonderful it is, knowing how much you and Peter love one another and that you’re going to be married.”
“Johnna and Trevor, too,” Matt tacked on.
❧
“We got us a tradition,” Peter’s father announced to the crowd as he opened the door to the just-finished cabin. “Started back when Hezzie, Mike, and me got those pretty brides of ourn. Onc’t the cabin’s done, the groom takes one last gander ’round the inside; then he don’t get to see it again ’til his bride’s fixed the house into a home.”
“The first thing I’m going to do,” April said in a merry tone, “is hang curtains so Peter can’t peek!”
Peter chuckled and beckoned her.
Uncle Gideon grabbed her. “Young man, the day my daughter becomes your wife, you can carry her over the thres-hold. Until then, she’s mine!”
“Honey pie, how long is it gonna take you to get ever’thang ready?”
“Until Thanksgiving,” Johnna declared. “Me and April decided ’twould be fun to have us a double weddin’.”
Kate clapped with everyone else, but her joy for her cousin was tinged with sadness. After the Chance clan held a double wedding last year for Laurel and Gabe and Caleb and Greta, Kate had secretly thought it would be lovely if she and April would be able to do the same thing.
“Folks, thar’s still gracious plenty on that steer and on the tables.” Aunt Lois wiped her hands on the hem of her apron. “Take a look at what all yore hard work got done, then amble on back and fill yore bellies.”
Kate waited until most of the others had gone in the front door and exited the back before she stepped onto the porch. Mr. Dorsey unexpectedly turned around and bumped into her. Someone caught her before she fell.
“Whoa. Are you all right, Miss Kate?” Matt set her down and gazed at her with steady brown eyes.
“I’m fine. Just clumsy, that’s all.”
“It was my fault.” Mr. Dorsey gave her an apologetic smile. “I’d say I was weak from lack of food, but you’d laugh me clean out of town. I can’t believe Lois thinks any of us can stuff in even one more bite.”
“I’m never too full for good chow.” Matt grinned. “As soon as we’ve gone through the cabin, I aim to pile enough food on my plate to feed a bear for winter.”
“One plate isn’t enough,” Kate told him.
“Good thing no one here minds if I go back for seconds.”
April ran up and gave Kate a hug. “I can’t think of a better place to ask you. I want you by my side at the wedding. You’ll be my maid of honor, won’t you?”
Birdie tugged on Kate’s skirt. “Tell her no. ’Tisn’t a good thing, being the old maid. You lose the game on account of bein’ the last one.”
The last one. That’s me.
Matt chortled softly. “Birdie, there’s a difference. Old Maid is a card game. Being the maid of honor is a special job.”
“But she still don’t getta be the married one.”
“Not this time,” April said.
“But,” Matt said as he leaned down and whispered very loudly, “everybody knows the best is always last because she’s worth waiting for!”
Kate’s heart skipped a beat, then soared. I’ve been hoping he felt something for me, Lord. You know how I’ve tried not to throw myself at him. Thank You for the way Matt seems to understand me and how he says what my heart needs to hear.
They walked through the cabin, and Kate commented as they exited the back door, “I know they said it’s exactly the same as the cabin we share, April, but without anything inside, it feels so big and empty.”
“Doesn’t it? I already have some ideas. Let’s talk over some plans tonight.”
“Okay.” Kate turned toward Matt. “Ready to eat?”
“Always.”
Mrs. White came over. “Oh, dear. Mr. Salter, I feel terrible. Just terrible. You gave me that letter to mail for you, and it’s not in my pocket anymore. I’ve asked everyone to look for it.”
“I’m sure it’ll turn up.”
“But I’ve never misplaced a single piece of mail. This is—”
“A minor mishap,” he soothed. “If we can’t find it, I’ll write a replacement letter.”
“I found it!” One of the Greene’s boys ran up and skidded to a dusty stop. “I found it.”
“Thanks.” Matt accepted the letter and handed it to Mrs. White. “See? Things worked out fine.”
Kate felt anything but fine. Her throat constricted, and it hurt to breathe. She could only see part of the address, but even that was too much. Matt was sending a letter to a Miss Jenny Something-or-other.
Seventeen
Kate went so white, every last freckle stood out in stark relief. Matt braced her arm. “Miss Kate, are you okay?”
Her head nodded woodenly.
April and he traded concerned looks. “Why don’t you sit down here with your cousin? I’ll go grab a cup of lemonade for you.”
“No. I’m fine. Really. Excuse me.” Kate headed off toward the trees.
“I don’t like how she looked. No, I don’t.” Mrs. White made a shooing motion. “April, go on after your cousin, and make sure she’s all right.”
The envelope in her hand crackled with the action. Matt noticed the address on it. Kate thinks I’m stringing her along when I already have a sweetheart! He turned to April, “Miss April, today’s a special day for you and Peter. Go on and enjoy yourself. I’ll fetch Kate and bring her over so we can all eat a little more of that barbecue.”
Matt didn’t ask to be excused or wait for a response. He hiked to the edge of the wooded area where Kate had fled. I have to find her. I can’t let a silly misunderstanding come between us. I won’t. Following her didn’t take much skill. At first, she’d stayed on the path, but then she’d struck out into an unmarked area. He’d done a fair amount of tracking in the past, and she’d been upset enough to leave a trail. She’d headed deeper into the woods than was wise—a mark of how upset she was. He followed the path she’d left behind and rounded a big pine.
Kate stood in a small clearing and held up a dandelion. Pursing her lips, she gently blew, sending all of the minuscule pieces of fluff into a flurry in the air.
I love her. How could I have done this? I’ve hurt the woman I love. Those two realizations hit with a double punch. Matt stood there, suddenly aware of just how deeply his feelings ran and what he stood to lose.
“Kate—”
She startled. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to talk with you.”
“I’d rather be alone.”
Matt approached her slowly. When he got closer, he bent and picked another dandelion. “When I was a boy, my mother said these were like candles on a birthday cake. If you blow it all gone in a single breath, your wish is supposed to come true.”
“The nonsense of youth.”
“It’s not nonsense at all. There’s nothing wrong with wishes and dreams.” He blew the fluff off his stalk. “See? Now I’m entitled to hope my wish comes true. Know what I was wishing?”
“I’d rather not. I need to get back.”
“Kate, I was hoping you’d give me a moment. That letter is going to the lady who ran a boardinghouse I stayed at. She’s—”
“It’s none of my business.” She looked poised to bolt.
He hurriedly said, “Miss Jenny is at least twice my age and reads dime novels. She’s worried nefarious bandits are going to bushwhack me, so I promised I’d drop her a line now and then so she wouldn’t worry.”
“You don’t owe me an explanation.”
“I might not owe you one, but I want to. Kate, I know we’ve only recently met, but you’re unlike any woman I’ve ever known.”
“I’m different.” Her lips twisted wryly. “Yes. I know.”
“You’re won
derful. Intriguing. Clever and fun to be around.” It’s too soon to tell her I love her. “I hoped maybe you were feeling as comfortable with me as I felt with you.”
She compressed her lips and turned away.
“I wouldn’t hurt you for anything. You have to trust me on that. Trust your heart, too.” He waited as seconds stretched in silence.
Finally, Kate said in a tentative voice, “Nefarious bandits?”
“That’s a direct quote. On my wildest day, I couldn’t concoct such a phrase. I didn’t have the audacity to ask Miss Jenny if there was any other kind of bandit. It might make her self-conscious, and then she’d give up those novels she relishes so much.”
“My little brothers and cousins are enamored of Deadwood Dick. If you say anything bad about those novels, the boys might gang up on you.”
“Ah. There.” He eased one step closer. “See? I blew on the dandelion, and my wish came true. Not only did you stay and hear me out, but you even gave me one of your pretty smiles.”
“That’s nonsense, and you know it.”
“I’ll tell you what I know. You’re a beautiful young woman. We’re alone in the woods, and your daddy’s very protective. If I aim to keep life and limb, I’d best escort you out of here and over to the tables.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Not even for something small?”
She hitched her shoulder. “It would have to be really little.”
“I have just the thing in mind: Eunice’s frog-skin-and-grits roll.”
Kate’s laughter let him know things between them were settled. Matt reached over and took her hand. “Come on. You got pretty far off the path. I don’t want you to get lost.”
“What path?” She shook her head. “It’s gone by now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Halfway through these woods, the land changes hands. When the Phillips lived on the other side, they didn’t bother to fence in this part of the property. The MacPherson kids would cut through as a shortcut to school.”
“But they don’t anymore?”
Kate shook her head as he led her.
“Who lives there now?”
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