Chance Of A Lifetime (16 page)

“I always win this one.” Logan sprang up from the ground and held out his hand to Hattie. “Want to try to beat me?”

“Sometimes I want to beat you, all right.” Hattie laughed as she said the words. “But not at this. You go on ahead.” She waved him on.

“Bryce?” Logan issued a one-word challenge.

“Not after that pie,” Bryce refused. “I’ll join you in a bit.”

“Suit yourself.” Logan rushed across the eating area to grab a potato sack.

Daisy’s heart clenched at the longing in Jamie’s eyes as the other contestants lined up. Some things were stark reminders of what he’d never be able to do.
Maybe we should’ve brought Nosey along, after all. Leastways then Jamie’d have something to play with while the other children run around
.

“Buddy, I want to ask you something.” Bryce distracted them both. “I’m going to need a partner for the wheelbarrow race. What’dya say?”

I want Jamie to feel like a part of the fun, but the wheelbarrow race? Where you hold the person’s legs and make them walk on their hands? Jamie has much better control over his hands and arms than his legs, but they still jerk around some. Iff ‘n he spasms and falls …

“See, what you have to do is sit inside the wheelbarrow and tell me to swerve left or right to avoid the logs.” Bryce’s explanation wasn’t what she expected. “You’ll have to have sharp eyes, but I know I can count on you. First team across the finish line wins some peppermint sticks.”

“‘Es!” Jamie’s excited nod made Daisy wish she could think of ways to make him feel as included.

“Let’s go tell ‘em we want to be one of the teams.” Bryce picked Jamie up and threw Daisy a wink before tromping over to talk to Rooster Linden.

“Now maybe it ain’t my place to tell you this, but you should know.” Hattie leaned close to whisper in Daisy’s ear. “Bryce arranged this wheelbarrow race special. He’s not jist a good, smart man. He’s a thoughtful one. I know he won’t never tell you what he done, so I’m tellin’ it for him.”

Daisy sat for a moment, speechless.
Why didn’t Bryce tell me hisself? I’m right glad he done this. How am I s’pposed to let him court me when he keeps secrets about how wonderful he is?

“Bryce told me he aims to win.” Hattie grinned. “Betwixt you and me, I hope they do. Logan’s gotten too puffed up for his own good. Brags he’ll win every race he enters. I caught him hopping ‘round the barn t’other day, practicing for the three-legged race.”

“Well then.” Daisy smiled mischievously. “What say we level the playing field?”

“Let’s have a quick review. Hold out your left arm. Good. Right? Excellent.” Bryce patted Jamie on the back. “Now you say it.”

“‘Eft, rite,” Jamie recited, holding out the named arm.

“We’re up.” Bryce set Jamie down in the wheelbarrow, facing forward. “Are you ready to win?”

“Yeah!” Jamie gripped the sides of the wheelbarrow and leaned forward to have a better view of the grass.

“On yore marks. Get set …” Rooster roared, “Go!”

Bryce, tensed and ready, took off like a shot.

“‘Eft!” Jamie shouted, and Bryce quickly maneuvered around the block of wood.

“Rite!” Jamie directed. “Rite ag’n!”

Bryce kept pushing, running hard and angling the wheelbarrow tightly. He spotted the Trevor twins out of the corner of his eye, gaining.

“‘Eft, Byce!” Jamie screeched. “No mor! Go!”

Bryce saw Daisy waiting at the finish line, jumping up and down and clapping her hands. He managed a final burst of speed.
For Daisy and Jamie!
He sailed over the finish line.

“We win!” Jamie yelled, flailing his arms joyfully as his mama ran over.

“I saw, Jamie!” Daisy scooped him up and swung him in the air. “You were so fast to see those blocks! I’m proud of you!”

Bryce felt as though he’d grown about ten inches taller, seeing Jamie flushed with victory and Daisy beaming with pride. He drank in the sight of them.

After Rooster and Asa presented Jamie with his peppermint stick prize, the whole holler walked by to congratulate him on his sharp eyes. To Bryce’s way of thinking, the day was complete.

But it seemed that Daisy had other plans. When Logan grabbed Bryce for the three-legged race, she and Hattie followed over to the racing field.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Logan demanded as Hattie tied herself and Daisy together at the ankle.

“We’re joinin’ the race. What’s it look like?” Daisy calmly slipped her arm around Hattie’s waist to steady herself.

“Oh-ho,” Logan guffawed. “Well, if you wanted a close view of me and Bryce winning, you could’ve waited at the finish line.”

Bryce tried to elbow Logan in the ribs to get him to shut his mouth, but he just bumped Logan’s arm.

“We’ll see about that,” Hattie shot back, her eyes alight with challenge as everybody lined up.

On “Go!” Bryce took off for the second time that day. He and Logan loped across the field, but Logan’s shorter legs made Bryce abbreviate his stride. “Come on! They’re gettin’ ahead!” he whispered, doggedly dragging Logan along with him.

“It’s not my fault we’re lopsided!” Logan huffed.

Hattie and Daisy thumped across the field right past Bryce and Logan.
How can they be so graceful? Look at them go!
Bryce watched with a mixture of admiration and disbelief as the women half-walked, half-hopped to victory.

After he disentangled himself from Logan, he went to congratulate them. Seeing Daisy, face flushed from exertion, eyes sparkling with laughter, made Bryce grin.
I’d gladly lose this race if I can win her in the long run
.

“Bryce?” Logan’s voice carried across the barn.

“Up here!” Bryce used the worn ribbon to mark the passage he’d barely finished reading, then closed the Bible. He heard Logan’s heavy boots on the loft’s ladder before he saw his brother.

“Did I interrupt your devotions?” Logan looked at the Bible at his brother’s side.

“It’s a good place to stop.”

“Good. Listen, I’ve got to go to Charleston in about two weeks and deliver a big shipment before the weather turns bad.” Logan jerked a thumb toward the covered window, where very little sunlight strained through. “Train leaves on a Monday afternoon, and I was wondering whether you wanted to come with me.”

Hmm. If I stay, I’ll see Daisy more often before the snow comes. If I go, I can take care of a few things. I don’t like how Daisy wears Hattie’s old cloak. She’s sewing Jamie a new winter coat, but he should have some warm gloves, too. Besides, I need runners for a sled. That way Jamie won’t have to scooch around in the snow and catch cold
.

“Sounds good. There’s some stuff I need to pick up. You think this is the last trip you’ll make this year?” Bryce wondered whether he’d have a chance to buy everyone Christmas gifts.

“I don’t know.” Logan scratched his jaw. “I know snowstorms up here make winter traveling difficult, to say the least. All the same, I’d like to get back once more before Christmas. It’d give Daisy time to make more lace, Otis could turn out a few more checker sets, and Asa could carve more nativity sets—Frank says they’re sure to be in demand for Christmas. It’s a good time of year for selling, and I want to see everybody make the best of it.”

“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 Charleston,” 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
.