Chance Of A Lifetime (21 page)

“They should, what with folks droppin’ by at all hours for the healer.” Miz Willow patted the purple velvet with satisfaction. “Nice and cozy, too.”

“Oh!” Daisy drew out her green dressing gown, touching the little white flowers embroidered on the collar. “How pretty!”

“Those flowers put me in mind o’ daisies,” Hattie praised. “What a clever gift!”

“Thankee, Bryce.” Daisy’s happy smile made him feel about ten feet tall.

“You’re welcome, Daisy.” He took the package she passed him.

“This is from me and Jamie.”

“A coat!” Bryce put it on immediately. “I’ve been needing one of these. Now I’m glad I didn’t pick one up. This is the finest coat I ever put on!” He rubbed his hand on his wool sleeve. “Nice and warm.”

“I made it myself.” Daisy beamed at his appreciation.

“‘Ook!” Jamie lifted the pair of long underwear Daisy’d sewn him. “For sno’!”

“That’s right.” Daisy rumpled her son’s hair affectionately. “So you have some after you play in the snow.”

“Here, buddy.” Bryce handed Jamie two packages, one after another.

Jamie attacked the paper, ripping it haphazardly until he uncovered a spinning top. “What is’t?” He held up the toy and gave it a curious glance.

“A top.” Bryce reached for it and set it on the ground. “This is how you use it.” He gave the top a spin, and the brightly painted toy whirled around the floor. Nosey followed the whirling thing until it tipped over, then nudged it back to Jamie.

“Wow!” Jamie picked it up. “T’anks!”

“Go on and open the other one,” Bryce urged. He grinned at Daisy as Jamie unearthed a miniature cowboy hat just like the ones he and Logan wore.

Jamie plunked it on his head. “See?” He craned his neck toward Daisy, who smiled.

“You look jist like a cowboy, Jamie.”

Bryce nodded at her words. That was the whole idea. Every boy who lived on a ranch needed a cowboy hat.

“Oh, Bryce.” Daisy stared at the vanity set nestled in tissue paper.
How did he know I always wanted a vanity set? This one’s so pretty, too. Brush, comb, mirror
. She gasped as she picked up the mirror and spotted the etching on the back. She traced the shape of a daisy with her fingertips. “It’s perfect.” She looked at Bryce. “Where did you ever find this?”

“Sometimes it’s worth the search to find something special.”

He thinks I’m special and I deserve special things
. Bryce’s words put a lump in her throat.
Lord, he’s already given me so much
.

“This is beautiful, Daisy!” Hattie held up the long, thin piece of lace Daisy’d woven to serve as a bookmark.

“I’m glad you like it.” She smiled.

“I’ll use mine in my Bible.” Miz Willow admired hers. “Such a fine piece of work. Little touches of beauty to enrich the heart.”

Logan had gotten matching flannel nightgowns—one for his wife and one apiece for Miz Willow and Daisy. He and Hattie also gave Jamie a warm flannel nightshirt.

I have so much to be thankful for
.

As the day wore on, Daisy’s smile began to fade.
Is it possible to have too much to be thankful for?
Piles of presents from Bryce surrounded her. In addition to the vanity set and velvet dressing gown, she’d received no less than two pairs of gloves, a delicate cream-colored shawl, and a store-bought wool dress with green piping. She’d never owned any store-bought clothing before the cloak Bryce had given her at the beginning of the winter.

Jamie sat beside her on his brand-new beginner saddle, cowboy hat perched atop his head slightly askew as he bent over to spin his top. So many expensive things. Suddenly, Daisy remembered the combs in her hair, and the gloves and scarf Bryce had already gotten Jamie.

It’s too much! I’d never be able to buy half of all this if I worked my fingers to the bones for years! Why did Bryce get so carried away? How can I let him know how I feel without angering him? He meant well, but Jamie and I aren’t charity! The coat I made him seems so paltry now, and he’s still wearing it as though it’s the grandest thing he’s ever received
.

Daisy got up and busied herself with picking up bits of brown paper and twine, putting them in a bucket to burn later. Needing a moment to herself, she decided to tote Jamie’s saddle to the barn.

“I’ll take that.” Bryce smoothly slid the saddle from her arms and walked beside her.

Daisy didn’t say a word, her thoughts all a jumble.

Bryce hung the saddle on the rail beside his own and turned to her. “Something wrong? I’ll be careful teaching Jamie to ride.”

“It’s not that—” Daisy broke off.

“What is it?” He stepped closer to rub her shoulders.

“Stop it.” She backed away. “Why did you get all those thangs for us, Bryce?”

“Didn’t you like them?” Consternation painted his face.

“Of course. They’re all wonderful thangs, Bryce,” she hastened to reassure him. “But they’re so much.”

“I want to give you everything in the world, Daisy.” He tried to draw close again, but she put out her palm.

“We ain’t charity, Bryce.” Tears of frustration filled her eyes.

“I never thought you were.” He held her hand, brushing his thumb across her palm. “Truth is, I want something in return.” His eyes burned with meaning, sending a blaze of heat running up her spine.

“You don’t buy love, Bryce.” He dropped her hand like it was a hot potato, but she had to make him understand. “I never wanted yore money.”

Bryce stared at the woman he’d come to love so desperately, trying to understand what it was she wanted from him.
If you didn’t have qualms about finances, then what—

The only other possible explanation hit him like a punch in the gut.
She meant she can’t rely on me. Won’t trust me to take care of her and her son. Daisy’s grown so used to making her own decisions that she won’t give up control for the compromise of marriage
.

He realized Daisy was staring at him, waiting for him to explain why he’d showered her and Jamie with tokens of his love.

What do I say to her? How can I tell her what I overheard and ask her to explain? How can I not?

Bryce decided to lay it all on the line. “On the day Logan and I took Jamie sledding for the first time, I came back a little before the others.” His throat grew hoarse as he told her. “I heard what you said to Miz Willow.”

He watched as Daisy began turning bright pink with embarrassment.

What, ‘zactly, did he hear?
Daisy frantically tried to remember the conversation.
Did he hear me and Miz Willow talkin’ ‘bout movin’ to Californy? Is he angry that we even dared presume such a thang? Did he think I was trying to take advantage of his wealth?
Her heart constricted. Best to approach this with caution.

“A woman has to think about these things,” she hedged.

Bryce’s eyes darkened further, and she swallowed.
Why cain’t I say the right thang jist this once?

“So there’s no other explanation?” His voice sounded toneless, muted, and flat.

“We’re courting seriously now, Bryce,” Daisy begged him to understand. “It’s a lot to consider. I have to think about Jamie.”

“I see.” A muscle in his jaw ticked. “And what did I ever do to lead you to think that?”

Oh no. He doesn’t want to take me and Jamie back to Californy. It’s his home. It’s where he planned on going anyway, but we never talked about it. I jist assumed that’s what he had in mind when he said he was goin’ to court me
. Her spine stiffened.
If I got that wrong, what else have I missed?

“You said you were staying to court me.” Daisy planted her hands on her hips. “You promised you’d treat Jamie as if he were yore own. What was I supposed to think?”

“That I don’t make promises I can’t keep.” Bryce’s eyes snapped blue fire at her.

“So that’s why we never talked about it?” Daisy fumed.
He weren’t makin’ any promises on account of him not wanting to take us back to Chance Ranch. Why? Is he ashamed of us?
A chill shot down her spine.
Is he ashamed of Jamie? Is that why he don’t want us to meet his kin?

“I thought you knew!” Bryce growled. “You’re a smart woman, Daisy Thales. How could you think for even a moment that I would propose marriage to a woman with a son without—”

“Without what, Bryce?” she interrupted. “Without making shore you wouldn’t have to be ashamed of us in front of yore kin?” Daisy blinked back tears for the second time that day. “How could I have been so foolish? You bought all those thangs to fancy me up because I’m too plain and not book learned. You don’t think me and Jamie are good enough to take to Californy!” She whirled around.

She didn’t make it through the door before he grabbed her arm, forcing her to stop and face him.

“Let me go!”

“No!” he roared, pulling her closer. “Don’t you understand that I’ve done everything I have so I wouldn’t have to ever let you go?”

The anger and passion throbbing in his voice made Daisy stop trying to get away.

“What makes you think I could ever be ashamed of you? You’re an amazing woman. I’ve pursued you every way I could think of so you’d be my wife.” Bryce stopped shouting and looked at her in sorrow and disappointment. “How could you believe I’d be ashamed of you or Jamie? What? Because he can’t use his legs? It doesn’t matter to me, Daisy. I love Jamie like my own son.”

“Then why are you so mad that Miz Willow and me talked about me and Jamie moving to Californy?” Her voice came out sounding small and sad, but she couldn’t do anything about it.

Lord, I’m so confused. I hurt. Please holp me
.

“What?” Bryce’s brow knit in confusion. “I heard you say something else.” He took a deep breath as though about to repeat something painful. “You told Miz Willow you couldn’t rely on me to provide for you and Jamie.”

“I never—” Daisy broke off as she recalled the very end of that conversation. “No. I didn’t mean them words. You—”

“Heard them.” Bryce stated flatly, cutting her off. “I thought you meant you weren’t sure I had the money.”

That’s why he bought all those thangs—he was tryin’ to prove he was a good provider!
Daisy felt the faint stirrings of hope.

“Bryce, I know you’re a good provider and a fine man. I seen you work with my own two eyes!”

“And now I know you don’t ‘want my money.’” Bryce’s eyes glinted in pain. “I know that you weren’t talking about how you thought I didn’t have the means to support you.”

“No! I never thought that at all!” Daisy argued excitedly.

“So you meant you couldn’t trust me.” Bryce shook his head. “If you don’t believe me when I tell you I want to take care of you and Jamie,” Bryce kept speaking as he pushed past her, “then there’s nothing left to say.”

Bryce stopped in midstep as Daisy grabbed him by the back of the collar.

“Yore not goin’ another step till I’ve had my say.” Her fury all but steamed out of her as he turned around.

“Fine.” He crossed his arms in front of his chest and waited.
But we both know there’s nothing you can tell me that’ll change the problem
. His heart ached.
You’re still not willing to share your life. Daisy, you won’t even give control over to the Lord. So long as you rely on yourself, we’re not spiritually suited. It’s over
.