Chance Of A Lifetime (22 page)

“You cain’t jist catch the tail end of a conversation and assume you know all there is to know.” Daisy put her fisted hands on her hips and stared up at him. “For yore information, Miz Willow had said summat about how well-off you and Logan was, and how you’d take care of me and Jamie. What you heard me say was the end of my response.”

Bryce listened closely as Daisy gave a deep sigh. “I tole her that a roof ain’t no reason to marry up. Iff ‘n we got married, it would be for love and nothin’ else. Jamie’s my responsibility, and I wouldn’t marry you to ease my load.”

Bryce took a moment to realize what she meant.
She doesn’t want me for my money. It’s not that she doesn’t trust me. She just wanted to enter into the courtship with a pure heart so love could
grow. How could I have been so wrong?

“Daisy!” He enveloped her in his arms and clung tight. “I misunderstood.”

“It’s all right.” She wiped her teary eyes. “Yore not the only one guilty of that.”

“I thought you were still relying on yourself for everything, not giving control to God.”

“I meant what I said this mornin’, Bryce,” Daisy spoke earnestly. “I’ve been wrapped up in my own works, and that cain’t stand. Now I’m willing to trust in God’s will.”

“That’s a big step.” Bryce stroked her hair.

“And even though we misunderstood one another, I trust you, Bryce. I know I cain rely on you.”

Bryce tipped her chin up and gave her a kiss. “Then I can’t think of anything that could stand between us.”

Bryce hoisted Jamie up into the saddle, then looped a length of rope around the boy and secured the other end to the pommel. “This’ll help keep you on her back,” he explained. “Now hold onto the pommel—this knobby thing on your saddle—with both hands while I adjust your stirrups.”

Winter’s snowstorms hadn’t abated, so they’d only go up and down the barn a few times. Perfect for Jamie’s first riding lesson.

“Now take your right hand and grab the reins,” Bryce instructed, making certain Jamie had a good grip on both the reins and the pommel. “When you want to go forward, flick this up and down, leaning forward just a little. When you need to stop, you pull back. Remember to be gentle so you don’t hurt your mount.” Bryce went to the horse’s head and took hold of the halter to guide her. “Ready?”

“Ready!” Jamie leaned forward and shook the reins. The horse took a few steps forward, ambling slowly.

Bryce watched Jamie hold on tight as the horse swayed side to side while moving straight ahead. “You’re doing fine, buddy,” Bryce called. “This is what we call a walk. When you’ve had some more practice, and we have you outside where there’s enough room, we’ll move up to a trot.”

“What t’ot?” Jamie asked, yanking back the reins as they came to the end of the barn.

“Gentle, remember?” Bryce gave a quick reminder on how to pull to a stop without hurting the horse. “A trot is a fast walk. You know how you’re shifting a little from side to side as you go forward?” He waited for Jamie’s nod to continue the lesson. “When you go faster, in a trot, you’ll go up and down a bit, too.”

“Oh.” Jamie nodded solemnly. The little boy concentrated hard as they went up and down the barn a few more times.

Bryce waited until after they’d seen to the horse and gotten it settled back in its stall. Then he brought up the subject he’d been biding his time for.

“Jamie?”

“Yep?”

“You know that I like your ma, right?”

“She ‘ike you, too.” Jamie nodded, eyes big.

“And we both like you.” Bryce ticked Jamie’s tummy, making the little boy squeal with laughter.

“I live in California,” Bryce continued. “I was wondering if you and your ma might go back with me.”

“Cal’fa?” Jamie struggled with the state name. “Wher’?”

“A long ways away. That’s why I want you and your ma to come with me,” Bryce explained. “It’s the only way I’ll see you anymore.”

“Don’ go,” Jamie instructed. “Stay.”

“I have to go back. My family and my home are out there. If you and your mama were there, too, I wouldn’t be missing anything. We’d all be together, and you could meet my nieces and nephews. Some of them are about your age, so you could play together.”

Jamie frowned as he pondered this. “Wiwwo?”

“Miz Willow would stay here,” Bryce answered honestly.

“Oh.” Jamie scrunched up his face. “Why me an’ Ma go?”

“I want your permission to ask your mama to marry me. She’d be my wife, and then you’d be my son. I’d be your second pa.” Bryce held his breath and waited for the answer. He wanted to have Jamie’s agreement before he proposed to Daisy. They were supposed to become a family.

“Pa?” Jamie’s eyes lit up, and his face broke into a grin.

“So I can ask your mama to marry me, and we can all go to California?” Bryce asked.

“‘Es!”

“Good, because I need your help.”

“Where’s Bryce?” Daisy kept looking at the door every few minutes. “He was only going to put away the sled.”

“Jamie and I’ll go check up on him.” Logan stood up importantly, picked Jamie up, and tromped out the door.

When Logan and Jamie didn’t come back, either, Hattie and Daisy put on their cloaks to see what was going on.

“Jamie!” Daisy called. “Bryce?”

“Over here!” She and Hattie walked around the barn, following the voice.

“Stay right there!” Logan ordered.

“What’s—” Daisy’s words were cut off by a mighty
whoosh
as a sled came flying down the snowbank, stopping less than two feet from where she stood.

“Hi!” Jamie, all bundled up in his scarf and cowboy hat, waved his arms from where he sat, sandwiched in front of Bryce on the biggest sled Daisy had ever clapped eyes on.

“We’ve got a good team going here.” Bryce grinned at her. “But I think we’ve got room for one more.”

“I’m not getting on that thing!” Daisy refused. “No matter how much room is on it!”

“Well, not until we get it to the top of the hill, at least.” Bryce handed Jamie to her. “Meet me at the top.”

Left with no choice, Daisy trudged up the snowy hill. “Bryce, I …” The words died in her throat as she looked around her.

“Surprise!” Jamie clapped excitedly as Daisy walked over to the sight before her.

A blue tablecloth covered an old tree stump. Bryce stood beside it, taking her hand and helping her step over the roots. He helped her sit down, Jamie resting on her lap.

“What are you up to, Bryce Chance?” she asked.

“We’re waiting for a friend.” Bryce pointed over to where Nosey trundled through the snow, determined to reach Jamie. When the dog, no longer a tiny puppy, reached them, Bryce picked her up.

“Nosey has something for you.” He held the growing puppy up, and when Daisy reached out to pet the animal, she noticed a piece of twine tied around Nosey’s neck.

“What’s this?” She fingered the thick string. Nosey didn’t need a collar, since she hardly ever left Jamie’s side.

“Pull it in and find out,” Bryce prompted. Daisy grabbed the long end of the string and began pulling.

And pulling, and pulling. Jamie giggled with glee as she brought up more and more twine.
What have they got on the end of this thang?

Daisy gasped as she caught sight of the sparkling ring. Nosey snuffled her hand in wet encouragement as Daisy grabbed it.

“Daisy.” Bryce dropped to one knee, still holding Nosey under one arm. “We’ve got quite a little group here. I’ve spoken with Jamie man-to-man and gotten his blessing to ask you something.” He reached for her left hand, looking deep into her eyes. “Will you be my wife and make us a family?”

Daisy could only nod while Bryce slid the engagement band onto her finger. “Yes!” She finally managed. She stood up, and Bryce gathered her and Jamie into his warm embrace.
I might not stay in Salt Lick Holler
, Daisy knew,
but I’ve found my home
.

“Got a surprise for you two back at the cabin,” Logan announced a few minutes later as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.

“Oh?” Bryce wondered what his brother’d done this time.

“When you told me how you’d be proposing, I made a few arrangements of my own.” Logan grimaced as Hattie elbowed him in the ribs. “
We
made a few arrangements.”

They all marched back to the cabin, Daisy shooting Bryce quizzical looks.

“I have no idea what they’ve planned.” Bryce squeezed her hand.

“Preacher Jacobs!” Daisy’s gasp told Bryce what was afoot. Logan and Hattie had made arrangements for the preacher to stop by while he was still in town.

“Are you ready for this, Daisy?” Bryce cupped her face in his palms. “We can wait if you want.”

“Why wait?” Daisy’s eyes sparkled up at him. “I love you and want to be yore wife.”

His heart soared at her decision. “Let’s be wed now then.”

“Not quite yet.” Miz Willow shooed Hattie and Daisy into the adjoining room. “You have to give the bride a moment to ready herself.”

Bryce waited with Logan, Jamie, and the preacher.

“What’s taking so long?” Logan paced around the cabin impatiently. Any stranger would’ve thought he was the one getting married.

“Hold still,” Bryce ordered. “Daisy’s worth the wait.”
Always has been
.

She stepped out of the room in her green-striped wool dress, one of her delicate lace collars framing her face. She wore the gloves and hair combs he’d given her, too. Bryce swelled with pride at the sight of her.

He scarcely heard the words spoken by the preacher, although he knew the vows by heart. When the time came for him to pledge his love, his voice sounded gruff to his own ears.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” Daisy sounded ethereal, like sunshine dancing on the grass.

“I now pronounce you man and wife,” the preacher intoned grandly. “You may—”

Bryce kissed his bride.

“Good-bye, dearie.” Miz Willow gave Jamie and Daisy one final hug. The snow had cleared enough for them to travel back to Chance Ranch.

“‘Bye!” Jamie chirped. He patted his cowboy hat more firmly in place. “‘Bye!”

Hattie stood on tiptoe to give Bryce a farewell hug. “I know you’ll take good care of them,” she whispered to him. “Give my love to Lovejoy.”

“I’ll be sure to,” Bryce pledged. He turned as Logan slapped him on the back.