The Brides of Chance Collection (116 page)

She raised her head to see Miz Willow watching her. A surge of anger at the old woman’s scolding welled up.

How dare she criticize the way I behave!
Daisy stewed.
I know I’m beholden to her for her hospitality, but I don’t intend for it to be permanent. Does sharing her home give her the right to berate me for nothing? I don’t cut myself off from others. I’ve established a friendship with Bryce, haven’t I?

Only in spite of yourself
. Daisy didn’t like the niggling voice in the back of her mind, but the tiny seeds of guilt wouldn’t rest.
You didn’t reach out to Bryce until he was kind to
Jamie. Even then, you accused him of cruelty not in his nature. If the friendship has grown
,
it is not due to yore tender care in nurturing it. Miz Willow said those things to open yore eyes, not to hurt you
.

Well, she did hurt me. And if she feels that I’m so difficult, it’s all the better that I’ve taken Logan up on his offer to sell my lace. His deal puts far more money in my pocket. The more I save, the sooner I cain leave the old woman’s charity, and me and Jamie cain get on with our lives
.

I’ve wasted too much time already. After the fire, we spent two days searching the rubble before moving here. Sewing new clothes was necessary but cost me a lot of time, and holping with that behemoth of a stove ate up still more time. I need to focus on the important things
.
How am I going to put a roof over Jamie’s head and food in his mouth? By making lace
.
That’s how I should be spending my time
. Her resolve strengthened, Daisy vowed to work more quickly.

While she’d been lost in thought, the men had finished putting up half of the rafters. The noontime hour had passed, so when the skeleton of the barn was up and ready, everyone would break for dinner.

“Mama’s gonna go set out the food,” Daisy told Jamie. “I want you to stay right here where I cain see you, okay?”

“ ’Kay, Ma.” He nodded, happy to be watching everything around him.

Daisy walked over to the cabin and began carrying out dish after covered dish. They hadn’t set it all outside before now, so the sun wouldn’t spoil the food and insects wouldn’t swarm around the tables. Logan and Bryce had constructed two huge tables and numerous benches in preparation for the day.

Daisy, Hattie, Silk Trevor, and a few other women scurried back and forth while Miz Willow passed them dishes. Before long, the first table groaned beneath the weight of sliced ham, a pot roast, two chickens, rabbit stew, egg salad, vegetable salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, steamed carrots, and hunks of cheese. Baked goods filled the second table to bursting. Bread, rolls, biscuits, corn bread, pies, coffee cake, and cobbler spread in a tantalizing profusion.

Logan called for silence before blessing the meal.

“We’re going to take a minute to thank the Lord for the food and friends gathered today.

“Lord, I thank You for each person here today. Every one of them has things they need to be attending to, but they’ve taken the time to come and help me and Hattie and Miz Willow build a bigger barn. Thank You for the food on the tables. We ask that You bless it so we have the strength to finish our work today. You’ve provided graciously for us, and we ask You to shed Your blessings on the people here today. In Your name. Amen.”

The smell of savory meat mixed with the earthy fragrance of baked cinnamon as the men gathered around to fill their plates. Daisy couldn’t remember ever seeing so much food, much less watching it all disappear so quickly. After the men hunkered down, their plates piled high with food, the women and children swarmed around the tables.

“Here, Jamie.” Daisy returned to find Bryce sitting with her son. Jamie nibbled on a chicken leg while Bryce attacked a mound of mashed potatoes. Daisy sat down and put Jamie’s plate in easy reach. “How’re them taters, Bryce?”

“Good.” Bryce barely stopped eating long enough to grunt his approval.

“ ’Ood.” Jamie nodded, waving his piece of chicken.

Daisy’s heart twisted.
Jamie used to copycat me like that. Now he’s apin’ Bryce. Lord
,
why do I feel as though that’s a loss? Bryce has become so important to my son, but he’ll be gone all too soon. What am I to do?

Chapter 14

I
’ve put the axes and saws in the back of the wagon.” Logan sauntered into the cabin two days later and tried to peek in the lunch basket the women had packed.

Daisy chuckled when Hattie swatted his hand away.

“I have the horses hitched.” Bryce came in behind his brother. “What’s the holdup? We’ve got to get going if we’re going to chop enough before dark.”

“Here you go.” Daisy handed the basket to Bryce while Logan wolfed down a leftover biscuit.

“Thanks, Daisy.” Bryce’s rugged smile made it difficult for Daisy not to stare.

“Yore welcome.” She stepped back. “A man needs plenty in his belly so’s he cain get a lot done.”

“Me man!” Jamie scooched over and jabbed his chest. “I go?”

No. Not a chance. Not even with two Chances. They’ll be fellin’ deadwood—ain’t safe for any child, much less my son! Jist the thought of that two-man saw makes me wanna hold
Jamie close and never let him go
.

Daisy bit back the words, knowing how hurt Jamie would be if she explained it like that. She scrambled to concoct a reason to refuse.

“Of course you’re a man,” Logan proclaimed.

Oh no. He’s going to say yes. Logan’ll let Jamie tag along, and then summat terrible’ll happen
. Daisy chewed the inside of her lip.
A deadwood branch cain fall, a blade might be left unattended, a shift in the wind so a felled tree goes the wrong way…And I cain’t think up an excuse to tell them all no. What do I do? I cain’t let him go!

She saw Bryce bending over to talk to Jamie.
No, Bryce! You’ve let Jamie do so many things already. I was wrong about the eggs and the leaves but not this. Don’t take Jamie where he cain’t be safe. You must have the sense to know this won’t end well. Don’t make me let loose the words that will shame my son afore you and yore brother
.

“Not today, buddy.”

Thankee, Bryce
. Daisy took a calming breath.
Jamie’ll be safe. I was so worried
.

Bryce squatted down to look Jamie in the eye. “We need you to stay here and keep watch on things for us. We’re chopping enough wood to fill the whole wagon before we bring it back. The pieces’ll be so long.” He spread his arms wide. “We’ll have to make ’em smaller tomorrow. Then you’ll be right there with us. Fair enough?”

More than fair. You found a way to protect my son and still make him part of the task
.

“ ’Kay.” Jamie puffed out his chest. “ ’Morra I holp.”

“But today yore going to holp yore mama!” Daisy gathered him in her arms. “We’ve got lots of thangs to get done afore Logan and Bryce come back!” She smiled at Bryce, hoping he understood that she meant to thank him for protecting Jamie but not treating him like a baby. He was so good with her and Jamie.
Yep. Bryce Chance jist has a way of makin’ a body feel special
.

Bryce pitched a forkful of hay into one of the new stalls. Logan was setting up tack.

“I think we should keep the cattle in the old half and the horses in the new,” Bryce planned aloud.

“Makes sense to have the horses on hand,” Logan agreed. “Seemed like everyone I talked with is preparing for a rough winter.”

“Heard about Otis Nye’s bones, did you?” Bryce grinned.

“And how spring came early.” Logan grabbed a pitchfork and started spreading hay around. They’d transfer the animals the next day. “Ed Trevor mentioned something about the hounds having thick coats.”

“I heard the same thing. That reminds me.” Bryce leaned on his pitchfork. “After we get the animals settled in tomorrow morning, I need to go to the Trevor place. Has a runt no one’s spoken for. All the others have homes lined up.”

Logan shrugged. “If it’s made it this long, I think it’s got a good chance of growing.”

“Not with winter coming on fast.” Bryce shook his head. “He won’t have enough meat on his bones to get through the cold.”

“That’s rough,” Logan commiserated. “How did it happen that Ed got in such a late litter?”

“Happens sometimes.” Bryce thought a moment. “Ed said something about her being one of his older breeders.”

“What are you going to do with the pup?” Logan asked.

“I won’t know until I see it. Might be it just needs some extra attention and some cow’s milk to fatten it up. It’s worked before. Ed has too many dogs to spend that much time on a runt. Maybe I can take it off his hands.”

“Oh?”

Something about Logan’s tone raised Bryce’s hackles. “You got something to say?”

“How are you going to manage a pup on your five-day, cross-country train trek?” Logan drummed his fingers against one of the new walls.

“Might be a bit of a problem,” Bryce admitted.

“You could stay through the winter.” Logan got the words out in a rush.

“I’ve been away from the ranch for six months already. You want me to sleep out in the barn through a mountain winter?”

“I have it on good authority that this is a mighty fine barn! You could use the tack room so the smell won’t get to you. We both know that the animals will put off enough heat to keep the place warm.”

“For the sake of a little dog?” Bryce shook his head. “You can feed the thing without me.”

“I was thinking you might have other reasons to stay.” Logan waggled his brows. “I saw you eating lunch with Daisy the other day. She’s a fine woman.”

“Yes, she is.” Bryce set to work again and avoided his brother’s piercing gaze. “But that doesn’t amount to a hill o’ beans. She’s dead set on rebuilding the home and life she and her son lost. Even if I stayed the winter, I would eventually go back to Chance Ranch. Daisy’s already lost too much to give up anything more.”

“I see you’ve given this some thought, but did you think about all she stands to gain? You two seem to enjoy each other’s company, and you get on well with Jamie.”

“He’s a great kid.” Bryce chewed the inside of his cheek. “But I can’t leave Chance Ranch shorthanded this winter to pursue a woman who has other plans.”

“Are you so sure she wouldn’t give up those plans?”

“She’s a good friend, Logan, but she’s a mother first,” Bryce tried to explain. “Jamie’s welfare is the only thing she’s interested in.”

“So how come she smiles at you like that and brings you water and makes sure we have something for dessert every night, if it’s not because she likes you and noticed your sweet tooth?”

“She’s a thoughtful woman.” Bryce tried not to let Logan’s words sink in. False hopes never made a man anything but wrong.

“Hattie’s of the opinion that Daisy’s thinking, all right.” Logan paused meaningfully. “On you.”

“You talked to Hattie about this?” Bryce practically bellowed the words.

“She brought up how much time Daisy spent with you while we were gone,” Logan said casually, “and we’ve both kept an eye on the pair of you. Hattie thinks you two have something, and I agree.”

Could that be true? Is Daisy interested in me the way I’m attracted to her? There were those times when we touched—she seemed flustered. Could there be room enough in her heart for a new husband? I care for Jamie a great deal, and I’d treat him as my own son. Would
Daisy be willing to come with me to California?

“I can see the questions rolling about in your head, Bryce.” Logan stared at him long and hard. “Are you willing to give up a winter to find the answers?”

Daisy looked up as Bryce entered the cabin. The determined set of his jaw as he strode across the room sent a chill down her spine. She rested her lacework in her lap and waited. Whatever it was he had to say, it must be important. Could something be wrong with the new barn? Then he stopped in front of her.

“Daisy Thales, I’ve made a decision.” The intensity of his gaze stirred something deep within her.

“What is it, Bryce?”