The Brides of Chance Collection (82 page)

Eunice started laughing. “Get busy? You cain’t sit still any sooner than I cain catch a weasel asleep.”

Lovejoy sat on the stool, one foot on a rung and the other on the floor, since the silly thing rocked a mite. She read silently—partly because Widow Hendricks might tell her something private about one of their patients and partly because the outspoken old crone didn’t mince words when she spoke of others. Some things didn’t need to be passed on.

Dear Lovejoy
,

That box came in right handy. Them mule’s ear roots work grand on Otis’s rheu-

matiz. Mine, too. Send more if ’n you cain spare them. Had the Pleasant young’uns gargle with yore kind of slip elm and healed soar throt right quik. Other than that
,

folk are chipper as cain be. Mayhap we cain trade boxes of yarbs now an agin
.

Which is why I writ this. Lots of prayer wint into this, so listen with yore heart. Tempy writ and said there’s a widower there with two lassies. You been holping his kin, and she tells me the both of you got on real good. He sent tele-

grams. First one tole me the whole story in just a few words. “Lovejoy needed
.

Difficult maternity cases. Request you continue serving Holler.”

Then and thar, my heart tole me the truth. Yore needed there, and I’m needed here. May be, ’tis just yore talent they need. Silk Trevor has conniptions whenever she thinks on you leaving her gals. Yore sisters are keeping watch on your pa, but

Tempy’s there, and she’ll need you to deliver her babes as the years roll on
.

Parson preached on Titus last month bout old women holping the younger gals. He brung Hattie Thales to me that week
.

Hattie Thales. Lovejoy bit her lip. At thirteen, she’d been married off to a man twice her age. She’d lost a babe halfway through the carrying three times in a row. A deadwood fell in a stiff wind and half crushed her man a year back. She’d tended him till he passed on just before Lovejoy left to come here.

Nobody wants Hattie. She cain cook and clean, but a man wants sons. I took her in. We been in yore house, and she’s got a clever mind. Learnt yarbs on our first walk and recited them back the next day. I got me a few good years yet to train her up, and this’ll give her a happy life
.

’Tis yore nest, but I’m fixing to push you out. Less you say otherwise, me and
Hattie’ll keep serving Salt Lick, and you cain serve God where He sint you
.

You been like a dotter to me, and I will alwuz holt you in my heart
.

Fondly
,
Willomena Hendricks

Lovejoy stared at the letter. Tears blurred her eyes.
Heavenly Father, I’ve been a-prayin’. Even afore I knew how much I wanted to stay here, Thou wert makin’ it possible. It near takes my breath away. About Dan’l, Lord—

“What’s a-wrong?” Eunice gave her a stricken look.

“Bad news from home?” Tempy bustled over and wrapped her arms around Lovejoy.

“No. No, it’s not.” Lovejoy tried to blink back the moisture and carefully fold the letter on the same creases to keep it in good condition. She didn’t dare look up, else Tempy would read her face just as clearly as she’d just read these words.

“Ever’body’s okay?” Lois asked. “Aunt Silk?”

“Widow Hendricks said folks are fine.”
And for the first time in my life, maybe things will turn out fine for me, too
.

“That’s all?”

Lovejoy wanted to go off on her own. Think. Pray. Hope and dream.

Eunice tugged on her sleeve. “More’s gotta be happening than that.”

“Well, yes.” Her voice quavered as the realization of God’s provision washed over her anew. “She’s taken to training up Hattie Thales.”

“Hattie!” Tempy jolted upright. “Who would have imagined that?”

“Her man was sick a good long while. I swan she’s good at handlin’ sick folks.” Eunice nodded.

“But nobody’s half as good as you, Lovejoy.” Lois wiped her hands on her apron. “You got the healin’ touch. Don’t be sad. Folk’s are always gonna seek you first.”

Tempy let out a squeal. “This means you can stay! You won’t be going home!”

Lord, Thou hast shewed me Salt Lick ain’t home anymore. Thou hast been a-changin’
my heart and mind all this time
.

“You belong here,” Tempy chattered on. “Obie, Hezzy, and Mike have been champing at the bit to bring you back from Chance Ranch. This here cabin’s to be yours.”

“See?” Eunice beamed. “Yore sister’s right. You belong here.”

“No, she doesn’t,” a deep voice said from the doorway.

“Now ain’t that a fine howdy-do.” Eunice gave him a sour look. “Our Lovejoy’s been a-workin’ her fingers to the bone for yore kin and—”

“Eunice, hobble your mouth,” Tempy said, nudging her away.

“I’d like to speak with you.” Daniel directed his words at Lovejoy then cast a meaningful glance at the others. “Privately.”

Lovejoy slipped off the stool.

Tempy stepped in front of her big sister. “She’ll be out directly.”

“If she wants to,” Lois tacked on, then rudely shut the door in Daniel’s face.

Daniel stood there and grinned. He’d grown up with five rowdy brothers and knew that stubborn, protect-our-own look. Well, he’d let them have one last time to do it, because after this, Lovejoy was going to be his.

Minutes passed.

Daniel scowled. He could hear soft murmurs from the other side of the door, and he started considering the possibilities of either banging on the door or eavesdropping at the window.
What’s taking so long?

The door opened, and a woman stood there. For a moment he barely recognized Lovejoy. It was her, all right, in her peachy-colored dress. But her eyes and red nose tattled she’d been crying. And her hair—the MacPherson women all standing behind her had messed with her hair. Instead of her customary plait that danced along her spine or slipped over her shoulder and hung to her waist, they’d taken out the braid and twisted sections and pinned them into a cameo-sort-of look.

A virulent rush of red flooded Lovejoy’s face, and she slammed the door shut again.

Dan shoved it open and plowed past Eunice and Lois, who clucked like a pair of upset hens, to get to Lovejoy. She stood in the center of the cabin, back turned toward him as she tore out the hairpins. He stepped behind her, stilled her hands, and murmured, “Let me.”

One by one, he slid the pins from her hair and let them ping on the plank floor. Tempy patted his back, then she and the others scooted out the door. Lovejoy shuddered as he pulled out the last pin.

Forking his hands through her hair, he purred, “That’s more like it.” He crushed the thick waves in his palms then combed his fingers through the length. “There. Better.”

She sidestepped and yanked her hair over her shoulder. Quickly dividing it into three portions, she muttered, “Couldn’t convince them. No use trying to prettify—”

He pressed his fingers over her mouth. “You’re right.”

She tried to blink away moisture in her eyes.

“There’s no use trying to prettify a woman who’s already perfect.”

Beneath his fingers, her lips parted in shock. He brushed his thumb across her lower lip. “I planned to take the months until Delilah had her baby to court you. I thought I had plenty of time to take things slow and easy.”

“Court me?” Hope flickered in her eyes.

“But I’m not about to be separated from you—not even by a single fence. I’m taking you home with me. Today.”

Suddenly, all the color in her face drained away.

Daniel chuckled and wrapped an arm about her waist. He’d shocked her speechless.

Lovejoy shook her head. Tears started to seep down her face, yet she leaned into him.

Daniel wouldn’t figure out what was going through her mind, but something told him these weren’t tears of happiness. He was sure of his feelings for her.
Did I speak too soon? Rush her when she needed that slow courting? Maybe that time was more important than I knew after her father and husband treated her so badly
. “Sweetheart, if you just want a little time—”

Despair filled her voice. “It cain’t be.”

“Anything’s possible when you love someone.” Whatever the problem, he’d solve it. Daniel refused to let anything come between them.

Pain flickered across her face.

“Salt Lick Holler doesn’t need you like I do. To the depths of my soul, I swear that’s the truth.”

“ ’Tisn’t that at all. Widow Hendricks is trainin’ up a new gal to holp.”

He glided his hand along her neck and slipped his fingers into her hair until he cupped her head and tilted her face up to his. “Then stay here. Be my wi—”

“No!”

Daniel stared at her in stunned silence.

She tried to pull loose of his hold, but he held her fast. “What’s wrong?”

“Yore offerin’ me every dream I could ever have, but I cain’t give you what you deserve.” Her face crumbled and anguish filled her voice. “Men want sons.”

“Sons? What does that have to do with me loving you?”

“I’m barren, Dan’l.” The confession left her sobbing. “Widow Hendricks…Hattie… men and sons.”

Broken words poured out of her broken heart. Daniel couldn’t stand it. He dipped down and pressed his lips to her mouth to silence them. For a moment, she clung to him, then she tried to push away.

“Shhh.” He held her tight.

“I won’t ask you to sacrifice—”

“I want a wife, not a brood mare.” He tilted her face up to his. “I want you, Lovejoy. I love you.”

“But sons,” she moaned.

“With five brothers, Chance Ranch is bound to have plenty of boys running around. We already have Caleb and Tobias. Even if they’re the only ones, we can hire help. I’ve got you, and I’ve got my daughters. I’m more than blessed.”

“You really feel that, Dan’l?”

His lips hovered a breath away from hers. “I lost my heart to you.”

Wonder and hope lit her features. “It really don’t matter to you?”

“The only thing that matters is, God brought us together.”

A soul-deep sigh shuddered through her, and she cuddled close. “Truly, Dan, I love you.”

“Be my wife.”

“Yes.” She barely whispered her breathless assent, and he pressed his lips to hers.

The very next Sunday, Daniel pulled Lovejoy into his arms and kissed her again.

“Daddy, you’re ’posed to do that after Parson Abe tells you to. It’s at the end, not now,” Polly scolded.

“I can’t believe it’s drizzling.” Delilah handed Lovejoy her bouquet. Eunice and Lois both picked up Daniel’s daughters to carry them into the barn where they always held church during bad weather. As matron of honor, Tempy stooped to gather up Lovejoy’s skirts so they wouldn’t become muddy on the trek to her wedding.

“I’ve got her.” Daniel swept her into his arms.

“Oh, looky there, Dan’l! We got us a rainbow on our wedding day!”

He stopped in the middle of the yard, looked at the expanse of color, then grinned at his bride. “And it’s not one stripe short.”

CHANCE ADVENTURE

by Kelly Eileen Hake

Dedication

To my mother, who has supported me through every word I’ve written since
I learned the alphabet and encouraged me to pursue a career in writing
.
Without her guidance, patience, wisdom, and passed-on love of literature, this book wouldn’t exist
.
Thank you, Mommy. I love you
.

The herbs mentioned in this book were carefully researched and authentic to the era. Some have since been found to be questionable or even dangerous. In no way do I advocate the use of any herb, medication, or curative without checking first with your medical doctor.

Chapter 1

L
ogan Chance rubbed his sore legs and groaned before pulling off his boots. Hard days in the saddle had never fazed him before his older brothers all suddenly decided to make him an uncle. Not four years ago, the six Chance men had had their hands full with just Polly and Ginny Mae—or so they’d thought. Now, thanks to Miriam, Alisa, and Delilah, they sported no fewer than nine little bundles of joy. It would be ten any day now—not counting the MacPhersons’ growing brood, which ended up on Chance Ranch more often than not. Seventeen children, and each one demanding a “horsie” ride from Uncle Logan as soon as they could talk.