The Brides of Chance Collection Part 12

"Did my daddy and mama hug?"

"Yes. They loved each other very, very much. Now you have a nice nap and hold Dolly tight."

With the girls situated, Miriam and Gideon went back to the main room. Miriam let out a sigh as she checked the sadirons on the stove.

"You're tired. Why don't you rest while the girls nap?"

"It's not that." Tears filled her pretty green eyes. "Polly's never going to have the security of seeing Hannah and Daniel embracing."

"Shh." He tugged her away from the stove. "Remember? That's one of the reasons you need to be here for them-to teach them those little things. You're not just s.h.i.+ning G.o.d's light, sweet pea; you're s.h.i.+ning light to keep the girls from growing up ignorant and backward."

The rest of the day pa.s.sed, and they all gathered outside for Bible reading. Miriam caught Gideon giving her a baffled look, and her cheeks went hot with guilt. She hadn't been paying much attention to what t.i.tus read because Gideon's words kept humming through her mind. He'd not just come to accept her here-he'd admitted she belonged and was fulfilling a special calling.

As they broke up after Paul said a prayer, Bryce said, "Betcha we have us a nice, short, misty rain tonight."

Miriam headed toward her cottage, but Gideon stopped her short. "You all that tired?"

"Not really. I was going to crochet or sew a bit."

The left side of his mouth canted upward. "You've been sticking close to home. Why don't we just walk a bit?"

Surprised, she allowed him to lead her along the property toward a stand of cedars. "Smells like heaven to me."

"Looks like heaven, too."

Something about his tone made Miriam glance up. Gideon was looking at her- not at the path. I have to stop this. He's just being a friend. I can't twist his agreement into a compliment. I can't moon over him or make a fool of myself and ruin what we've started.

"Look to your left," he murmured.

A doe and fawn ventured from behind a tree.

"Polly would enjoy this. If it weren't her bedtime, we could have brought her along." She hoped bringing up the girls would get her mind back where it belonged.

"She'd scare 'em away. She's so noisy, there isn't a creature G.o.d made that'll come close to her. Even the dogs keep their distance."

"And I thought Logan wouldn't take her fis.h.i.+ng because he was afraid she'd drown!"

"There is that," Gideon agreed. Even in the failing light, she could see the twinkle in his eyes. "Then, too, wherever Polly goes, her baby sister toddles right after. In case it escaped your notice, Ginny Mae seems to enjoy eating the worms instead of leaving them for bait."

Laughter bubbled out of Miriam. For being such a big, brick wall of a man, Gideon Chance hid a well-honed sense of humor and a wellspring of tenderness.

Their conversation and her laughter sent the deer scampering. Miriam let out a sigh. "I didn't stay any quieter than Polly would have."

"I've been seeing deer day in and day out for years; 'til you came, I hadn't heard a woman's laughter in ages."

He led her along a bit farther and paused here and there for her to step over a root or to lift her over a stump. His hands were sure and strong, and when he finally left her at the door to her cabin, Miriam felt bereft as she slid from the shelter of his hold.

"Good night, Gideon. Thank you for the stroll."

"We'll have to do it more often."

"I'd like that." She slipped into her cabin and latched the door. Leaning against the closed door, she listened to him walk off. Oh, Gideon, I'd really like that. She thought about getting ready for bed, but the joy of that evening stroll had her wide awake. Sitting on her bed, crocheting, held absolutely no appeal. Miriam decided to slip over into the main house so she could fetch the Farmer's Almanac. With the climate here so different, she wanted to study when the best planting time was for various garden crops.

As she headed toward the house, Miriam noted lights still shone in the main room, so she blew out her own candle. No use wasting it. The door stood ajar, and Bryce's hearty chuckle came through. Miriam reached out to push open the door, but she froze when he said, "So she's takin' the bait, huh, Gideon? Imagine that. Drawing straws might not have been the best way to figure out who ought to marry up with her-"

Chapter 15.

Miriam didn't wait to overhear another word. Hand pressed to her mouth, she fled back to her cabin.

Eavesdroppers never hear well of themselves. Mama's oft-times spoken homily taunted Miriam. She hadn't intended to eavesdrop, but she'd definitely gotten an earful. Even in those few seconds, she'd heard more than enough to keep her miserable for the remainder of her days. These barbaric brothers had drawn straws to see who had to wed her? Who were they, to treat her like chattel? Then again, what was so very wrong with her-what did she lack-that not one of them felt she'd make a suitable mate? They drew straws for her hand-an unwanted bride.

So that's why Gideon's been hanging around the house so much more. Well, no one's going to get stuck with me. I'll refuse his proposal. I won't make a fool of myself, mooning over a man who gets saddled with me because he happened to- She yanked the pins from her hair and cast them onto the washstand. None of them truly wanted her-not even Gideon. Especially not Gideon.

She grabbed her hairbrush as her hair tumbled in disarray about her shoulders. He partic.i.p.ated in the travesty of drawing straws for my hand?

Ruthlessly pulling the brush through her hair, Miriam looked at her reflection in the small mirror. I'm not about to make a fool of myself, mooning over a man who figured he had to be honorable but doesn't really want me. It's better to discover Gideon's obligation now rather than to continue to believe a fairy tale I spun for myself. Her hair crackled as the boar bristles raked the full length over and over again.

G.o.d, I don't understand why they'd do this. Thou knowest the desires of my heart. Please, Lord, change my heart. Don't let me have feelings for a man who doesn't hold true regard for me.

"What happened to Miriam?" Paul whispered the words to Gideon as Miriam took Ginny Mae into the other room for a diaper change.

Gideon winced and shrugged.

"I told you she'd get on our nerves," Daniel rumbled as he shoved away from the table. He cast a look at the doorway and slapped his hat on his head. Ginny Mae was in the middle of a stream of happy-sounding baby babble, and Miriam seemed to be understanding a good portion of it. Daniel turned back for a quick moment, gave Gideon a dark look, then left.

" 'Member when Mama used to get a bee in her bonnet?" t.i.tus leaned forward and swiped the last biscuit. "She'd get this same way."

"What's she got to be riled over?" Logan said. "Gideon's been a regular swain round her."

Paul snorted. "That's the problem." t.i.tus and Logan snickered.

"She's not riled." Bryce splashed coffee from the pot over his cup and onto the table. "Why, Miriam is just bein' her usual sweet self." He tossed a dishcloth onto the table and did a slapdash mop-up job.

"Hush." Gideon hoped Miriam wouldn't wonder what all the whispering was about. He raised his voice a bit. "Any more eggs left?"

"Nope. Dan ate the last spoonful." t.i.tus tilted the bowl to prove his point.

Miriam came back into the room with Ginny Mae in her arms. "I'll be happy to scramble more."

"No need." Gideon stood. "Bryce, Roland is bringing part of a steer today. I want you to fix up the barbecue pit. Daniel will bring wood over to you."

Miriam wouldn't look him in the eye, and Gideon couldn't figure out why she acted so...different this morning. She'd twisted her hair up same as always and wore one of her old, ugly dresses, so she ought to look the same, but her smile seemed forced as she started to clear the table. "Anyone have something special they'd like me to fix for Sunday supper?"

"Chocolate cake," Bryce voted.

"Pudding, please," Polly requested.

"Since you're asking-" t.i.tus began.

"Hold your horses." Gideon glowered at them. "Miriam's going to fix whatever suits her fancy. She's not here to dance a jig to your tunes."

Miriam turned to carry the dishes to the sink. "It's no problem for me to make what someone might want."

"I do have a hankering for-"

Gideon silenced t.i.tus with a look. "I'm sure whatever Miriam makes will be delicious. We need to get to work."

"Paul? Could you please bring me your blue s.h.i.+rt? I noticed it needs to be mended." Miriam dipped hot water from the stove reservoir to use for dish was.h.i.+ng.

By supper, a platter heaped with steaming chicken-fried steaks drew the men to the table. Gideon frowned at the empty place beside him. "Come eat, Miriam."

"Oh, I already ate an early supper with the girls." She busied herself, pumping water into a pail.

"What are you doing?"

"Sat.u.r.day bathwater, right?" Paul guessed.

"Yes." She flashed a smile over her shoulder.

Gideon pushed away from the table and stalked across the kitchen. He hefted the bucket of water and thumped it onto the stove, then filled another pail and placed it on the stove, as well. "Ask for help with that, Miriam. It's too heavy for you."

"Nonsense." She dried her hands off on the hem of her ap.r.o.n and headed toward the other room. "Come along, my little poppets." Polly scampered in her wake, and Ginny followed with the eager, flat-footed patter only a baby in a full diaper could manage.

Splashes and giggles from the bedroom made it clear the girls enjoyed bath time. Gideon still scowled at his full plate. Somehow, with Miriam absent, the meal didn't appeal to him half as much. When the splas.h.i.+ng ended, he fully expected Miriam to reappear.

He was wrong.

"Hey." Logan elbowed him. "I asked for the applesauce."

"Oh. Here." Gideon shoved the bowl into his brother's hands. The meal was over before Miriam and the girls reappeared. Both girls wore nightgowns Miriam had made from feed sacks that bore little bitty chickens all over them. Ginny Mae's baby curls fluffed out like duck down.

"Lookit me!" Polly twirled around.

"What happened to your head?" Bryce squinted at her.

"Auntie Miri-Em sticked rags in my hair. I'm going to have pretty curls."

"I'll tuck them in bed if you'd like to take your bath now, Daniel." Miriam stooped down to fuss with Ginny's sleeve.

"No. I tuck my girls in." Daniel cast a glance at his brothers. "They can keep an eye on my daughters for me."

"Not 'til after you do supper dishes." t.i.tus plopped down on the floor and tickled under Polly's chin. "It's your turn to dry the dishes, Dan. I'm was.h.i.+n' tonight."

"Dishes are a woman's job," Dan said through gritted teeth.

"You didn't say that when Hannah was here." Paul's words made everything in the room go still. "We all pitched in and did dishes back then."

"Miriam's done plenty enough already." Gideon stared at Daniel. "She's washed and ironed everyone's clothes for church tomorrow. She's cooked and cleaned, gardened, and minded your children."

"Mended my s.h.i.+rt, too," Paul added.

The door clicked shut. Gideon wheeled around and discovered Miriam had slipped out.

"Miriam, this is Dr. Pendergast." Reba White fluttered her fan with skill any Southern belle would admire. "Dr. Pendergast, may I present you to Miss Miriam Hanc.o.c.k."

The doctor swept off his gray bowler and bowed quite elegantly. "A pleasure, Miss Hanc.o.c.k."

Miriam watched him straighten up and wondered why a man of such n.o.ble and lucrative profession would be attired in such ill-fitting clothes. She'd been reared not to judge a man by his appearance, but something struck her as being wrong.

"I'm pleased to have an opportunity to speak with a physician. With the girls so small, and-"

"Oh no. That's not it at all." Reba giggled. "He's a phrenologist, dear. I told him he simply must examine your head to be sure that b.u.mp you received upon your arrival didn't cause you any harm."

"I've worried 'bout that," Logan confessed. "I didn't mean to brain you, Miriam. You know I didn't."

"I'm fine. Truly I am."

"It would be wise to have a professional ascertain that." Dr. Pendergast started to remove his dove gray gloves.

"I don't-"

"It won't take much time, and it won't hurt at all."

"How much does it cost?" Bryce stuck his hand into his pocket. To Miriam's consternation, he pulled out half a dozen screws and nails. He pursed his lips and shook his head. "Heard the jingle. Forgot it wasn't cash money."

"Bryce, please don't put those back into your Sunday-best pants. They'll ruin the pocket."

He'd already started. As a nail hit the earth by his boot, a sheepish look crossed his face. "Oops. Too late."

"It's not a problem, young man. I can tell from here. See?" The phrenologist ran his fingers over the back of her head. "This is the area denoting domesticity. Miss Hanc.o.c.k is endowed with a veritable ridge in this location."

"Uh-oh." Logan's face turned an odd combination of green and purple. "Does that mean when I brained her, it broke her head?"

"That has yet to be ascertained. Come now, Miss Hanc.o.c.k. It's far better if you sit for your reading."

"Yes, Miriam. You must!" Reba half-dragged her to a chair.

Before she knew what happened, Miriam was sitting on a bench and had her hair streaming down her shoulders and back. Dr. Pendergast's fingers skated over her scalp. She s.h.i.+vered and tried to pull away. "I must insist you cease this." Miriam wiggled. "Logan, I don't believe in this. It's a dark art, and I won't be a part of it."

"Young lady, this is medical science." Dr. Pendergast kept his palm atop her head and continued to slip the fingertips of his other hand along her head. "The apostle Luke was a physician."