The Brides of Chance Collection Part 42

"You'd better not," Paul warned.

" 'Course not," Scudd agreed quickly, falling back a step.

Satisfied, Paul turned to face the rest of the town. "We've been through this enough times you all should know better. Any woman under our roof is as good as family-"

"I'll say, seein' as how they become family. You brothers are called Chance 'cause ya don't give anyone else a chance to catch a bride," Rusty complained. "Ya hog 'em all."

"Yeah. Seems to me like we can figger who's got an eye on this one," Ross challenged. "You gonna stake yer claim?"

Paul found himself on the receiving end of several accusing glares but refused to back down. "She's not a piece of land, and well you know it. Listen, she just lost her pa, so you all need to back off."

"So long as you play by the same rules."

Paul pushed back a twinge of guilt at the pointed comment.

"She's Miriam's cousin," Gideon added, "so I'll take it personally if she's bothered."

"And that means she's kin to my daughters," Daniel reminded all and sundry.

"So don't give us reason to ask you to leave," Paul finished.

"That's enough," Gus broke in. "I'm too old to waste what time I've got left listenin' to y'all argue. Now which one of you whippersnappers thinks he can take me on at horseshoes?"

That night, Daniel helped Paul take off his boots.

"Still in a temper, eh?" Daniel broke the silence.

"Just thinking." Paul shrugged, not liking the direction his brother was headed. He'd only heard that tone of voice from Daniel when he was talking to Polly or Ginny Mae. "I don't like every last man in the towns.h.i.+p circling around her like vultures."

"Well, it seems to me maybe you're doing the wrong thinking. Being sweet on a woman isn't supposed to turn you sour."

Paul looked at his brother in silent disbelief.

"Don't you give me that look. I'm different. It wasn't loving Hannah that took it out of me. It was losing her. And I'm telling you right now, you can't lose what you never had, so you've no call to be looking like somebody put a hole in your favorite hat."

That coaxed a smile from Paul. "Here I thought you were mad about how Delilah threw that knife."

"You got that right. Still, I can't in good conscience send Delilah off to any of the rabble lurking around today. She's one of ours now. And if you aim to keep it that way, you'd best do a bit less thinking and a lot more courting."

"Don't you think I want to?" Paul ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "I'm praying on it, but she isn't a believer, Dan. You know what the Bible says about being unequally yoked."

"What makes you think she doesn't believe?" Surprise colored Dan's words.

"We've spoken about it."

"I'm glad to see you haven't been sittin' on your hands this whole time, then. Let me tell you what I've learned, because I have something in common with little Miss Delilah. The Lord took loved ones from both of us. And as angry as I am with Him, and no matter how much I disagree with what He does, I still know He exists. I'm just not so sure He's worth trusting anymore. Delilah's the same way. She may not trust Him, but she believes He exists, whether she admits it or not."

Paul mulled that over for a minute. "So you really do believe in Him? You don't just tolerate it for Hannah's memory?"

"Look. This isn't about me. I'm just saying that Delilah's had a rough time of it, and you've got your work cut out for you. But if you're going to convince her to trust you and G.o.d, you can't look so surly. Besides," Daniel grumbled as he pulled up a blanket, "the sooner you manage it, the sooner I can get some peace and quiet."

"Mornin'." Any lingering goodwill Paul had toward the MacPherson brothers for their actions two days ago vanished like-well, like a biscuit set in front of one of them! This made the third time they'd shown up in only four days, and Paul was beginning to wish they'd never left Hawk's Fall. Things would be simpler if those brothers had stayed in Kentucky.

"Mornin'." He waited in silence, determined not to make this easy for them. They s.h.i.+fted in their saddles.

"Can we'uns have a word with Miz Delilah?" Hezzy failed to ease the tension. "We brung her summat."

Paul didn't like the sound of that. "Well, I'm sure she's busy right now, so how about I pa.s.s it along for you?"

Mike eyed him with a knowing glint. "I don' blame ya fer bein' less'n pleased ta clap eyes on us agin-you bein' clever folks an' all. Still, I reckon we can be civil 'bout this. Ya know we don't mean no harm and won' try an' take no privliges like some."

"Ya know we jist come to give her those seeds fer her garden," Obie protested, obviously missing the new turn of conversation.

Paul didn't like the sound of that at all. The garden was his and Delilah's-a thing shared and fostered like their relations.h.i.+p. Unfortunately, Paul had to admit, Mike had the right of it. The MacPhersons didn't have the best manners, but they did have cla.s.s where it counted.

"Why don't you come on in?" Paul invited and led them to the house, where they found the women making bacon sandwiches and fixing green beans.

"h.e.l.lo." Miriam looked up from the table where she worked with Polly on the alphabet.

"Good morning." Delilah smiled and wiped her hands on her ap.r.o.n before ringing the dinner bell.

"We brung ya this." Hezzy thrust a sack toward her.

"Thank you, but I really don't think I can accept it," Delilah said softly.

"How come? Mike says it's proper fer a fella ta take a lady flowers." Obie's brow furrowed.

"Oh, well, thank you." Delilah hesitantly accepted the sack. "This doesn't feel like flowers."

"That's 'cause they's better'n flowers. They's seeds from Meemaw's gardin back home." Hezzy beamed at her.

"I thunk on it when ya tol' us 'bout yer garden, Miz Delilah." Micah fiddled with his hat brim.

"That's so thoughtful." She smiled at all three of them. "But really, you should keep them so one day they'll brighten up your homes."

"Aw, no sense in that. We ain't got much skill fer growin' things. Someone ought to enjoy 'em. It'll do us good ta see sommat from Hawk's Fall, Miz Delilah."

"In that case, I'd be happy to grow some for you. When they bloom, you can take some home on Sundays," Delilah said graciously as the Chance brothers tromped in and started was.h.i.+ng up.

"Something wrong?" Gideon went straight to Miriam's side and looked at the MacPhersons.

"No, honey. The MacPhersons were just being neighborly and brought Delilah some seeds for the garden." Miriam turned to their guests. "And of course they'll be staying for lunch."

That does it, Paul resolved as Mike wrangled a seat on Delilah's other side. I'm making a second table.

Chapter 11.

As before, the MacPhersons dug into the meal with gusto. It really was sweet of them to bring her those seeds, but Delilah decided not to use them all. That way, when the brothers had wives of their own, she could give them back. Delilah certainly had no plans to become one of those women, though.

"You're lookin' mighty fine today, Miz Delilah." Micah almost sounded as though he'd practiced the compliment.

"Thank you." Delilah focused on her green beans.

"Yep. A bit long in the too-" Hezzy broke off as Obie jabbed him in the side with his elbow.

"But we ain't seen a gal so purty since the Trevor sisters back home." Rather than being offended, Delilah choked back laughter with her beans. Surely no woman had ever been faced with such earnest suitors as she!

"What'd they look like?" Logan perked up visibly.

"Oh, hair like a log afire," Obie reminisced.

"Eyes jist as s.h.i.+ny as a mud puddle," Hezzy added. "Nary one single gap from a tooth a-missin'." Delilah fought to keep a straight face at this high praise for the Trevor sisters. And to think, she had the honor of being the next prettiest woman they'd ever seen!

"Sweetest li'l thangs ya could ever hope ta see. Only saw 'em onc't, though."

"Are they nice?" Ginny Mae asked, obviously concerned with issues more important than physical beauty.

"O' course, li'l missy. Their uncle raised c.o.o.n dogs. That's how we met 'em, gettin' ole Bear. Right fine animal-worth the trip down ta the holler, let me tell you." Obie was clearly lost in his memories.

"If they have a way with animals, there's somethin' good inside them." Bryce nodded his approval.

"Sh.o.r.e as shootin'," Hezzy agreed. "Critters always know. 'Course, some critters are best in a pot."

"They made a fine mess o' squirrel stew. Made the meat so nice it almost tasted like possum." Obie took a swig of water.

"How come you didn't marry them?" Polly asked with a bluntness only a child could display.

"Aw, didn't have nothin' ta offer two fine wimmen like them," Hezzy explained. "That's why we'uns come here-ta make somethin' o' ourselves."

"And we done it." Mike leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. "Now we gots us a spread o' good land and cattle."

"How many Trevor sisters are there?" Paul asked Mike.

"Cain't say. I ain't never seen 'em," Mike scoffed.

"Two," Obie supplied.

"Anybody you liked better?" Daniel shot Paul a conspiratorial glance.

"Aw, I don' know."

Delilah was surprised to see the tips of Mike's ears turn red.

"Come on, we're all friends here," Miriam encouraged.

"Well, I suppose I've gotta soft spot for Miss Temperance. Her sister was the healer, and she'd come ta help Ma. Tempy would cook for us or sing to Ma ta pa.s.s the time. Smart, too. Got a good head on her shoulders."

"You've done well for yourselves," Paul joined in. "Why don't you write to them?"

"Mike's the only one as cain write any," Obie pointed out.

" 'Sides," Hezzy joined in, "they cain't read anywho."

"Tempy can," Mike said softly. " 'Sides, askin' a woman to travel away from her kin has ta be done proper-like. I cain't do that good."

His simple answer tugged at Delilah's heart. Mike obviously held Tempy in high esteem. These were good men, and they deserved good women. Maybe I can help.

"How about if I helped you write the letter? You just tell me what you want said."

"Hey, what about our'n?" Obie jabbed a thumb to indicate Hezzy.

"Well..." Delilah thought a moment.

"Couldn't we send it to Tempy and ask her to pa.s.s along the message?" Paul suggested.

"I reckon that jist might work." After a long silence in which both brothers thought so hard they looked strained, Obie agreed. "Mike?"

"It bears thinkin' on." Mike didn't say yes but seemed to be giving the idea serious consideration. "Are the both of ya set on those gals?"

"As the sun goes down of a mornin'," came Hezzy's solemn vow.

"The sun comes up in the mornin', but I know whatcha mean," Mike allowed. "Which one do ya each fancy?"

Obie and Hezzy stared at each other for a long minute. "Don't recollect their names, Mike."

"Eunice and Lois," Hezzy said.

"Oh, yeah. Tha' sounds 'bout right. Ya got a pref 'rence, Hezzy?" Obie generously inquired.

"Not sure I could tell the two apart, come ta thunk on it." Hezzy looked at Delilah. "That gonna be a problem?"

"Um..." She seriously wondered whether or not this would work. "I suppose if we worded it right, we could just say you two remember them fondly and would be honored if they'd come and join you in the hopes of matrimony."

"That do sound purty as a poem. D'ya reckon it'd work?" Hezzy beseeched Mike.

"No harm in tryin'." Mike sighed.

"Well, why don't you all think about what you'd like to say? If they're coming, we need to send for them soon enough so they can arrive before winter. Try to make it as personal as you can, and we'll write it up after you've had a chance to think on it."

"And pray!" Ginny Mae piped up. "Auntie Miri-Em always says to think and pray."