The Brides of Chance Collection Part 59

Chapter 11.

D an's wife died. Alisa's outburst shocked him. No one mentioned Hannah's pa.s.sing. Ever. He wouldn't put up with it. As if that wasn't bad enough, Lovejoy expected him to talk about it.

"If 'n a woman pa.s.ses on in the first ten days, it's the childbearing. That's why I'm askin'."

He managed to mumble something about two months.

Lovejoy plopped down, disentangled him from Alisa's terrified grasp, and pulled the weeping woman into her arms. "See? You've been worryin' for naught. May as well have yourself a fine caterwaul. Cleanses the heart. Dan'l, we'll see you at supper."

He got out of there fast. Never once had it occurred to him that by keeping silent about Hannah, he'd given Alisa cause for worry. Worry? Panic. Alisa was scared half out of her mind. Come to think on it, Paul went to fetch Delilah for Miriam so she'd have some support.

"Dan?" Miriam called to him from the girls' cabin. "I need to go get a few things. Would you mind staying with the kids?"

He paced to his cabin and frowned. "Sounds like you're catching what the kids have."

"No need to worry, Dan. I'll be fine. It's nothing much, and I have no doubt Lovejoy will concoct something to help me improve. I won't be but a minute; I need to fetch diapers for Caleb."

Dan thought about Alisa crying in Lovejoy's arms. "Diapers on the line ought to be dry by now."

Miriam smiled. "Lovejoy's mother should have named her Mercy. I declare, the woman has more compa.s.sion than anyone I've ever met."

Polly and Ginny Mae were growing restless at their dolly tea party and started dressing Shortstack in doll clothes. The kitten seemed remarkably tolerant of that indignity, so Daniel didn't put a stop to it. When Miriam returned with a stack of diapers, he left. Plenty of ch.o.r.es needed doing and kept his hands busy, but his mind stayed far busier.

He could say exactly-to the day-how long Hannah had been gone. Two years, one month, and three days. Some days it felt like it was just yesterday; other moments he felt as if he'd lived a lifetime since then. Day by day he made it through for his daughters' sake. Today, though, reality smacked him in the face. Everyone else was still doing things for his sake-not tasks or favors, but s.h.i.+elding him as if he weren't man enough to deal with his sorrow.

And I haven't been.

The thought staggered him. Grief was normal. Even Jesus wept when He learned of Lazarus's death. The emptiness inside wouldn't change, but Dan determined not to cause others sorrow because of it.

Hearing Lovejoy say anything past ten days probably wasn't related to the birthing released him of a burden he'd been carrying for more than two years now. Reba White was gone when Hannah went into labor with Ginny Mae, and Dan had to deliver their child. When Hannah didn't spring back after the birthing, he'd worried he'd done something wrong. But Lovejoy said she'd tended over a hundred births. Surely she would know whereof she spoke.

I've been troubled by that for years. The relief is unspeakable. He cast a glance back toward the house. Scrawny little Lovejoy's plainspoken words had lifted a burden from his shoulders that he'd carried for far too long. With his guilt a.s.suaged, the sorrow persisted...but it was almost bearable.

Alisa shouldn't have had to worry all these months. The least I can do is give her and Delilah peace of mind when it comes to them being in a motherly way. And I'm going to be certain Lovejoy stays to attend them when their time comes. She's got a merciful heart and a gentle touch. Add to that, she's capable. I'll do anything to safeguard my brothers' wives and make sure t.i.tus and Paul never carry the burden I have.

In the distance, he watched Lovejoy and Delilah take the wash off the clothesline. Delilah seemed to have perked up a bit. Having Lovejoy here was a good idea. She'd managed to rescue them all from a bad situation. I'll keep her here to be sure things go well.

Having her here is a disaster. Daniel glowered at Lovejoy two mornings later. He'd slept in his cabin last night and come to check the girls this morning. One look, and he'd been livid. Fortunately, the girls were well enough to go to the main house for breakfast, so he'd sent them ahead. Now he blocked Lovejoy's exit. "What were you thinking?"

She hitched her shoulder in a careless manner. "Things that need doin', need doin'. I've got me a strong back and willing hands."

"It doesn't give you the right to meddle." He gestured wildly at the girls' cabin. Since last evening, she'd rearranged the furniture, moved the dollhouse, and set a little box down by the washstand so the girls could splash around on their own. Lovejoy hadn't stopped there. She'd twisted and tied twigs to form a heart, then stuck little flowers in it and hung it up over the bed while tacking one of Delilah's paintings up on another wall.

"It didn't need doin'; it was unnecessary."

"Draft blowing 'neath the door used to keep some of the heat from radiating to their bed." She waved toward the little table and chair set the brothers had made for his girls. "Sun hits that table cheerful-like. It'll be easier on their eyes onc't they start readin' and cipherin'."

"There's time yet before then. You can forget feathering this nest, because you're not going to roost here."

Lovejoy laughed outright. "Roost?"

"We do fine, my daughters and I. We don't need another woman in our lives, so you can just march back to the MacPhersons'. They're interested in brides; I'm not."

"You're daft as a drunken duck if you figure I ever want to wed again. I got no need to."

He crooked a brow in disbelief.

"Think on it. I got me a marketable skill and make a fair living on my own. Fact is, you fetched me for holp, and holp is what I'm a-givin'. Since we've cleared the air, you cain just get out of my way, because I don't aim to scoot off until I'm satisfied everyone at Chance Ranch is on the mend."

Daniel stared at her.

She stared straight back. Amus.e.m.e.nt sparkled in her eyes.

"You're laughing at me."

Her head bobbed. "That's a fact. If 'n you come up with more of those crazy notions, I'll be in trouble. The yarb I use back home for pullin' a bent mind straight don't grow here."

"You're a pushy woman. I don't like pushy women."

"To my way of reckonin', Dan'l, you don't like most anybody. I seen you with your kin, and I seen you at Sunday wors.h.i.+p. Onliest man I ever knew who scowled more'n you was Otis Nye from back home. He done lost both legs in the War 'twixt the States, and he spends all his time carvin' wood into the ugliest owls ever seen. Has his cousin put them up on the barn to scare folks away, but I never saw the reason. Ain't a soul who wants to pay visits to such a cantankerous coot."

"Are you calling me cantankerous?"

She sucked in one cheek and chewed on it a second as she studied him then nodded. "Yup." She dusted off her hands as if she'd just handled a gritty task. "Now you gonna move so's I cain go holp with breakfast?"

He stepped aside and watched her go toward the house. She paused at Delilah's flower garden, plucked a few flowers and leaves that she promptly tucked into her ap.r.o.n pocket, and disappeared into the house.

There's nothing wrong with me, and I'm not cantankerous. As he reached to shut the cabin door, he caught sight of himself in the just-rearranged washstand mirror. He was scowling.

"I've been five days gone, and I cain scarce believe this is the same place." Lovejoy turned and looked about the MacPherson spread.

"We've been busy." Tempy gave her a hug.

"Hezzy turned over more ground," Eunice said, "and we put in even more of a garden."

"And just wait till you see my cabin." Lois took on a dreamy look. "Aunt Silk would swoon if 'n she got a gander at how fine it is."

Lovejoy laughed with delight. "It's a fine thing to hear all's goin' so well. So why don't you gals show me what you done in those cabins?"

"First off, we made sure to take care of the larder," Tempy said as she led her to the main cabin.

"Keep a man warm and fed, and he's happy," Eunice chimed in.

Lois giggled. "With them in the stable and us all in here, I don't think they're warm at all."

"And it's going to stay that way till you all speak your vows," Lovejoy said as she gave Lois a playful poke in the arm.

Tempy raced to the shelves in the cabin. "Look, Lovejoy. We got us nice dishes. We're going to set our men a fine table."

Lovejoy watched as the girls showed her what they'd gotten-flatware, mixing bowls, a generous supply of canning jars, and a sadiron. They'd laid in a wise selection of food, too. "My, you gals did yourselves proud."

"We prayed," Tempy said. "When you rode off with Daniel, we prayed for his kin, for our men, and to have wisdom so we'd be wise stewards and good wives."

"G.o.d surely answered your prayers."

"Can we show her the cabins now?" Lois could scarcely contain herself. "We ain't seen each others' yet. It just seemed like more fun to have a grand show."

"Let's look at yourn first." Lovejoy locked arms with her.

They went to Lois and Obie's. Lovejoy stood at the door in shock. "You got an above-the-ground bed!"

"Couldn't not," Eunice explained as she reverently ran her fingers over the carved oak headboard. "Miz White o'er at the mercantile, she made us a fine deal. Bed, dresser, and-she used a highfalutin name-*commode' came to fifteen dollars a set. Even included a ticking."

"Tempy told us to add clover to the hay to keep 'em smelling sweet."

Lovejoy cast a smile at her sister.

Tempy pointed at the blankets atop the bed. "Good, thick, wool covers."

"And the pillow slips you brung look fancy as cain be," Lovejoy praised.

They went to Eunice and Hezzy's cabin next. Lois got excited at the sight of the tintype of their parents. Lovejoy admired the pitcher hanging from a peg. "The daffodils on that are enough to cheer up any mornin'."

"The washbowl's just plain white." Eunice didn't look the least bit sad. "Unmatched sets was half the price. Bought me my verra own hairbrush and comb. Lois cain keep the old ones."

Finally, they ended up in the cabin that would belong to Tempy and Mike. Seeing the first two should have prepared Lovejoy for the last, but it hadn't. She stepped into what would be Tempy's bridal bower, and tears flooded her eyes.

"Mama's crown-of-thorns quilt!"

Tempy snuggled into her side. "You like it?"

"Oh, Temperance, it warms my soul. Mama would be so pleased."

"Mike has books, too." Tempy gazed at the shelf on the far wall with glee. Between them, they boasted nine books.

"Tempy, you brought good stuff from home." Eunice turned around. "Asa Pleasant whittles them swan-neck towel pegs, and that tatted dresser scarf couldn't have taken any room a-tall in your satchel. They make this place look dreadful fine."

"Lovejoy, will you weave me a flower wreath? I'd like one over there." Tempy indicated a spot on the wall not far from a crate she'd covered with a green calico feed sack and used as a table to hold a kerosene lantern.

"Surely I will." Lovejoy didn't mention she'd just made one over at Daniel Chance's; she was just glad this one would be a welcome addition.

She went back to the main house to help fix supper and only half listened to the list of things the girls rattled off. They'd bought ammunition so the men could hunt, kerosene, wicks, mola.s.ses, paraffin....

"So what do you think, Lovejoy?"

"Huh?" Lovejoy gave Lois a guilty look. "I confess, I got lost in my thoughts."

"I said, they built a smokehouse. Hezzy's takin' me huntin' tomorrow for blacktailed jackrabbits."

"Rabbit stew sounds mighty fine. I hope you come back with a whole slew of 'em."

"You're plum tuckered out, and we're talkin' your leg off." Tempy frowned. "You hungry?"

"Not in the least. I'm tired, though. Think I'll nap a bit." Accustomed to grabbing sleep when and where she could, Lovejoy curled up on a pallet in the corner and slipped off to sleep. The next thing she knew, a rooster crowed.

Tempy stirred and sat up. She turned and tucked the blanket back around Lovejoy's shoulders. "You sleep in. I'll see to breakfast."

Lovejoy thought to protest, then decided against it. She lay there and watched as her baby sister set to doing a woman's work. Her moves were sure and steady. Pride and pain warred in Lovejoy's heart.

Time's come. Time's come for me to let her fly. My baby sister's a full-growed woman, aglow with love. G.o.d, I'm askin' Thee to s.h.i.+ne on her and the other gals. Let the happiness they have now last a lifetime. I'm thankin' Thee for answerin' my supplications for them- that they'd come and find men who'd be good husbands. Thou art faithful, Lord. Now holp me as I turn loose of them. Amen.

Eunice and Lois got up, primped a moment, then went to work. All three of them moved quietly in deference to the belief that Lovejoy was still asleep. While Lois went to gather eggs, Tempy and Eunice planned two supper menus-one if Lois and Hezzy brought back rabbit, another if they didn't.

"I brung my b.u.t.ton tin. Obie's s.h.i.+rt was a-missin' a b.u.t.ton last night. You gonna mind if 'n he don't have on his s.h.i.+rt at breakfast so's I cain fix it? His other s.h.i.+rt's filthy."

"He can wear his Sunday best at the table," Tempy said in a muted tone. "We need to make our men new s.h.i.+rts."

Lovejoy squeezed her eyes shut tight to keep tears from overflowing. Tempy needed a new dress-really needed one; yet here she was, putting Mike's needs ahead of her own. Lovejoy had just enough of her own money to pay for her trip back home. Pa gave me money when we left....

Lovejoy didn't know precisely how much money he'd given her. He'd shoved it into her hand, and she'd been afraid of any of the pa.s.sengers on the train seeing her hold those greenbacks. Pretending to check on something in her medicine satchel, she'd stuffed the money into a small inside pocket. Since then she'd been so busy keeping an eye on the gals and on the folks over at Chance Ranch, Lovejoy hadn't troubled herself with seeing what she had.

Maybe if I'd have had me a new weddin' dress and spoken vows before a parson 'stead of having the judge pound his gavel and shoutin', "You're hitched," Vern might had honored our marriage.

Lovejoy sat up.

"You go on an' get a little more shut-eye." Tempy wagged a spoon at her.

"Eunice, will you please get me my medicine satchel?"

Tempy's eyes widened. "Are you ailing? Did they have something catchy?"

"No, no. I'm fine." Lovejoy took her satchel from Eunice and gently worked the clasp until it opened. She pulled the paper money out of the pocket, yet kept the bills inside the bag. No use raising hopes prematurely. Could be they were nothing more than bank notes from somewhere back home-and those would be useless out here.

Peeping down into the dim satchel, Lovejoy smoothed a bill and felt her heart plummet. The Confederate note wasn't worth the paper it was printed on. Good thing I didn't say anything to Tempy and get her hopes up for naught.

Her fingers curled into a fist, crumpling the bill. Lovejoy started to withdraw her hand, but her heart skipped a beat when she spied a different bill. Legal Tender Note. This one was a Legal Tender Note. One whole dollar...and another...and a two-dollar note, too! Four dollars. She should hold one back to pay for food on the way home, but three dollars ought to buy enough material and ribbons to outfit all three brides.

Lois came in, set down the egg basket, and started to laugh. "We'd best make it a good breakfast. The menfolk are unhappy."

"Then why are you laughing?" Eunice gave her sister a baffled look.

" 'Cuz from the sounds of the bellowin' in the barn, they was all a-tryin' to wash up. Someone didn't latch a stall right, and a horse come over and drank up the water in the basin!"

They all started laughing, and Lois plopped into a chair. "I don't know if it was Obie or Hezzy-" She gulped in a breath and finished. "But he threatened to shave the horse's tail!"