The Brides of Chance Collection Part 63

Miriam looked at Delilah and Alisa. "Do either of you have any fabric? Lovejoy's dresses are in tatters."

"I'm doing nothing but sitting around." Alisa perked up. "I can sew for her."

"I'm goin' to town." Bryce propped his elbows on the table. "I suppose I could get material."

Dan nearly choked on his coffee.

Logan hooted as the women exchanged horrified looks.

"Mrs. White would help me," Bryce muttered.

"Fine. Have her help you." Dan nodded curtly. "Get something pretty-orange and flowery." He stood abruptly, suddenly feeling ridiculous. As if to provide an excuse, he tacked on, "She won't take payment for healing my girls. At least this way I can cover my debt."

Paul elbowed Delilah. "We owe her, too. Are you going to be picky about the color?"

"I'll go along and see what she has."

The table conversation ebbed and flowed. Daniel ignored it and secretly hoped Lovejoy hadn't gotten lost. The woman didn't seem to possess much of a sense of direction. By midmorning he couldn't stand it anymore. Lovejoy hadn't returned-he'd been keeping a lookout for her and determined it was time he tracked her down. What if a snake bit her or she fell and got hurt?

Daniel followed her tracks. It wasn't hard at all. Lovejoy wore st.u.r.dy, albeit badly worn, boots. The Chance women all had dainty lady's shoes that left narrow heel imprints; Lovejoy's small footprint was the only one with a broad heel. It wasn't long before he discovered where she'd gone.

Her gunnysack bulged with whatever she'd harvested, and a pail of berries sat beside it, but for the first time ever, he saw Lovejoy sitting still. The woman was always in motion-working, helping, rocking a baby. Even for church, she'd either play her dulcimer or keep one of his girls content on her lap. The oldest mutt they had lay with his head in her lap, but she wasn't stroking him. Something was wrong.

Chapter 16.

Lovejoy?"

Her posture straightened, but she didn't turn around.

Dan hastened closer and noticed the distinctive motion a woman used to secretly wipe away tears. "Did you get hurt?"

She shook her head and wouldn't meet his gaze.

Dan couldn't very well ignore her red eyes and tearstained face. He didn't know what to say, though. Talk is overrated. He'd forgotten his father's tenet until now, but it fit. Sometimes talk just didn't suit the situation and wouldn't improve it any.

Dan sat beside Lovejoy under the tree, reached over, and silently pulled her into the lee of his body. It was a bittersweet time, her resting against him, neither of them saying a word. Somehow they were sharing the deep hurts of life. After a while, Lovejoy took a deep breath, but he didn't let go. "Some days are rougher than others, aren't they?"

She nodded.

"I got mouthy last night when you were trying to be kind. I said harsh words, and it made things harder for you. It's not you. It's me."

Well, isn't that just the way G.o.d works? She'd just about given up hope of being around Daniel-not in a romantic way but just as a friend-and here he'd sought her out, waded in the creek of sorrow along with her, and given consolation. Pa and her husband always blamed her, told her everything was her fault. Here Dan sat a-sayin' 'twas his doing.

"I get upset, and I chop wood." He cupped her head to his chest. "You can't go tromping off when you're uneasy. It just isn't safe. I'll put a bench by the tree at the curve in the creek. You can go sit there when you need a spell."

She eased away from him. " 'Tisn't necessary. I won't be stayin' all that long, Dan'l."

"I'll do it because I want to." He brushed her cheek with his thumb. "Now let's take you home."

When she stood, her hair unraveled more. Only a soiled dove went about with her hair all wild. Lovejoy grabbed it, quickly twisted it, and jammed a twig through to keep the heavy tresses at her nape.

Daniel pulled it out. "Don't go putting an ugly stick in such pretty hair."

Lovejoy couldn't think of a reply to make to such an outrageous comment. Daniel had just proven himself to be a man who could own up to his flaws and share someone's sorrows without prying. For him to pay her a compliment was like...well, sort of like sprinkling sugar atop a pie even though it wasn't needed. She smiled at that thought because Daniel's flattery was especially sweet. No one else had ever spoken a word of praise about her appearance. She'd cherish those words for the rest of her days.

Once they got back to the barnyard, Dan followed her into the house. "Miriam, how are we set for ribbons?"

"The girls have plenty. Why?"

"Lovejoy needs some for her plait." He turned to leave then said over his shoulder, "And don't go trying to put it up all fancy."

As the day progressed, Lovejoy heard him sawing and hammering. Late in the afternoon he popped Ginny Mae onto his shoulders. "Polly, take Lovejoy's hand and come see what Daddy did."

They walked to the bend in the creek, and Lovejoy let out a cry of surprise. Dan grinned at her. When he said he'd put a bench there, she simply a.s.sumed he'd drag one of the benches they kept in the barn and used for church meetings. Only the church benches didn't have a back to them.

"You built those!" He'd not built one small bench or chair by the tree; he'd made three benches.

"Yep. You're going to stay until the babies are born, so it's only right that there are seats for when your sister and friends come to visit."

"Oh, Dan. Thankee."

"Nothin' better than fresh air and suns.h.i.+ne to perk up a body." Lovejoy sat back on her heels and lifted her face to the sky. "Ever think on how G.o.d made light first?"

"Can't say that I have." Delilah dusted off her hands. "Until this year, I didn't even believe in Him. It's a wonder they took me in. I couldn't cook, garden, or pray."

"Seems to me you've learnt plenty." Lovejoy reached over and patted Delilah's tummy. "And you're gonna be a good mama and teach your young'un all those things."

"You'll have to teach me that trick you used so Miriam's baby sleeps through the night."

"Time did that, I didn't. A babe's born wee little, so his belly cain't hold much. Give him three, mebbe four moons, and he fills up right fine and cain make it through. Caleb's next fit'll come when he's a-fixin' to cut teeth. I'll check in that book your man give me. See if 'n there's sommat growin' hereabouts to holp with that."

"We have plenty of time," Miriam said.

"Not by my reckonin'. I aim to spend the next week or so gathering." Lovejoy plucked a sprig of mint, dusted it off on her sleeve, popped it between her teeth, and bit. The taste burst in her mouth. "Moon's on the rise, so the flow tide in the stems will make the flowers and leaves best to pluck."

"Daniel's likely to throw another fit if you go out at night." Delilah giggled. "He about pounded a hole in our door when he couldn't find you."

"I have to agree with him," Miriam defended. "It didn't seem wise to go out on a moonless night."

"Dark is when the roots are strongest." Lovejoy shrugged. "It's jist a fact-like putting in the root vegetables for cold seasons and above-the-ground crops during summer. There's still plenty of room in the loft for me to dry things. I'm trying to put by plenty for Tempy and for you folks as well as gather up stores for folks back home."

"Won't the lady who's filling in for you do that for the people in Salt Lick?" Alisa sat in the shade. The curls around Ginny Mae's face danced in the breeze Alisa's fan stirred up.

"Widow Hendricks is nigh unto fifty. She's got rickety bones and her back's twistin' like a gnarled tree."

"If you show us what you need, we can help gather," Delilah offered.

"Might be I'd take Miriam up on that offer, but you and Alisa cain't go a-traipsin'. Reckon I could talk you folks into lettin' me have one of them empty crates to fill up and take back with me?"

"We'll fill it up and send it back by train," Alisa decided. "That way the Widow Hendricks can have whatever she needs on hand, and you won't worry about leaving." She swished the fan again and sighed. "How can I possibly be so tired? All I've done is sit around all day."

"That's a sign you need to be abed." Lovejoy got to her feet. "Like it or nay, that's just the fact." She walked over and eased Ginny Mae's head onto the blanket they'd spread on the ground near the garden and reached down to help Alisa up. "I'll go get Alisa situated. Miriam, think you could start lunch? 'Lilah cain keep an eye on these here la.s.sies. I worry lest a snake slithers up on 'em whilst they sleep."

"She's never seen you toss your knife, Delilah," Alisa teased.

"I'll see to lunch." Miriam headed toward the main house. "Alisa, you lolly-gag and dawdle."

"I can't bear just lying around while you all work."

Miriam laughed. "You did the hard work and made me rest when I carried Caleb. Now the shoe's on the other foot."

"What foot?" Alisa muttered.

Delilah glanced down at Alisa's hem. Her face went taut for a moment, then she shot Lovejoy a quick look. "Alisa, you're not making this easy. We want Lovejoy to fuss over you instead of finding more to do. The woman never rests."

"Best you start a-prayin' for forgiveness after telling that falsehood, Delilah." Lovejoy waggled her finger. "I niver slept like I do here. Why, I'm like a queen in that fancy above-the-ground bed!"

"If a bed makes a woman a queen, then why am I barefoot?" Alisa looked down then made a wry face. "I can't see my feet."

A few minutes later Lovejoy set a basin down on the floor and guided Alisa's feet into it. "Soakin' in that water'll cool you off and holp the swollin' go down."

"That's what t.i.tus said last night. He's taken to was.h.i.+ng my feet at bedtime." Alisa got teary-eyed. "He said Jesus served those He loved by doing the same thing."

"You got yourself a fine man. Loves you. That's a blessing beyond words."

As Lovejoy lifted Alisa's feet onto a towel in her lap, Alisa whispered thickly, "I'm worried."

Lovejoy looked up at her. "I niver saw the right in fibbin' to rea.s.sure folks. I'm not pleased with how yore farin', and that's a fact. I aim to put you abed and keep you there."

"Will my baby be okay?"

"G.o.d willin'."

"t.i.tus left last night."

Daniel's blood ran cold at Gideon's so-called greeting when he and the girls arrived at breakfast.

Miriam poured coffee in the mugs on the table. "Alisa's no worse, but t.i.tus couldn't bear to wait till this morning to go."

Dan was so sure of his next statement, he didn't even look around to confirm the fact. "Lovejoy's with Alisa."

"I wanna go be with them. We played tea party on Auntie 'Lisa's bed yesterday, Daddy."

Dan hunkered down and held Polly's hands. "Aunt Alisa is sick, and Lovejoy needs to pay attention to her. No more visiting until the baby is born."

Delilah put a dish of scrambled eggs on the table. "How about if you girls paint a picture with me today? We can have Uncle t.i.tus hang your picture up in their cabin so Auntie 'Lisa knows you miss her."

"That's a great idea." Dan pasted on a smile. "You love to make pictures with Aunt Delilah."

"Auntie Miri-Em and Auntie 'Lisa don't make pitchers; they sew." Ginny Mae worked with her hand a moment and held up two chubby fingers. "Miss Lovejoy gots two new dresses tomorrow."

Delilah smiled. "We gave them to her yesterday. Just wait till you see her in them. She's downright pretty."

"Pretty is as pretty does." Polly singsonged the adage.

"Then Lovejoy's beautiful," Miriam said.

Daniel didn't comment, but he had to agree. The woman had a heart of gold. He just hoped her skill would be sufficient for the task that lay ahead.

With t.i.tus gone, the brothers rea.s.signed ch.o.r.es to cover for him. Knowing he needed to keep his hands busy to stay sane, Dan volunteered to do the hardest, dirtiest tasks. Miriam had packed lunches for the men as usual. He had to give her credit- whatever she packed was always tasty and filling. But today he didn't have much appet.i.te. He knew how t.i.tus must be feeling-that sick dread in the pit of his stomach, knowing his wife and child's lives hung in the balance.

After dragging a stubborn calf out of a mud bog at the edge of the creek and wrestling another from a thicket of scrub oak, Dan's patience had been tested to the limit. Logan was no better. He'd gotten thrown from his horse when it got skittish because a rabbit bolted from its warren. By the time they rode in for supper, Dan figured his clothes could stand up in the corner once he shucked them, and he'd best sluice off and change for supper. But first he needed to know how Alisa and t.i.tus were.

Dan caught sight of t.i.tus standing outside his cabin.

"He looks worse than the two of us put together," Logan murmured.

Dan halted Cooper and dismounted. Without saying a word, he stepped in front of t.i.tus and yanked him into a tight embrace.

"Doc's in there with her," t.i.tus said as he squeezed back.

"How long have you been home?" Logan asked.

"About two minutes."

Dan finally eased his hold. He stepped back but kept his hands on t.i.tus's shoulders. Looking him up and down, he growled, "Let's get you cleaned up. No use in your wife seeing you looking as bad as the road you've been on."

t.i.tus didn't want to leave the doorstep, but Dan and Logan dragged him off. None of the usual brotherly teasing filled the air. Five minutes later, with t.i.tus washed up and wearing clothes he borrowed from one of his brothers, Dan walked him back to see what the doctor had to say.

They'd barely made it back to the porch when the door opened. The doctor came out, and the look on his face made Dan's heart drop to his knees.

"We'd best speak in private," the doctor told t.i.tus.

t.i.tus shook his head.

"I'm sorry. There's no hope for me to save both of them. You have to decide who you want to save. I can perform a cesarean tonight and save your wife, but the child's too small and won't survive. Women with this syndrome can worsen in a matter of hours. If she grows worse, she won't pull through. You can wait and...ahem...rescue the baby on the slim chance that your wife can last a few more weeks."