The Brides of Chance Collection (107 page)

“Thankee.” Daisy smiled up at him with gratitude and happiness. The warmth of her smile and the heat of her palm on his arm sparked something in him.

“Welcome,” Bryce responded gruffly before retreating to the safety of the barn, where he always knew what to do.

Lord, I can understand what to do with a horse or any other creature—how to put ’em at ease. So why am I at such a loss with the pretty little widow with her heartfelt smile?

Chapter 4

I
f I didn’t know any better, I’d think that man got flustered when I thanked him
, Daisy mused as Bryce disappeared from view.
He’s one of those men who likes to do for others but doesn’t know how to handle the appreciation afterward. It’s sweet—jist like the way he treats Jamie. It’s mighty nice of him to take an interest in my boy while he’s here. Jamie’ll never know his pa, but he cain relish bein’ ’round a man like Bryce, even iff ’n
’tis for but a brief time
.

Well, if he won’t take an honest thankee I’ll jist find another way to show my appreciation
. Daisy thought for a moment before remembering the way Bryce tucked into the apple pie she’d made last month.
I reckon he’s got a sweet tooth to match his nature. I’ll whip up some pudding for dessert today. He oughta enjoy that. Besides, it’s one of Jamie’s favorites
.

With her mind made up, Daisy left Miz Willow teaching Jamie his letters and walked into Logan and Hattie’s cabin. Her closest friend hadn’t had the time to settle into the home her man made for her before being whisked off to Louisville.
By the time
Hattie and Logan get back
, Daisy determined,
their cabin’ll be all fixed up and ready to be a home
.

She rolled up her sleeves and set to work. The addition wasn’t overly large, but it didn’t need to be. The cooking would still be done in the main cabin, and Logan married Hattie knowing full well she couldn’t bear any children. For the two of them, the cozy room would be a perfect fit.

A harp-backed washstand with a single drawer and small cupboard sat beneath a goodly sized window, where the sunlight would warm the wash water a bit. Another wall boasted a modest fireplace to heat the room. Logan’s new desk butted up against the third wall, and a real, above-the-ground bed nestled up to the wall this room shared with the main cabin.

But the pile of wedding gifts lay in the corner, waiting to put the finishing touches on the home. Daisy walked over and found the swan-neck clothing pegs.
These should be hung by the hearth, with winter coming on. Jist not too close
. She shuddered at the memory of the fire before straightening her shoulders. She walked out to the barn to find a hammer and ran into Bryce.

“Howdy.” The big man took a step back.

“Hello. I’m lookin’ for a hammer and some nails.” Daisy peered around the barn. “Any idea where I cain find ’em?”

Bryce nodded, walked to a far corner, and returned in a minute with the requested tools. He held them out to her wordlessly, and Daisy accepted them.

I cain’t make him talk to me
, she reasoned,
but maybe iff ’n I speak first, he’ll come
’round
.

“You and yore brother made a fine home for Hattie.” Daisy smiled as she spoke. “I’m gonna fix it up a bit so it’s ready when they get back.”

“Needs a woman’s touch,” Bryce agreed.

“ ’Zactly.” Daisy breathed a sigh of relief that Bryce didn’t actually seem to mind talking to her—he just needed to be drawn out a little. “Hattie’d have it done in a trice, but she’s off to Louisville, so I figgured I’d put away the weddin’ gifts and get ’em all set up.”

“Mighty thoughtful of you.” Bryce rubbed the back of his neck as if puzzling over something. “What’re the hammer and nails for?”

“The swan-neck wall hooks need to be hung.” Daisy laughed. “I cain only hope I get ’em up straight.”

“I’ll do it,” Bryce offered. “I’ve just finished the mantelpiece and need to put it up anyway.”

“Makes sense to me.” Daisy passed the hammer back to him, pleased at the progress she’d made. Bryce wasn’t much of a talker, but that was all right. He went out of his way to do nice things for the people she cared about, so Daisy didn’t mind making the extra effort to put him at ease.

The rest of the morning passed quickly as Daisy and Bryce worked together inside the cabin. Neither spoke much. It was enough to be working alongside each other.

While he made tiny pencil marks on the wall, determining where to hang the pegs, she carefully folded the monogrammed towels and hung them across the top of the wooden washstand. The monogrammed
C
in the corner of each towel marched across the row, each one a little higher than the last.

“They don’t have a mirror,” she noted. She didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until Bryce stopped hammering.

“You think they need one?” Bryce’s words could’ve been a question or just a flat statement.

“Of course!” Daisy decided to treat it as if it were a question.
Men!
“How else do you get yoreself ready for the day? What about yore hair?”

“Not that complicated.” Bryce ran a hand through his wavy brown hair, mussing it up just enough to make Daisy itch to tug it back in place.

“Maybe not for you,” she admitted, “but what about Hattie? Or,” she added triumphantly, “Logan shaving?”

“We don’t have a mirror out in the barn.” Bryce rubbed his jaw with his big, strong hand. “We do it by feel.”

Daisy’s mouth went dry.
By the end of the day, Bryce’s jaw boasts a dark shadow, making him look a little rugged—like he needs a good woman
. She couldn’t think of a single thing that was fitting to say, so she just shrugged.

“Those hooks look wondrous fine!” He’d put four of them in a neat row by the hearth, and the other two were thoughtfully stationed beside the door.

Bryce jerked a thumb toward the latter. “I thought it’d be nice for when Hattie comes in after healing, to hang her cloak.” He smirked. “And then there’s one for Logan’s hat.”

“His and hers,” Daisy mused. “Perfect.”

Bryce got to work on the mantelpiece he and Logan had sanded together. With supportive legs along either side of the hearth to brace it, the subtle curves of the mantel wouldn’t overpower the wall but would look like a natural part of the room.

While he worked, he watched Daisy from the corner of his eye. She bustled around contentedly, plumping a pillow here, then tucking in the edges of the wedding quilt she brought out of Hattie and Logan’s new chest and put on the bed. He caught her trying to scooch the chest across the floor.

“Here.” He picked the wooden chest up off the ground just as she was ready to give it another hefty push. A few flaxen tendrils of hair had escaped her fancy updo, and Bryce had a sudden picture of her brushing her hair, the golden locks spread over her shoulders. He decided to get that mirror she’d been talking about. Their eyes locked, and Bryce felt the breath hitch in his chest.

A sudden gust of air banged the door shut, breaking the moment. Daisy shook her head as though to clear it, then pointed to the far wall. “I was fixin’ to put it at the foot of the bed.”

Bryce tromped over and obligingly lowered the carved trunk in place. He stepped back to where he’d been working on the mantelpiece.

“Thankee, Bryce.” Her words were so soft, he almost thought he imagined them.

And why wouldn’t she be hesitant to thank you after the way you jackrabbited out of the house this morning?
he scolded himself.
Say something this time!

“Anytime.” He forced a smile. “You could’ve just asked for help, Daisy.” Her name tasted sweet as he spoke it.

“I would’ve gotten it there.” Daisy’s shoulders straightened, and she poked her chin out. “Women aren’t helpless.”

Now you’ve done it. You offended her
. Bryce gave himself a mental kick. “I never thought you were helpless.” He searched for the words. “You’re a strong woman, supporting yourself and your son. I just meant you don’t always have to do everything alone.”

“You’re right.” She softened a bit and rewarded him with an apologetic smile.

Bryce grinned in return before turning back to the mantel. He finished up while she straightened the blue gingham curtains. He stepped back to survey their handiwork.

Everything stood in place, as it had when they’d started, but now it looked…nice. Inviting. She’d looped the curtains along the wooden bar to make them flutter prettily at the window. The chest looked at home at the foot of the bed, where the quilt fell in neat folds just shy of the floor.

“The mantelpiece fits real good,” Daisy commented. “All the wood—the walls, the hooks, the furniture—it melds together nice.” She stepped over to the chest and drew out the braided hearth rug. After she laid it out, she stepped back to see the effect. “Blue rug, blue curtains, blue embroidery on the towels—even blue in the quilt. All looks put together jist right, with a lot of love.”

That was it exactly. She’d found a way to say what he’d been thinking. The colors and goodwill made the room pleasant. Everything in here fit, just like Hattie and Logan matched each other.

“Yep.”

Bryce rolled over for the umpteenth time. He couldn’t sleep. It was just too…quiet.

Now he understood what those fancy writers meant when they wrote about the “deafening silence.” The lack of sound pushed in on him and stifled all thoughts of anything else.

The din of all the Chance children surrounded him back on the ranch, and here he’d had Logan’s jabber—or snoring—to put up with. Even today when he’d worked with Daisy, she hummed under her breath.

He smiled at the memory of how she didn’t follow any particular tune, just made the happy noise of busyness. He’d noticed she did the same thing in the evenings while she worked over her lace. Humming came as naturally to Daisy as buzzing came to bees. Same as smiling came to Jamie. Except for when the boy bent over his studies or something requiring his absolute focus, he expressed joy. No one came closer to being a breathing sunbeam than Jamie when that bright smile spread across his face and into the heart of its recipient.

Bryce rested his head on his hands, leaning back to stare at the sloping ceiling of the loft. The lad possessed an eager young mind. He thirsted to learn about the world around him and to help those he lived with.

The eggs are a good start
, Bryce decided.
Tomorrow I’ll see if I can’t find something more to show him. Just because he can’t walk doesn’t mean he can’t enjoy learning how to do other things
.

A thought seeped into his mind.
It might take some smooth talking, but when the time is right, I’m going to convince Jamie’s pretty mama to let me teach him how to ride. It’ll give the boy something to look forward to and a way to increase his strength. After all, tending to animals is the best way I know to work the muscles and the mind
.

Chapter 5

A
few days later, Bryce woke up early. He tended to the cow, mucked out the stalls, and gathered the eggs. He and Jamie had made egg gathering into a sort of morning ritual, but today Bryce needed to have everything squared away before breakfast.

He gave the door a cautious tap rather than walking in unannounced.

“Come on in,” Daisy’s cheerful voice called.

He opened the door and sniffed appreciatively. Coffee cake—one of his favorite breakfasts, but not rib sticking enough for every day.

“You’re up and about a little earlier this morning,” Daisy observed, pouring him a cup of coffee.

“I’ve got business to tend to.” Bryce took a long, appreciative drink. “I’m going out to Hawk’s Fall to pick up Logan and Hattie’s wedding present. I won’t be back until tomorrow.” He waited to see her reaction.

“I see.” Her words didn’t match her expression. She seemed a bit confused, a little lost.

Will she miss me?
Bryce shrugged the thought away. “It won’t be long, but I have to go. I’m borrowing the new wagon to haul it in—it’s from the whole Chance family.”