Chance Of A Lifetime

Chance Of A Lifetime by Kelly Eileen Hake Page A

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Authors: Kelly Eileen Hake
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few days when Li’l Nate’s wife, Abigail, bore him a son. Bitty Nate looked to be taking after his pa already.
    “Any time,” Nate grunted, holding tight while others rushed over to help secure the frame. Finally, they could let go.
    Bryce gave a mighty stretch to work out the kinks. He took a few deep breaths, fanning himself with his hat.
    “Have some water.” Daisy’s voice floated to his ears as she walked toward him.
    “Much obliged.” Bryce took the cool drink and downed it in three gulps. “Ah. That’s better.”
    “I cain get some more,” she offered. “Yore working terrible fast.”
    “I’m fine.” He grinned at her.
She’s been watching me
. The thought took his mind off his weary muscles.
    “I wanted to thank you.” Daisy leaned close enough that he could smell the fancy soap she used. “For includin’ Jamie. It meant a lot that he got to holp the men instead of only watching.”
    “And help us he did. You, too. Having everything at the ready made things that much easier.” Bryce slapped his hat back on his head and tipped the brim toward her. “I’ve got to get back to work. We’ve got to get the rafters up before dinner, and I’m mighty hungry.”
    “You always are!” Daisy’s laugh followed him as he joined the other men.

    Daisy got some more water and brought it to Jamie. She tipped the cup to his lips. Usually he could do it, but today he’d already used a lot of his strength. She wiped his chin and cuddled him close.
    She knew he was tired but didn’t press him. He wouldn’t doze off until after the rafters had been raised and he had a belly full of lunch. Daisy hummed softly as she ran her fingers through his soft blond hair, so like his father’s.
    She raised her head to see Miz Willow watching her. A surge of anger at the old woman’s scolding welled up.
    How dare she criticize the way I behave!
Daisy stewed.
I know I’m beholden to her for her hospitality, but I don’t intend for it to be permanent. Does sharing her home give her the right to berate me for nothing? I don’t cut myself off from others. I’ve established a friendship with Bryce, haven’t I?
    Only in spite of yourself
. Daisy didn’t like the niggling voice in the back of her mind, but the tiny seeds of guilt wouldn’t rest.
You didn’t reach out to Bryce until he was kind to Jamie. Even then, you accused him of cruelty not in his nature. If the friendship has grown, it is not due to yore tender care in nurturing it. Miz Willow said those things to open yore eyes, not to hurt you
.
    Well, she did hurt me. And if she feels that I’m so difficult, it’s all the better that I’ve taken Logan up on his offer to sell my lace. His deal puts far more money in my pocket. The more I save, the sooner I cain leave the old woman’s charity, and me and Jamie cain get on with our lives
.
    I’ve wasted too much time already. After the fire, we spent two days searching the rubble before moving here. Sewing new clothes
was necessary but cost me a lot of time, and holping with that behemoth of a stove ate up still more time. I need to focus on the important things. How am I going to put a roof over Jamie’s head and food in his mouth? By making lace. That’s how I should be spending my time
. Her resolve strengthened, Daisy vowed to work more quickly.
    While she’d been lost in thought, the men had finished putting up half of the rafters. The noontime hour had passed, so when the skeleton of the barn was up and ready, everyone would break for dinner.
    “Mama’s gonna go set out the food,” Daisy told Jamie. “I want you to stay right here where I cain see you, okay?”
    “‘Kay, Ma.” He nodded, happy to be watching everything around him.
    Daisy walked over to the cabin and began carrying out dish after covered dish. They hadn’t set it all outside before now, so the sun wouldn’t spoil the food and insects wouldn’t swarm around the tables. Logan and Bryce had constructed two huge tables and

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