The Brides of Chance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracey V. Bateman Page A
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table.
“We’re all bad sometimes,” Miriam said tentatively. She took a shallow breath, then continued. “Jesus understands. We tell Him we’re sorry, and He forgives us.”
“That’s enough.” Daniel bolted to his feet. The brusque action set Ginny to wailing again. He glared at Miriam. “Now look what you’ve done.”
Miriam stood and walked around the table. She barely came to Dan’s shoulder, and Gideon stood behind her, ready to intervene.
“You’re tired, Dan. I overheard you tell Gideon she kept you up much of the night. Polly probably didn’t sleep all that well, either. I’ll take them for the day. Why don’t you go nap?”
Nonplussed at her gentle offer, Daniel stared at Miriam. He’d been spoiling for a fight, and she’d just knocked the wind right out of his sails.
“You don’t know a thing about babies.” His hands closed more tightly around Ginny Mae, and her squall made it clear she didn’t like it one bit.
“I helped Mama with sick calls, and a doctor came about the time Hannah left. I often assisted him. I daresay I can handle a fussy tot.” She reached up and took possession of Ginny. Dan didn’t look all too certain about turning loose, but he did so.
Miriam smoothly pivoted and slipped away. She crooked her forefinger. Ginny gnawed on it and hushed. “There we are,” Miriam murmured as she carried the baby toward her own bed and laid her down. Nothing short of admiration flooded Gideon as Miriam continued to let little Ginny Mae chomp on her finger as she used the other hand to lift the baby’s gown.
“Your daddy thinks it’s your teeth or your belly. Let’s find out.”
The moment she alluded to Daniel, Gideon turned toward his brother. A series of emotions flashed across Dan’s face—anger, grief, worry, resignation. Miriam hadn’t challenged his authority or faulted him in any manner. She’d simply offered to lighten his burden, and in moments like this, Gideon realized how deeply burdened and troubled his brother had become. As long as she can deal with him, I need to keep my mouth shut. I won’t have him hurting her, but she’s got a backbone of steel and a heart bigger than the ocean she crossed to get here .
“Daniel, some babies get diaper rashes when they teethe.” Miriam reclaimed her finger and deftly unpinned the diaper. “Has Ginny Mae gotten one when she got any of her other teeth?”
Miriam acted as if she’d had a dozen of her own young’uns. She knotted the corner of a dishcloth, dipped it in syrup, and let Ginny gum on it. That seemed to help some. By the time Miriam scorched flour and used it on Ginny Mae’s rash, the baby hadn’t quite regained her usual sweet disposition, but she’d sure enough stopped sounding like someone was trying to murder her.
Daniel groused around the table for a few more minutes, then took his leave.
“Gid said we’re to level the land for Miriam’s cabin,” Bryce announced.
Miriam’s head shot up. She gave Gideon a startled look that slowly changed into a grateful smile. Not that a missionary’s daughter ought to know how to play poker, but Miriam best not ever try. Her face tattled on every emotion she had. Endearing, that quality.
His brothers all vacated the house and set to doing their chores, leaving behind a table stacked with dirty dishes. Soapsuds, splashes, and wadded towels festooned the washstand. Polly squirmed worse than a calf getting branded as Miriam plaited her flyaway hair. Saddling Miriam with this mess didn’t seem quite fair. Come to think of it, Hannah used to try her best to wrangle a ride to town whenever one of the brothers went.
Gideon cleared his throat. If ever there was a time they needed Miriam to help with the girls, surely this was it. A fretful teether wouldn’t allow more than a few moments’ peace all day. Polly didn’t often become peevish, but when she did, she could try the patience of a saint. Both girls would be at their worst.
“You don’t have
“We’re all bad sometimes,” Miriam said tentatively. She took a shallow breath, then continued. “Jesus understands. We tell Him we’re sorry, and He forgives us.”
“That’s enough.” Daniel bolted to his feet. The brusque action set Ginny to wailing again. He glared at Miriam. “Now look what you’ve done.”
Miriam stood and walked around the table. She barely came to Dan’s shoulder, and Gideon stood behind her, ready to intervene.
“You’re tired, Dan. I overheard you tell Gideon she kept you up much of the night. Polly probably didn’t sleep all that well, either. I’ll take them for the day. Why don’t you go nap?”
Nonplussed at her gentle offer, Daniel stared at Miriam. He’d been spoiling for a fight, and she’d just knocked the wind right out of his sails.
“You don’t know a thing about babies.” His hands closed more tightly around Ginny Mae, and her squall made it clear she didn’t like it one bit.
“I helped Mama with sick calls, and a doctor came about the time Hannah left. I often assisted him. I daresay I can handle a fussy tot.” She reached up and took possession of Ginny. Dan didn’t look all too certain about turning loose, but he did so.
Miriam smoothly pivoted and slipped away. She crooked her forefinger. Ginny gnawed on it and hushed. “There we are,” Miriam murmured as she carried the baby toward her own bed and laid her down. Nothing short of admiration flooded Gideon as Miriam continued to let little Ginny Mae chomp on her finger as she used the other hand to lift the baby’s gown.
“Your daddy thinks it’s your teeth or your belly. Let’s find out.”
The moment she alluded to Daniel, Gideon turned toward his brother. A series of emotions flashed across Dan’s face—anger, grief, worry, resignation. Miriam hadn’t challenged his authority or faulted him in any manner. She’d simply offered to lighten his burden, and in moments like this, Gideon realized how deeply burdened and troubled his brother had become. As long as she can deal with him, I need to keep my mouth shut. I won’t have him hurting her, but she’s got a backbone of steel and a heart bigger than the ocean she crossed to get here .
“Daniel, some babies get diaper rashes when they teethe.” Miriam reclaimed her finger and deftly unpinned the diaper. “Has Ginny Mae gotten one when she got any of her other teeth?”
Miriam acted as if she’d had a dozen of her own young’uns. She knotted the corner of a dishcloth, dipped it in syrup, and let Ginny gum on it. That seemed to help some. By the time Miriam scorched flour and used it on Ginny Mae’s rash, the baby hadn’t quite regained her usual sweet disposition, but she’d sure enough stopped sounding like someone was trying to murder her.
Daniel groused around the table for a few more minutes, then took his leave.
“Gid said we’re to level the land for Miriam’s cabin,” Bryce announced.
Miriam’s head shot up. She gave Gideon a startled look that slowly changed into a grateful smile. Not that a missionary’s daughter ought to know how to play poker, but Miriam best not ever try. Her face tattled on every emotion she had. Endearing, that quality.
His brothers all vacated the house and set to doing their chores, leaving behind a table stacked with dirty dishes. Soapsuds, splashes, and wadded towels festooned the washstand. Polly squirmed worse than a calf getting branded as Miriam plaited her flyaway hair. Saddling Miriam with this mess didn’t seem quite fair. Come to think of it, Hannah used to try her best to wrangle a ride to town whenever one of the brothers went.
Gideon cleared his throat. If ever there was a time they needed Miriam to help with the girls, surely this was it. A fretful teether wouldn’t allow more than a few moments’ peace all day. Polly didn’t often become peevish, but when she did, she could try the patience of a saint. Both girls would be at their worst.
“You don’t have
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