The Brides of Chance Collection by Cathy Marie Hake, Kelly Eileen Hake, Tracey V. Bateman Page B

to mind the girls. It’s Paul’s day. If you wanted, you could ride into town with me. Reliable’s not fancy, but—”
    Miriam started laughing as she tied a scrap of twine around the end of the braid. “Go, Gideon. I’ll make the trip some other time. I’d like you to post a letter for me, though.”
    “To your folks?”
    She shook her head. “It’s too costly to do that just yet. I’ll wait a few months until we settle in. I’m sending a letter to my grandmother. It’s a bit heavy, but she’ll be able to forward an enclosed note to my cousin, Delilah, since I’m not sure where she’s living now.”
    “I’m more than happy to post whatever you write. Are you sure you’re not coming to town? It might be a long while before you have a chance again.”
    She looked up at him and shrugged. “You have the list, don’t you?”
    “Yeah.” He shifted uncomfortably. “Your sis—she always hankered to go along.”
    A bittersweet smile crossed Miriam’s face. “I can imagine. Hannah loved adventure. Me? I’m content to stay wherever I settle.”

    Late in the afternoon, Miriam heard footsteps on the porch. “Wipe your feet!”
    “Yes’m.”
    She didn’t bother to turn toward the door. In fact, she didn’t want to. Her face must be red as a hibiscus. Instead, she toed the runner on the cradle to keep Ginny Mae from yowling and continued to sew.
    “Done?” Polly asked for the hundredth time.
    “In just a minute.”
    “I reckon you’d like the provender on the table so you can squirrel it away wherever you want.” Gideon plopped a heavy crate on the table.
    “Unca Giddy, did you bring me candy?”
    “Just a minute, Polly. I need to bring in more stuff.”
    Miriam took advantage of the seconds when he’d be outside to push in her escaping hairpins and tuck straggling strands of hair behind her ears. Her apron bore splotches of syrup, coffee, and smashed yams. It hadn’t bothered her for the other Chance men to see her in such disarray. But they want me here; Gideon doesn’t .
    Yes, they wanted her here. That fact came through clear enough. Loud and clear— as they all argued on where to level the ground for her cabin. Each had given thought to the location.
    Paul and Titus said it ought to be close to Daniel’s cottage since she’d be minding the girls. Daniel woke up to the noise and bellowed that they were to build it next to the main house. Logan figured halfway between might be smart so she could go either way in bad weather. Bryce wasn’t sure whom to listen to, so he’d just hitched up horses and started dragging a huge log from one building toward the next. They’d leveled the whole area and come inside for lunch—every last one of them filthier than any man Miriam had ever seen. It took her a full hour just to scrub the grime from the house.
    Scraping sounded. “I’m wiping my feet again.” Gideon’s voice held more than a hint of teasing.
    “Do I get my candy now, Unca Giddy?”
    “In a minute, tidbit. Mind if I set the material on your bed, Miriam? I don’t know where you plan to store the bolts.”
    “Go ahead. Thank you for getting them.” She started to tie a knot in the thread.
    Polly danced from one foot to the other. “You done now?”
    Miriam got ready to clip the thread. “Your dolly will be ready in just a minute.”
    Shoulders drooping with an exaggerated sigh, Polly whined, “How many minutes do you got?”
    Gideon started to chuckle.
    Miriam snipped the thread and quelled the smile that fought to break free. It would be easy to indulge Polly, but part of the reason she was staying was to teach her niece basic manners. “Remember how we talked about turns today?”
    “But I don’t wanna wait. Can’t I pick when it’s my turn?”
    “Nope.” Gideon grabbed Polly, lifted her high above his head, and jostled her. “Everyone waits for things—even you.”
    “Why?”
    Miriam knew she’d remember the startled look on Gideon’s face for the rest of her