Thirteen

“There.” Lovejoy smoothed the quilt in place on Miriam and Gideon’s bed and straightened up. “Now where was I?”

“You were telling about Tempy’s wedding dress,” Delilah prompted as she tugged at the other side of the quilt. They’d gone from cabin to cabin, putting the fresh linens and aired blankets back on the beds. Miriam had helped with all the other beds, but Caleb decided he was hungry, so she sat in the rocker to nurse him while Delilah stepped up to help.

“Tempy and Eunice and Lois is all getting married,” Polly said importantly. “I know ’bout weddings ’cuz Auntie Miri-Em had a wedding and so did Auntie ’Lilah. Auntie ’Lisa got married in San Fur-isco.”

Lovejoy smiled. “Oh, that’s right. Well, that dress—it’s dreadfully beautiful. Brings tears to my eyes just thinkin’ on it.”

Alisa finished pulling a sun-baked case on a pillow. “She’ll make a lovely bride.”

“They all will. Smart, too. Did I tell you ’bout what they done for the fabric? I cain’t recollect who I tole what to.”

Alisa folded a towel and slipped it on the towel rod at the side of the washstand. “You made me take a nap. I haven’t heard a word about the weddings.”

“You needed that nap.” Delilah frowned at Alisa. “Titus said just the other day that you’re not sleeping well.”

Lovejoy folded her arms akimbo. “Alisa, I aim to tell your man he needs to hog-tie you. Them ankles of yourn are too swoll up.”

“You said it was all right for them to be puffy.”

“That was when they was turnip sized. You’re up to muskmelon, and I aim to put a stop to it. If’n that was all, I’d be holdin’ my peace, but them hands o’ yourn are plumpin’ up.”

Alisa looked down and fiddled with her wedding band. “Miriam said her ring got tight when she was carrying Caleb.”

Miriam looked at Alisa’s hands and gasped. “Not tight like that!”

Lovejoy pursed her lips and waited a few moments. “You wantin’ me to spout off platitudes so’s you’ll stop worryin’, or you want me to speak the truth?”

“You not a spout. You a girl.” Ginny Mae gave her a perplexed look.

“I am?” Lovejoy made a show of spreading her skirts and looking down. “Well, fancy that. I am! Since we’ve settled that, why don’t you take me to the kitchen so’s we cain finish makin’ supper?”

“’Kay.” Ginny Mae took her hand and led her through the doorway.

Lovejoy shot a look over her shoulder at Alisa and mouthed, “Later.”

Not long thereafter, Lovejoy put some lemonade in front of Delilah and a cup of tea down for Alisa. “You gals drink up.”

Delilah sipped from her glass. “The lemon’s such a big help. As long as Paul keeps me in lemon drops, I’m not nearly as queasy.”

As if on cue, Paul came in. “You talking about me, darlin’?” He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Unca Paul, Miss Lovejoy’s going to spout on Auntie ’Lisa.” Polly wound her arms around his thighs. “Did you come to watch?”

Paul’s brows furrowed.

“I’ll be speaking to Mrs. Chance alone,” Lovejoy announced.

“They’s all Mrs. Chances, Miss Lovejoy. Which one you wanna talk to alone?”

“Why does Lovejoy need to speak with someone alone? What’s wrong?” Gideon clomped into the room with Titus on his heels. He sucked in a loud breath. “The last time she took one of you aside, it was to tell Delilah—” He turned to his wife. “Miriam, are we going to have another one already?”

“Miriam’s in the family way again?” Logan let out a low whistle.

“No! No, I’m not.” Miriam glowed with embarrassment.

“Then what is it?” Titus stepped over toward Alisa and gave her a stern look. “You’re too pale.”

“You all sit down and eat. We got a nice meal a-waitin’ for—”

“Lovejoy Spencer,” Titus growled, “don’t you dare think you’ll get us to ignore something by waving food under our noses. It won’t work.”

Miriam let out a mirthless laugh. “Unless it’s cobbler or gingerbread.”

“Or—”

“Alisa.” Titus’s voice halted her from adding to the list. “Now what’s going on?”

“Good thing ’bout big families is they care; bad thing ’bout big families is they hover.” Lovejoy bustled through them and thumped the coffeepot down on the table. “Nobody’s entitled to know nothin’ that somebody wants to keep secret about their body.”

“Huh?” Bryce gave Logan a bewildered look. “Did that make sense to you?”

“Someone’s keeping secrets about bodies,” Logan answered.

“What’s this about secrets and bodies?” Dan straggled in and swept Ginny Mae into his arms and held her protectively. “Was someone done in?”

“Bloodthirsty lot, these Chance men,” Lovejoy muttered as she headed toward the stove. When she turned back with a bowl of zucchini in her hands, an arc of men surrounded her.

“We decided something today,” Gideon started.

“You’re staying here.” Titus added, “After your sister’s wedding.”

“Our wives need you. The children need you.” Paul took the bowl from her and handed it to Logan, who promptly passed it to Bryce. “You can’t go.”

“We voted.” Bryce swiped a slice of the vegetable and popped it into his mouth before setting the bowl aside.

“And you thought I didn’t make sense?” Lovejoy gawked at them. “You cain’t go voting on makin’ a body stay someplace.”

“Sure we can.” Titus shrugged. “We’ve done it three times already. You’re the fourth.”

“Y’all voted?” Lovejoy couldn’t fathom this turn of events.

“All but Dan. He was off choppin’ wood. Don’t matter, anyway. All five of us agreed, and the ladies already made their wishes clear. Majority rules.”

“Dan would vote for you to stay.” Paul’s voice carried grave, unwavering certainty. “He knows what it’s like for a man to worry about his wife during her carrying months. He’d want you here for Alisa and Delilah’s birthings.”

“You said you have someone back home filling in as the healer,” Miriam interrupted.

“The very woman who trained you,” Delilah added. “So you have every confidence in her ability. She’ll take care of them; you’ll be here to take care of us.”

“Ain’t right for me to presume on Widow Hendricks.”

Daniel hadn’t joined his brothers when they surrounded her. That fact hadn’t escaped Lovejoy’s notice. He’d stayed back by the door holding Ginny Mae. The man still looked as bleak as he had when he stomped away this morning; nonetheless, he locked gazes with Lovejoy. “You’re needed here. I’ll send a telegram.”

❧

“Where did all these come from?” Daniel stared at the wagon Lovejoy drove into the yard. Hannah always bemoaned the dearth of flowers in California, but Lovejoy managed to fill the entire buckboard with blossoms.

“They’re all about you.” Lovejoy swept her hand toward the pastures. “Poppies everywhere, curly dock, fern, and daisies. Pretty as it is, mustard don’t seem quite right for a weddin’, so I didn’t go for any of it. Found me a passel of pasture roses, seep monkeyflower, elderberry. Delilah offered anything we wanted to cut from her flower garden, too.”

He checked to be sure Lovejoy set the brake, afraid she’d been so excited about the blossoms that she’d forgotten something basic—only she’d been diligent. “Where do you want the flowers?”

She laughed. “Alisa’s cabin, if you please. She and Delilah are gonna holp arrange them. The both of them have an eye for beauty.”

“What’s this?” He thumped on a closed crate.

“Vittles. The gals are bringin’ up more in t’other wagon. Did I remember to thankee for having the grooms come set up the benches? Couldn’t abide having them shuffle ’round there today. Men shouldn’t see their bride on the weddin’ day afore they reach the altar.”

Like a hen with too many chicks, Lovejoy squawked and scurried about all morning long. Daniel minded his daughters because Miriam and Lovejoy were busy icing the wedding cake. By noontime, neighbors filled the benches, and the parson stood up front.

Lovejoy sat off to the side up front, her dulcimer in her lap and a wreath of flowers on her head. Her light brown hair shone in the sun. In the weeks that she’d been here, she’d had enough to eat, and it showed in the soft curve of her cheeks, the sheen of her hair, and the feminine form filling her dress.

Her dress. She’d changed to her other dress—the one Daniel knew was her Sunday best. The woman owned two gowns, both worn beyond redemption. He’d already spied the brides. They all wore new gowns—Lois in yellow, Eunice in green, and Tempy in blue. Why didn’t Lovejoy get a new dress for herself? She needed one.

Someone must have gotten hold of Parson Abe’s black suit, because it was neatly pressed instead of rumpled. He stood up front and nodded at Lovejoy. Once she started strumming her dulcimer and singing, the MacPherson men lined up at the altar. All three wore love-struck smiles.

Weddings. The “ ’til death us do part” promise of his wedding vows came far too soon, and seeing others find love and expect a long, happy future made his heart ache. How could God give love, only to take it away?

Daniel hadn’t attended Gideon and Miriam’s wedding, because it was just too painful to remember the day when he and Hannah took their own vows. When Titus and Alisa got married in San Francisco, relief flooded Daniel. He’d been spared having to decide how to handle another ceremony and managed to put in an appearance at the reception they’d held back here at the ranch two weeks later. That should have been enough, but it wasn’t. In a rash moment, he’d promised Paul that he’d escort Delilah down the aisle. He kept his word, but that stretched him to the limit.

Flowers and rings, vows and kisses—he knew firsthand those sacred moments truly forged two hearts into one. He also knew the pain of having death tear that heart asunder.

“We’re ready now!” Ginny Mae’s excited squeal loosened the tension.

Dan stood toward the back and couldn’t help smiling when Polly and Ginny Mae started down the aisle. Each held a basketful of flower petals. Polly strewed hers with notable grace; Ginny Mae picked up clumps and dumped them onto the ground every now and then.

He squinted, then his smile nearly cracked his sun-weathered face. Instead of tying ribbons on the handle of Ginny Mae’s basket as she had with Polly’s, Lovejoy had wound wire or thread around a little brownish-black something-or-other to make one of Ginny Mae’s beloved “worms.”

Woolly worm aside, the color plan suddenly made sense—Polly in pink, Ginny in lavender, and the brides all lined up. . . a rainbow of pastels.

He looked at Lovejoy. One stripe short of the rainbow. It was how she had described the land, but at the moment, it also explained the wedding party. Well, that rainbow was missing a color. Something. . .orangeish. Maybe the color of a peach or apricot or well, anyway, a dress out of that would have suited Lovejoy.

Only she didn’t seem to mind the fact that her gown looked as exciting as mud. As the brides and grooms paired up, she softly plucked the strings of her dulcimer and started to sing a hymn.

“By vows of love together bound,

The twain, on earth, are one;

One may their hearts, O Lord, be found,

Till earthly cares are done.”

Since Obie was the eldest, the parson had him and his bride speak their vows first. Once the ring was on Lois’s hand, Lovejoy sang the next verse of the hymn.

“As from the home of earlier years

They wander hand in hand,

To pass along, with smiles and tears,

The path of Thy command.”

Hezzy and Eunice came next. Hezzy wouldn’t let go of her hand long enough to slip the ring in place, so the parson helpfully accomplished that task.

“With more than earthly parents’ care,

Do Thou their steps attend;

And with the joys or woes they share,

Thy loving kindness blend.”

Mike and Tempy came last. Ginny Mae tugged on the parson’s pant leg. “Him not Micah. Him Mike.” Likewise, “Her Tempy, not ’Rance.” The congregation muffled chuckles. Daniel didn’t bother. He laughed aloud.

Instead of being weepy, Lovejoy beamed at her baby sister’s wedding, and as soon as Daniel started laughing, Lovejoy looked into his eyes and laughed, too. She quickly regained her composure and sang the next verse as the parson served Holy Communion to the couples.

“O let the memory of this hour

In future years come nigh

To bind, with sweet, attractive power,

And cheer them till they die.”

The hymn had been downright nice up ’til that last line. Then Daniel decided Lovejoy exercised lousy judgment in her choice of music.

“You MacPherson men may greet your brides.”

“It’s about time!” Obie shouted as he yanked Lois into his arms.

Everyone cheered as the newly wedded couples kissed.

“Wait a minute. My turn!” Polly motioned to Davy Greene.

Daniel took a second to realize his daughter thought she was going to either kiss or marry that snot-nosed, spoiled brat of a kid. He hiked up the aisle just as Davy reached Polly’s side. Bending down so he rested his hands on his knees, he said very distinctly to the chunky kid, “Go back and sit with your mama.”

Polly’s face lit up. “You wanna marry me, Daddy?”

“I wanna marry Daddy.” Ginny Mae glowered at Polly.

“I married your mama. She was the only bride I’ll ever have.” He scooped them up in his arms.

“Parson,” Lovejoy called out, “how ’bout if you declare Dan’l Chance and those lassies father and daughters?”

Parson Abe cleared his throat, and his voice deepened to sound important. “I now pronounce you father and daughters. You girls each kiss your papa.”

His daughters both placed a peck on his cheeks. Dan gave them each a squeeze and a kiss. He was glad he’d come to the wedding, after all.