The Brides of Chance Collection Part 73

"Yep. Li'l Nate Rucker'll learn you how. I'll introduce you later." Hattie couldn't help but grin. Li'l Nate was the burly blacksmith of the holler. It did a body good to see such a bear of a man make a sweet tune on his harmonica. "It's a good way to get to know some folk, 'specially since they're plannin' to have a sang real soon."

"A sang?" Logan repeated doubtfully.

"We have us a sang when we want to celebrate sommat. This case, yore arrival's all the reason these folks need. It'd be swell iff 'n you could play a song or two by then."

Hwaaaang. Bryce gave an experimental toot. "I hope it's a ways off, in that case."

They all shared a chuckle before finishing the work at hand. It seemed as though Lovejoy, Tempy, Eunice, Lois, and the MacPherson boys had been determined to send something back for every last kinsman in the holler. She'd thought it looked like a heap of goods when the brothers first rode up, but spread out, the bundles filled the barn floor and then some. Hattie could only imagine what the packages held, but if she knew Lovejoy and those gals, everything would be useful and appreciated. The gifts would also go a fair way to making even those most distrusting of outsiders warm up to the new men.

"Seems to me we ought to see about gettin' some dinner before we load up yore horse," Hattie said. They'd decided to just start making the rounds today. Hattie thought it best for the men not to strut around with two horses packed full of goods. It might make these men seem uppity, even though she knew they weren't.

"Agreed." Bryce scrambled up the ladder.

"We'll be along soon as we're washed up." Logan shot her a grin before following.

Hattie picked up the bundles bearing her and Miz Willow's names and went into the house to wash up. Maybe she'd make some sandwiches or something that wouldn't need to cook long. Bryce hadn't left any doubt as to whether or not he was hungry.

The door was open and the window covers rolled up when Hattie came inside. She could smell the faint sulfuric tinge in the air signaling boiled eggs. Miz Willow had fixed egg salad sandwiches and sliced apples for dinner.

"You've been busy." Hattie nodded toward the table as she laid the bundles on the bed. She was glad to see Miz Willow moving around with ease. "Need me to fetch some cool water?"

"That'd be nice, dearie. I'm just going to make a few more of these here sandwiches. Those boys sh.o.r.e cain pack it away." Hattie heard the fondness in Miz Willow's voice and knew she enjoyed having the Chance men around. Hattie was starting to feel the same way.

She took a wooden bucket made smooth by much use and filled it with the cool mountain water. As she walked back to the cabin, Logan and Bryce joined up with her.

"I'll get that." Logan smoothly snagged the bucket without sloshing over any of the water. His thumb brushed the back of her hand, warming her.

Logan clasped the handle of the bucket, feeling how warm it was from Hattie's hand. The rope was rough, a definite contrast to her soft hand.

They ate a pleasant lunch of tart apples with egg salad sandwiches on thick slices of bread. The crisply fresh water Hattie had drawn from the well washed it all down.

"We were going to bring in your packages when we came in for lunch, but Hattie beat us to it." Logan spotted them on the bed. "Maybe you ought to open 'em before we set off. There might be a note from Lovejoy that tells us something we need to know."

He couldn't dismiss the meaningful looks between Hattie and Miz Willow this morning.

"That might be a good idea," Hattie said slowly, raising her eyebrows in a silent question to the widow.

"Reckon so." With Miz Willow's nod, Hattie crossed the room and brought the parcels back to the table.

Logan made sure to move all the dishes out of the way before she got back. He and Bryce scooted as far down as they could so as not to intrude.

Miz Willow painstakingly untied the string and unfolded the neat brown paper to reveal her treasure. Although Logan could see a box and a shawl, she first picked up the note Lovejoy had written to her. She slid a wrinkled finger beneath the edge of the envelope to open it. Her mouth moved silently as she read to herself; then she put it down.

"No mention of it, Hattie. I reckon our last letter didn't make it afore these two" -she jerked a thumb at them-"took off."

Logan registered Hattie's disappointment and could hardly restrain his own curiosity.

"What were you lookin' for?" Bryce held no compunction.

Logan didn't know whether to kick him or slap him on the back for the blunt question, so he just waited for the response.

"I reckon it's up to Lovejoy to let you know. We don't have all the facts yet, but I figgur we cain tell you when yore sister-in-law gets word back to us." The widow's vague answer only raised more questions, but it would have to do. An awkward silence hung in the air.

"Fair enough. Why don't you go on and see what they sent you?" Logan ended the uncomfortable pause.

They all watched as the widow opened the pasteboard box and took out a gleaming new copper kettle.

"Ain't that a sight?" She held it up and looked at it from every angle. "I cain see ever wrinkle on my face, but it's beautiful just the same, 'cuz it's the same color as yore hair, Hattie!"

Logan privately thought Hattie's hair a much richer shade but held his peace. It wasn't the type of thing to mention.

"It'll sh.o.r.e come in useful for you, Miss Willow." Hattie gently took the proffered kettle and placed it in a position of prominence on one of the shelves.

Miz Willow drew out a soft-looking woolen shawl in bright purple. Hattie held it up. "Now ain't that the prettiest thing you ever clapped eyes on?" she asked before tucking it around the old woman's shoulders.

"I've been needin' a fair-weather wrap." Miz Willow stroked the fabric lovingly. "Ole one's plumb wore through."

"Don't you look a sight in yore violet shawl." Hattie stepped back to admire the color while the widow pulled out a thick hooded cloak in a deeper shade.

"Trust Lovejoy to remember my favorite color," she said with a chuckle. "Give me airs to wear the color of royalty." She handed the cloak to Hattie, who hung it on a peg near the door.

The last things in the bundle were small labeled bags Logan guessed were the healing herbs, since Hattie picked them up and carried them back to the storeroom.

Next was Hattie's turn, and she deftly untied the string to find a rose cloak identical to Miz Willow's purple one. She immediately stood up to try it on.

"Oh, it's so warm and soft!" she gasped. "I do believe they made these special for us, Miz Willow!"

Now Logan never would have thought to give any living soul anything pink, but the deep rose cloak brought a glowing blush to Hattie's cheeks. It was a good choice.

She kept it on as she unwrapped a small package of needles and a set of sharp knives. She tested the weight of each knife in her hand.

"These are wonderful. They'll sh.o.r.e come in handy, and this one fits my palm jist right!" Logan watched as she removed an older knife that had seen many sharpenings from the sheath around her small waist and replaced it with the new one of the same size. "Good for gathering," she explained when she noticed him looking.

"It's a good thing to have around, period." Logan suddenly realized how often Hattie must walk around alone. The healer would treat folks from all around, including men. Pretty as she was...well, he wasn't sorry to see her carry a knife.

"Go on, off with you young'uns. I'll do the dishes and rustle up some rabbit stew and corn pone for supper. Hattie'll know when to come back." With that, Miz Willow shooed them back to the barn like they were a flock of ornery chickens.

Hattie found herself out in the barn, holding the head of one of the packhorses as Bryce and Logan lifted on all the parcels. "Sh.o.r.e is a fine animal-not so tall as yore ridin' horses, but st.u.r.dy strong. Glossy brown coat, too." She patted the mare's nose and gave her a carrot from the basket on the wall. Whickering, the horse tickled Hattie's palm with her soft nose, looking for more of the treat.

Blossom brayed from the stall directly opposite, and Hattie went to offer the old mule a carrot. Blossom ignored her favorite vegetable and snorted, throwing her head up.

"What's wrong, girl?" Hattie opened the gate and stroked the mule's side, but Blossom edged away. She gave a high-pitched sort of whinny and raised her left foreleg.

"Shh..." Hattie patted her rea.s.suringly and bent down to see if something was caught in her hoof. It had been awhile since she'd been shod, and Hattie thought she might need reshoeing.

"She okay?" Bryce quietly stepped beside her.

"I don't see anything wrong." Hattie peered at Blossom's hoof. "I thought she might need shoeing since it was a long winter, but it seems fine."

"But she's favoring that foreleg." Something about the way Bryce said this made Hattie look at him.

"She never has before. Maybe she has a cramp." She turned back to the mule. "Guess I won't be riding you today, huh, old girl?"

"Might be worse than a cramp. She's a bit long in the tooth." Bryce walked beside Hattie and squatted for a closer look. He ran his hands expertly over the mule. "What's her name?"

"Blossom." Hattie figured she'd best get out of his way.

"Blossom here might be coming up lame." Bryce stood up and pushed back his sleeves. "I'll pack her with mud today and tomorrow put some liniment on it. Why don't you and Logan go on ahead? You can ride Blaze." He jerked a thumb at his own gray gelding, whose forehead held a white blaze.

"I don't know...." Hattie wavered. Blossom was a good old friend, but her neighbors would have her hide if she didn't bring around at least one brother today. She chewed the inside of her lip in consternation.

"Bryce is about as close as you can get to a vet." Logan gently guided her toward the horse. "He has a way with animals. Besides, Blaze here's more interested in clover than running, so you don't have to worry about him being hard to handle."

"All right. To tell the truth, if I didn't show you around, I'd get in a mess of trouble with folks hereabouts." She turned to Bryce. "Before we go, is there anything I cain get to help you?"

"Nah. I know where the well is, and you've got some clean rags in the corner that'll serve. You two go on ahead without me and tell me all about it at supper."

I hope folks don't git the wrong notion with it jist bein' Logan and me ridin' alone.

Chapter 9.

Logan led the packhorse; Hattie led the way. He watched her sway ahead of him, completely at ease in the saddle. The winding mountain lane gave way to a makeshift bridge over a full stream where they let the horses drink a little before continuing on their way.

"I'm leading you out to meet the Trevors. Eunice an' Lois've probably mentioned Silk to you. Jist their aunt, but reared 'em like a mother hen. The Pleasants live in the same area, so you'll meet them, too. It's fittin' that you meet up with yore kinfolk afore anyone else."

"I can hardly wait to meet them," Logan a.s.sured her. I can hardly wait to meet everybody. I want to get to know every person in the holler-what they do, why they do it, how I can learn it. After six days of travel and a morning of unpacking, I'm finally going to have some excitement!

"The Trevors got two twins, Ted and Fred, who're close to yore age. They're 'bout nineteen this season. You oughtta get along right well. Katherine married up with the oldest Pleasant boy, and they live here'bouts, too. Charlie'll be happy to show you the good trappin' spots." She reined in her mount.

"I ain't quite sh.o.r.e how to say this, but I feel you deserve a wise word or two. You know that folks up here is excited to meet you and yore brother. It's not 'cuz they'd ever in a million years thunk you brung 'em sommat, mind. But they do hold the notion they might have sommat valuable you'll take a shine to, iff 'n you know what I mean." She stared at him with an undeniable intensity.

"No, not really." He hated to admit it, but he didn't have the faintest idea what she was talking about.

"Do you reckon that Eunice, Lois, and Tempy were the only unmarried women in these parts, Logan Chance?" She sighed. "Fact of the matter is, you might have a care around families with young ladies. Do you know what I mean?"

Whoa. Why didn't I see this before now? My perfect adventure has one huge hitch.

Hattie shifted in the saddle and started talking again. "You see, there ain't too many fresh faces around here, and yore two good-lookin' young bucks with a decent living and no wives attached." She looked away. "Maybe I shouldn' have mentioned it, but the cat's outta the bag now."

"Oh, no-thanks for the warning! It hadn't even crossed my mind. Now I'll know to watch my words." He waited for her to look at him again. "Hattie, I'm grateful. I'll be sure to pa.s.s this on to Bryce. See, back home it's the other way around-'bout six men to every woman. We've never exactly been in demand before." No way she knows how truly grateful I am. The last thing on earth I hope to find in Salt Lick Holler is a bride. I need a break from children, not my own factory for 'em!

If that wasn' the most awkward conversation I've had in my whole entire life, I don't know what was. Hattie reached to pat Blaze's neck as they kept riding. All the same, I'm glad I did. Poor guy hadn't any notion what lay ahead. He and his brother woulda been absolutely ambushed iff 'n I'd hobbled my mouth.

"Down thar's the Pleasant place." She pointed from atop the hill. "We'll go on to Silk's first and then stop by on our way back."

As they came into view of the modest cabin, Hattie thought to warn him of the dogs. "Ed Trevor breeds hound dogs. The minute you dismount, each and ev'ry blessed one of 'em'll sniff you up an' down, but they're well trained. Ed's the best breeder in the hills." As she finished, Hattie realized that the dogs weren't the only ones who'd be sniffing him over before the day was done. But he'd been warned, so she wasn't going to stew about it.

Silk Trevor came out onto the porch when they arrived, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. She waited as they tied up the horses and unloaded two packages.

"Afternoon, Hattie." Silk wrapped her in a hug and waited to be introduced to the stranger.

"Silk Trevor, this is Logan Chance." Hattie smiled as Logan held his hat to his chest.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am. Eunice and Lois tell me to give you their love." He stopped to grin mischievously. "Obie and Hezzy send their thanks. They're a happy bunch."

Silk took a deep breath as though to stop from crying. Then she changed her mind. "Aw, stuff it." She enveloped Logan in a hug.

Hattie bit back a laugh at his surprised look as Silk disengaged and held him at arm's length.

"I'm that glad to see you." She studied him head to toe. "Yore words do an aunt's tender heart some good. Why don't you two come and sit on the porch a spell? Ed and the boys'll be back afore long."

They all settled into the chairs before Silk realized they were short one brother. "Weren't there supposed to be two of you Chance men?" she asked as she started to rock.

"Yes, ma'am," Logan agreed, only to be cut off.

"Oh, you cain call me Silk."

"That's nice of you, Silk. I go by Logan, just so you know." His friendly invitation earned a nod from Silk.

"Bryce came with me, but he's down at Miz Willow's place right now."

"That's right," Hattie explained. "He thinks Blossom might be coming up lame."

"That's a sorry shame, Hattie. Blossom's been 'round long as I cain remember. Maybe there's sommat cain be done."

"If there is, Bryce'll know it. He has a way with animals," Logan said, repeating what he'd told Hattie earlier.

"Just like our Hattie has a way with holpin' people." Silk's compliment made Hattie's cheeks go hot, so she ducked her head for a minute.

"I believe you're right," Logan said. Hattie could feel Logan looking at her, so she reached down and picked up the package labeled "Silk."

She pa.s.sed it to Logan, since it had been placed in his trust. Besides, she had no business giving the gifts of others.

"Right." Logan bent to pick up the one marked "Trevor Men" and held them both toward Silk. "These are from Eunice, Lois, and their husbands, I believe."

"Thankee for bringin' 'em." Silk put a hand over her eyes and looked out into the distance. "I think I see Ed and the boys, so how 'bout we wait a minute?"

In no time at all, Silk was introducing Logan to her husband and sons. "This is Ed, and these are our boys, Ted and Fred. Meet Logan Chance from Californy."

They all shook hands before taking a seat, the twins hanging a brace of rabbits from the roof.