The Brides of Chance Collection Part 49

"You'll find out along with Gideon, t.i.tus, and Daniel. There're on their way over now." Bryce pointed to three men on horseback.

Paul s.h.i.+fted in the saddle, anxious to find out what was afoot and suddenly eager to get back to work.

"What're y'all lollygagging around for?" Daniel grumped as soon as they all stood within earshot.

"Logan and Bryce"-Paul jerked a thumb in their general direction-"are calling a Chance vote."

"About what?" t.i.tus and Gideon seemed just as wary as Paul felt.

"Well," Logan said, straightening in the saddle, "no offense to Miriam and Alisa, who do their best around here, we know, but seems as though things around here are on the decline."

"Yep. We've gotten used to certain...comforts," Bryce interjected. "So basically, what we're saying is-"

"We want to eat good food again!" Logan abandoned any attempt to make their cause seem lofty.

"Miriam needs her rest." Gideon glowered at the upstarts. "She's due this month!"

"Aw, anyone can see she's 'bout ready to pop, Gideon," Bryce soothed. "We wasn't talkin' 'bout her."

"Well, Alisa hasn't been well, either," t.i.tus groused.

"You don't get it," Logan grumbled. "We ain't complaining about your wives; we just have a solution. A way of making sure they're not overworked and we're not underfed."

"Oh, no, you don't," Paul barked as soon as he saw where this entire debacle was headed.

"Oh, yes, they do." Daniel's habitual scowl disappeared into a cheeky grin. "All in favor of bringing Delilah back?"

Only Speck backed up Paul's nay, and even that was more of an equine whinny than anything else.

"And we know how Miriam and Alisa would vote if they were here. Motion pa.s.sed. Now I vote Paul goes to fetch her." Daniel leaned back, pleased as punch to see Paul outvoted once again. "That settles it. You're going."

Less than an hour later, Paul sat on the buckboard, driving toward Delilah. Lord, I have to say I have my doubts about this. I'm not sure if I can bring her back and not aim to keep her. Please give me strength to do Thy will. Please watch over my love.

As he pa.s.sed through town, he pulled up in front of the mercantile. He clomped toward the back, his heavy footsteps suiting his mood.

"h.e.l.lo there, Paul. Let me just grab my bag, and we'll get to Miriam straight away!" Reba bustled through the curtain before he could get a word out.

"Not yet, Reba!"

She poked her head out and peered at him. "No?"

"No. But Miriam sent this with me." He thrust a letter toward the older woman. "She said it might be her last chance to write her parents before the babe comes."

Reba clucked her tongue. "And to think you had me all riled. Couldn't it have waited until next Sunday?"

"Probably," Paul allowed, "but I was heading through anyway."

"Where you headed?"

"San Francisco."

A knowing glint shone in Reba's eyes, and Paul hastened to correct her. "Miriam and Alisa need the help, that's all."

"Sure it is." Reba swapped him a handful of peppermint sticks for the letter. "For your trip."

Paul chuckled as he left the store, certain she'd intentionally given him peppermint rather than black licorice because she thought there might still be a future for him and Delilah.

Lord, I hope she's right.

Delilah hummed happily, if a bit off-key, as she walked back to her studio from the Munroes' place.

The fledgling city bustled almost nonstop; from boots clicking on boardwalks to buildings being built, one could never escape the sounds. Since the establishment of the San Francis...o...b..r a.s.sociation, businesses had sprung up seemingly overnight, relying on Joshua Norton's plan to bridge the bay between San Francisco and Oakland. As prosperous and energetic a place as this was, she would gladly trade it all to be sitting by the fis.h.i.+ng hole at Chance Ranch.

Thank You, Lord! They still want my paintings even if I have to s.h.i.+p them from Chance Ranch. Now...

Her jaunty step slowed as she contemplated what she planned. Please give me the courage to go back. I don't know if You will bring me and Paul together or not. If not, it'll break my heart.

Fresh doubts flooded over her. No, no, no! I am putting my faith in You, Lord! Even if I don't stay at Chance Ranch, the Munroes have been so kind as to a.s.sure me of a place here. Still, I do wish there were some way I could be sure I'm doing the right thing.

She turned onto the walkway to her studio and halted when she saw someone peering into her window. Despite her instinct to leave immediately, something held her fast. Those broad, powerful shoulders, the brown hair curling beneath the brim of a well-worn hat-Delilah's heartbeat quickened.

"Paul?" He must have heard her hopeful whisper, because he froze, then turned to face her.

Oh my. Lord, I just asked for a sign, and there's no questioning this has to be one, but his eyes are guarded. Why is he here?

Sunlight framed Delilah, bathing her in gold and making her even more beautiful than he'd remembered. Lord, she seems so serene, like she fits here. I see none of the sadness she bore when she left us. Is she finally happy, and I'm supposed to ask her to leave it all behind?

He cleared his throat. "I need to talk with you for a minute."

"Come on in." Her warm smile sent tingles down his spine as he followed her into the charming structure. It resembled a cottage more than anything, but her easel stood by a large window next to a worktable.

With easy grace, she sank into an armchair by the small fireplace and gestured for him to do the same. She waited patiently for him to speak.

"I've come to bring you back to Chance Ranch." Oh, well done, blurting it out like that. This was a mistake. Will she be disappointed I didn't come to fetch her as my bride? Even worse, will she be relieved?

"I'll be ready to go in half an hour." He watched in amazement as she began tucking loose leaves of paper into her sketchbook and binding her folio. Dumbfounded, he walked over to explain. Didn't she want to know why? What if she misunderstood?

He held out a hand to stop her, only to have her push art supplies at him.

"Why don't you go put these in the wagon while I pack my satchel?" She disappeared behind a part.i.tion, and he heard the rasp of a drawer opening.

Lord, what do I do? Dumping her things onto one of the armchairs, he strode over behind the part.i.tion, only to be brought up cold. She'd dumped the contents of her drawer onto her bed. He gulped at the sight of delicate stockings and the corner of a white ruffled petticoat peeking out from under them.

Certain his ears were redder than ripe strawberries, he seized the only option left to him-retreat. He rushed back to the armchair, grabbed her art supplies, and didn't stop until he stood in the warm suns.h.i.+ne by the buckboard.

Delilah stifled a giggle at the look on Paul's face as he fairly ran out of her studio; then she shoved her unmentionables into the valise. Well, no use crying over spilt milk. The bigger question was why he was taking her back.

Lord, I'm trying so hard to trust in You and in Paul, but I'm going to burst if I don't find out soon whether he came because he missed me or something else. He doesn't seem worried like he'd be if anybody was hurt back at the ranch. Give me patience, Father!

She finished packing as quickly as possible, looked around one last time, and hefted her satchel to the doorway, where Paul took it.

"Come here." She picked up a squirming Shortstack, grown far bigger than she'd been on Delilah's birthday, and tucked her into a large basket. Shortstack gave an indignant meow before settling in. The cat gave a lurch to pop her head up through one of the basket flaps. When she seemed content just to see what was around her, Delilah couldn't bring herself to shut the basket again.

As they began leaving town, Paul cleared his throat. "Do you need to talk with anyone-make arrangements so everything's fine when you come back?"

Refusing to be discouraged by that statement, Delilah shook her head. "It's all been taken care of. I left a note on the table." Taking a deep breath, she looked him in the eye. "Will I be coming back?"

"That's up to you. For now, Miriam's pretty much in bed until the baby comes, and Alisa's green around the gills every day until the afternoon, but they're both too stubborn to admit they need help. We took a Chance vote, and I came to fetch you."

Another Chance vote, Delilah mused. And to think, once I wondered if one of those famous votes would let me stay at Chance Ranch.

"But that's not unusual. Neither of them is ailing other than that?" She had to make sure.

"Nope."

Now what? Is he going to stay quiet all the way home, Lord? Will he not say more than the bare minimum the whole time I'm at Chance Ranch? Give me strength and wisdom, Lord!

Chapter 19.

I'm so glad to hear that." Delilah debated whether or not to continue. "I've kept Miriam and Alisa in my prayers."

"We all have."

Delilah knew the instant her words sank in. Paul whipped his head around to face her and brought Speck to a dead halt with one jerk on the reins.

"What did you just say?" His intense gaze searched her face hungrily, and she smiled to see how desperate he was to hear her say the words.

"I've prayed for you all." Her heart sang as his face lit up with wonder.

"You've accepted Christ?" His voice was low and gruff. When she nodded, he gathered her in his arms and held on tight. "Then He's answered my prayers, too. What changed your mind?"

"I sat in San Francisco, completely independent, with a home of my own and new friends, but it wasn't what I'd thought it would be. I wasn't at Chance Ranch anymore, so I had to trust G.o.d to take care of the people I love. It was so much easier than I'd thought, once I made the decision. And since then, I've remembered all the things you've told me about G.o.d's love, and I can see it all around me."

"Whatever is good and lovely cometh from the Lord." He cupped her chin in his palm. "Now do you know why I think of G.o.d so much when we're together?"

"No," she confessed, "but it doesn't make me jealous."

"It never detracted from our time together. I think of Him when you're near me because, to me, you're the loveliest thing He ever made. I love you, Delilah." His voice deepened as he took her hand in his.

"I love you, too," she whispered, raising a hand to stroke his cheek.

"Delilah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife before G.o.d and man?"

"Yes." As his lips met hers, a warm rush tingled from her lips to her toes. Delilah rested in the circle of his arms, feeling more cherished than she'd have ever thought possible. "Let's go home."

"The second I saw you two holding hands, I knew we'd done right by you, Brother." Daniel clapped a hand on Paul's shoulder.

"Now if that's not the sorriest excuse I've ever heard for your meddling, I don't know what is." Paul grinned to take the sting from his words. "Truth of the matter is, she'd just told Reba's friends she was coming back here, so don't get too c.o.c.ky."

"Aw, I'm just ready for some of those flapjacks tomorrow. Now let's get to bed. The sooner we wake up, the sooner we'll be at the table."

"I'm all for that." Paul hung up his hat. "It'll bring us one day closer to the Sunday you walk Delilah to the altar."

Daniel's brows knit together as he scowled. "About that..."

"Oh, no, you don't. A man's word is his bond." Paul flopped onto the bed. "Besides, you should've seen Delilah's face when I told her you'd volunteered."

"Humph. Volunteered," Daniel grumbled but ventured one last question as he put out the light. "Made her happy?"

"You'd better believe it."

Delilah watched with satisfaction as everyone-including Alisa-polished their plates. Lord, how light I feel due to Your grace. I sit here as a member of not one but two families. I belong at Chance Ranch, but You claim me as Your daughter. Thank You so much.

She cleared the table and shooed Miriam back to bed, where Polly and Ginny Mae followed.

Alisa sank down on the bench. "It's so good to have you back. It feels as though you never left."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Delilah smiled and handed her a gla.s.s of cool water. "But I'm glad to be here."

"You know..." Alisa c.o.c.ked her head to the side and scrutinized Delilah. "You're right. You've changed over the past weeks-you seem so much happier. Anyone can see the Lord s.h.i.+ning through you now."

Delilah laid a towel over a bowl of bread dough and turned when Polly and Ginny Mae tumbled into the room.

"Auntie Miri-Em!" Polly gasped, pointing to the bedroom.

"What's wrong with Auntie Miriam?" Alisa hurried over.

"She had"-Ginny Mae lowered her voice to a confidential whisper-"an accident."

"I'll go help Miriam while the two of you keep an eye on Auntie Alisa, okay?" Delilah hurried off to find Miriam stripping covers off her bed.

"What's wrong?" Delilah hastened to her side.

"My water broke. The baby's coming." Miriam calmly finished stripping the bed and laid down freshly laundered but tattered old quilts. "Go and ring the dinner bell so Gideon'll know to fetch Reba."

Delilah raced back to the kitchen, clanged with all her might, told Alisa the news, and went back to help Miriam change into an old flannel nightgown and get in bed.

For the next hour, Alisa kept Polly and Ginny Mae busy while the Chance men milled around anxiously, each one steadfastly refusing to leave the house.

It was obvious the memory of Hannah weighed on their minds, and when Delilah hustled in to boil water, Alisa's worry was evident.