The Brides of Chance Collection

by Kelly Eileen Hake,Cathy Marie Hake,Tracey V. Bateman

  Robert folded the letter, tucked it back into the envelope, and stuffed the bills inside as well. After another cursory glance at the stamp on the front, he tossed the letter back on the desk. “Take it and go.”

  He shifted his gaze to the window until he heard the door open. “Wait just a minute.”

  “Yes, sir?”

  Scowling, Robert pulled his wallet from his coat pocket and removed some bills. “Give this to Mrs. Perryman,” he said. “Tell her to buy the little girl some ribbons and Christmas presents for all of the children. And tell her to buy a goose for Christmas dinner.”

  Jonesy’s face molded into a look of utter disbelief. “What are you trying to do?”

  “Nothing. Can’t a man give a bunch of orphans a decent Christmas?”

  The boy gave him a dubious look. He glanced at the bills in his hand and shrugged. “Whatever your reason, the children deserve a good Christmas. Mrs. Perryman will appreciate this.”

  Averting his gaze to the desk, Robert gave a dismissive wave. “Close the door behind you.”

  With a frustrated grunt, he sat back in his chair. The letter held not one clue as to where Alisa might be. It had, however, given him a clue into Alisa. She’d dreamed of her mother wearing white? Robert felt a tremor of guilt, then pushed it away with a short laugh. Perhaps her mother would have worn a white dress and married a good man if he hadn’t spotted her and lusted after her. Truth was, he couldn’t even remember her face. He could, however, remember his daughter’s heart-shaped visage. The image haunted him. Reaching into his drawer, he pulled out the sketch of Alisa. What if he’d never taken her away? What if he’d been a father to her as his father had been to him?

  He raked his fingers through his hair and laughed at his sentimentality. “You’re a fool, Robert Worthington. An utter fool.”

  Alisa peeked around through the window to make sure the girls weren’t inside the main house before she tapped on the door.

  “Come in,” Miriam called. Her voice sounded strong, and Alisa smiled as she stepped inside. Miriam was just pulling a pie from the oven. The spicy, cinnamony aroma filled the cabin.

  “Mmm. Smells heavenly.”

  “Thank you. It’s apple.

  “My favorite. You sound like you’re feeling better.”

  “I am! Praise the Lord. I was beginning to think I might be sick for the rest of my life.”

  Laughter bubbled from Alisa’s lips. Even at the orphanage, Christmas had been a time of joy and expectation. This year, despite her situation, her childlike optimism had returned within a week of the ordeal in Reliable, and it continued to permeate these days leading up to Christmas.

  “Did you get them finished?” Miriam asked.

  “I did.”

  “You didn’t wrap them yet?”

  Alisa grinned and shook her head. “I wanted to show them off first.”

  “Let me put some water on for tea, and I’ll be right over.”

  Miriam wiped her hands on a towel and came over to the table. Alisa pulled out the gifts she’d been working on for the past two weeks in her spare time. She’d had to use Miriam’s sewing kit, as she’d left her own back at the Worthingtons’ home.

  The girls had been such good little helpers that Alisa had made them each an apron. Polly’s was made of red gingham, and Ginny Mae’s of blue gingham.

  “Oh, how darling!” Miriam exclaimed, holding each item close to her heart. Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t wait to begin sewing for the baby.”

  “It’ll be such fun.”

  Miriam folded the aprons carefully and set them back on the table. She moved to the stove and pulled the teapot from the fire. After pouring two cups, she brought them back to the table, then moved back to the kitchen shelves. She fumbled around for a moment, then produced some paper and string. “You can use this to wrap them. Their little faces are going to light up when they see those.”

  “They’ll have quite a Christmas. Polly and Ginny Mae are going to adore the dresses you made them.”

  “Yes. I only wish Hannah were here to see how special those two are.”

  Alisa covered her hand. “She knows. I’m sure God allows mothers to look down from heaven and see the ones they left behind.”

  Miriam gave a short laugh. “Then better for Daniel if he never remarries. Because Hannah would never stand for it.”

  Despite the slight irreverence, Alisa laughed outright. Miriam joined her, and if for no other reason than to relieve the tension of the past few weeks, the two women laughed until tears streamed down their faces. Gideon and Titus entered the cabin to the howling.

  “What’s this?” Gideon demanded, dropping an armload of wood into the bin.

  “We were just talking about Hannah.”

  “And that made you laugh?” Titus asked.

  At the look of bewilderment on the two men’s faces, the women laughed even harder.

  Still chuckling, Alisa rose. “I’d best put these under the tree and head back to my cabin.”

  “I’ll walk you,” Titus said.

  Alisa’s pulse quickened. “Thank you, Titus, but it isn’t necessary.”

  “I’d say those two outlaws looking for you make it plenty necessary.”

  Alisa finished tying the string around the packages and walked to the tree. “Honestly, Titus. It’s been more than two weeks since we’ve seen them. Do you really think they are still hanging around these parts?”

  “I don’t know. But I’d rather not take any chances.”

  “I agree with Titus,” Miriam said. “No sense risking it.”

  “Oh, all right.” She took her coat from a peg by the door and shrugged into it. They stepped into the chilly night. Titus took her elbow to guide her. She gathered a slow breath of the crisp air. “I love Christmas,” she whispered.

  “So do I. It seems like it makes the world fresh and new again. Like an innocent baby.”

  “Like Jesus.”

  “Yes.”

  There was no need for them to say more. But Alisa couldn’t help but feel the wonder of sharing a love for Jesus with a fellow believer. She didn’t understand why her life had taken such a topsy-turvy turn, but God did. And even in the difficult times, He had taken care of her so far. She knew that nothing could separate her from His love. Christmas was a good reminder of that.

  As though reading her thoughts, Titus gave her elbow a little squeeze. She smiled at him as they reached the door.

  He stepped closer, and for an instant, it seemed as though he might kiss her. Alisa braced herself, unsure whether her heart would lead her head this time or not. A shrill scream tore through the air, taking the decision out of her hands.

  She gasped. “That sounded like Polly.”

  Titus sprinted toward Daniel’s cabin, with Alisa close on his heels.

  He burst inside. Daniel held his trembling daughter in his arms. Fat tears rolled down Ginny Mae’s face as she sat on her bed. Alisa’s heart constricted, and she went to the child. She lifted her, cuddling the warm body close.

  “What happened?” Titus demanded.

  “Polly said she saw someone at the window.”

  “A man. A big ugly man with a big hat.”

  A knot thudded in the pit of Alisa’s stomach.

  Titus stomped to the door and grabbed the lamp from the rail just outside. “I’ll be back. Stay put, Alisa.”

  In a minute, Alisa noticed the lamp’s glow from the window. Then Titus came back. “Daniel, I’d like to talk to you on the porch.”

  Daniel turned his gaze to Alisa. She nodded. “I’ll put them back to bed.”

  That moment, the rest of the family showed up. “Did I hear a scream?” Logan asked.

  “What’s wrong? Are the girls all right?” Miriam bustled into the room and looked from one of her nieces to the other. Then to Alisa. The men stayed outside with Daniel and Titus.

  “Polly saw someone outside the window.”

  A flash of concern crossed Miriam’s face. �
�Was she dreaming?”

  Alisa shrugged. The door opened. The brothers stomped in. “Here’s what we’ve decided. Alisa’s going to bunk with Miriam tonight.”

  “Good idea,” Miriam said.

  “Gideon will bed down in the other room instead of going to one of the other cabins.”

  Miriam smiled at her husband. “We’ll feel safer that way.”

  “And I’m staying, too.”

  Gideon scowled at him. “I can protect my wife and Alisa.”

  “Probably.” Titus kept his gaze fixed on Alisa so intensely she couldn’t breathe. “But I’m not taking any chances.”

  Chapter 14

  Alisa watched with satisfaction as the stack of pancakes waned. She set another platter on the table amid the oohs, aahs, and grateful grunts from the brothers. Miriam replenished the platter of bacon and rolled her eyes at Alisa, grinning affectionately as she did so. The holiday seemed to have doubled the men’s already healthy appetites. Even Miriam, Alisa noted, nibbled on a bit of bacon and managed to tackle a pancake.

  Little Polly seemed to have forgotten the previous night’s terror in anticipation of the promise of gifts to be opened directly after breakfast.

  Alisa smiled at the two little girls, and her heart ached with longing to see the children at the orphanage. How she wished each one of them could experience this large, loving family. She turned to the tub of dishwater to hide the tears simmering just beneath the surface.

  “You didn’t eat much.” Titus’s soft voice next to her ear made her jump. He set his plate down on the counter.

  “Gracious, Titus. Don’t sneak up on a body.”

  “Sorry. Why didn’t you eat?”

  “I did. I’m just too…” She was going to say nervous, but one look into his worry-filled eyes convinced her that it wasn’t the best thing to say. “Too excited to eat. Christmas is the best day of the year.”

  “For now.”

  “For now? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  He scooped up a fingerful of bubbles and brushed her nose. Alisa could feel the bubbles tickling her. She gasped. “I can’t believe you did that!”

  A chuckle left him. “Your life with me will be filled with little surprises.”

  Alisa wiped away the bubbles with the back of her hand. “We’ve already—”

  “Shh. Don’t spoil it. This is the last Christmas that will be your favorite day. So you’d better enjoy it.”

  “Titus.” She gave him an exasperated look, wiping her hands on the nearest towel. “You aren’t making any sense.”

  He leaned in so close she could feel the warmth of his breath against her cheek. “From now on, your wedding day will be your favorite day of the year. Every anniversary, you’ll have a surprise better than the year before.”

  Alisa wanted to reprimand him. To remind him that she would be leaving in a few months. But she also wanted to wrap her arms around him and beg him to marry her right now. He seemed to understand her conflicting feelings, for he leaned forward and brushed soft, warm lips against her cheek. Then he pressed a box into her palm. “Merry Christmas, Alisa.”

  “You’re supposed to wait until after breakfast, Unca Titus.”

  Polly’s indignant voice rose up between them.

  “You’re right, sugar dumplin’,” Titus said, swinging the four-year-old into his arms. “But I couldn’t wait.” He danced her around the room amid giggles and pleas for more. Alisa watched, her mind conjuring the image of Titus holding their own laughing daughters in his arms.

  “He’ll make a wonderful father, won’t he?” Miriam’s voice evaporated the fantasy.

  Alisa tucked the box into the wide pocket of her apron, determined to return it unopened at the earliest opportunity. “I’m sure he will.”

  “And a wonderful husband, too. I just love a man who hums and whistles. That’s a sign of contentment, which in my opinion is a sign of character.”

  “Yes, he’s definitely going to make some woman a good husband. Titus is a great man. There’s none better.”

  Miriam chuckled. “Well, I could argue with that. But then, I could never convince you. A blessed woman knows there’s no one like the man she loves.” Her expression grew soft. “Isn’t that true?”

  Sighing gently, Alisa nodded. “I suppose it is.”

  “Honey, why don’t you give up this notion of leaving us after the baby comes? We all love you and want you to stay. Even if Titus wasn’t madly in love, the rest of us adore you.”

  “Even Daniel?” Alisa laughed at her own joke.

  A smile tugged at Miriam’s lips. “Well, I’m sure he does in his own way. But let’s leave him out of this for now.”

  “Are you ladies about ready to join us?” Gideon called. “These girls aren’t going to be able to restrain themselves from tearing into these packages much longer.”

  “Just a few more minutes and we’ll have everything cleaned up.”

  “I’ll help,” Bryce piped in. Not to be outdone, Logan grabbed a stack of plates. Alisa held her breath until they were safely deposited into the water. In no time, amid laughter and teasing, all traces of breakfast were cleaned up and put away.

  Alisa’s heart soared as she watched the girls open their gifts. When Ginny Mae toddled over to her carrying her new little apron, Alisa’s heart melted.

  “Put on?”

  “Of course. Turn around.” Alisa wrapped her arms around the child and pressed the apron to the girl’s tummy, then tied the strings in back into a large blue-gingham bow. “There. Now you’re ready to cook Christmas dinner.” Ginny Mae giggled and threw her chubby little arms around Alisa. It was all the thanks she needed. She drank in the sweet baby scent as she rubbed her cheek against the child’s silken hair. “You’re welcome, precious.”

  Paper littered the small room a few moments later. The girls, dressed in new outfits Miriam had made and wearing the aprons over them, looked like little princesses. Daniel surveyed his daughters, and Alisa could have sworn there was mist in his eyes. “You look like little ladies,” he said.

  “You sure do, sugar dumplin’.” Logan swung Polly up into his lap. “You haven’t seen the present your uncles got for you. You ready?”

  “Yes, Unca Logan.”

  “All right, Bryce,” he called. “Bring it in.”

  Bryce opened the door and stomped in, carrying a load covered with a blanket. Polly jumped up and down. “What is it? What is it?”

  “You have to open it, dumplin’. That’s the rule at Christmas.”

  He set it down in front of her. Alisa gathered her breath at the lovely pint-sized saddle.

  Polly’s face grew serious, and she glanced at Logan and Bryce. “This is a nice saddle. Thank you very much.”

  The boys laughed along with the rest of the adults in the room. Ginny Mae had become fascinated with the dollhouse their uncle Paul had crafted.

  Daniel grabbed his daughter’s coat. “Let’s go see what your daddy got you for Christmas, sweetheart.”

  Alisa knew the girl was getting a pony. But as the rest of the family trekked outside to witness the child’s joy, she hung back, needing a few moments of solitude. She began picking up the papers and spreading them out to be put away and reused. The box from Titus was burning a hole in her apron. She reached for it but pulled her hand away as though she’d touched a hot stove. No. She couldn’t accept a gift from him and then leave. It sent the wrong message.

  Oh, God. If only there was a way I could remain at the ranch with Titus.

  What if she were to go back and proclaim her innocence? Even if the authorities didn’t believe her, would it be better to run for the rest of her life or sit in jail? Possibly get hung for murder? She shuddered.

  “You cold?” This time Titus’s hands on her shoulders and the sound of his voice didn’t startle her.

  She shook her head. “Just thinking an unpleasant thought.”

  “On Christmas morning?” He turned her to face him. “That’s not right. Y
ou’re supposed to save unpleasant thoughts for the day after.”

  She smiled in spite of herself.

  “You haven’t opened my gift yet?”

  “No.” She pulled it from her pocket and offered him the box. “I can’t accept this.”

  His face clouded with hurt. “But you don’t even know what it is yet.”

  “It doesn’t matter.” She placed it in his hand and curled his fingers around the cardboard edges. “It isn’t proper for me to accept a gift when I’m leaving in a few months. It’s not fair to you.”

  He scowled and tossed the box onto the table. Then he took her by the shoulders and captured her gaze. “I want to know why you think you have to leave. I don’t care what you have done in the past. I don’t care who you’re running from. I love you, and I’m not letting you go.” His frown deepened. “You’re not already married, are you?”

  “Of course not!”

  “All right. Then tell me what’s wrong!”

  “Oh, Titus…” Suddenly, it all came tumbling out as it had weeks earlier with Mrs. White. Anger flared in his eyes as she ended her story with the account of her boarding the stagecoach.

  “I’m so sorry, Alisa. I can’t even imagine what it must have been like for you to finally find your father only to discover he’s lower than a slug’s belly. I’d like to—”

  “Oh, please, Titus. God has given me the grace to forgive him. I even pray that God will give him a new heart. But now do you see why I can’t stay here? Especially now that you know the truth. You are keeping a wanted woman from justice.”

  “It wouldn’t be justice to send you back. As far as I’m concerned, you’re not going anywhere. We’ll get married the next time Parson Abe rides through.”

  She allowed herself to relax against his broad chest, wishing for all the world that she could accept his proposal and live her days building a life with this wonderful man of her dreams.

  Apparently taking her silence as a yes, Titus relaxed as well. His large hand cupped her head. When she pulled back, he commanded her gaze with eyes filled with love and passion. Suddenly he crushed her to him, his mouth covering hers. Slowly he softened the kiss, but his warm lips continued pressing against hers until she became breathless. The sensations flashing through her surprised and delighted her…and broke her heart. Unless she could clear her name, he would never be hers. She pressed closer and allowed herself another heady moment of being in his arms.