have wanted him to move on with his life if the situation had been reversed. However, knowing she should move forward was easier than actually taking the steps to do it.
Daisy wiped her face with the back of her hand. “I will not cry in the dress bought to make me happy.” And then she put it on. Could she take the joy of her past into a future that offered contentment, but not true love?
The heaviness of Tucker’s boots sounded on the porch steps as she took a final look in the mirror. Her hand trembled as she reached up to touch the delicate white lace collar at her neck—and then she saw it. Her wedding band.
Daisy’s knees buckled, and she collapsed to sit on the side of the bed. She held her hand out to look at the ring. The plain gold band had been there so long it was like a part of her. Murdock had given it to her on their first anniversary. The scratches and worn places testified to the hard work and commitment of their relationship. Spinning it on her finger and rubbing the cool smoothness of it, she blew out a determined breath and pulled the ring from her hand. She went to the chest and found the small velvet bag the ring had come in. She kissed the ring and slid it inside. With the pull of the drawstring she tied her past into a bow and lovingly placed it in the chest before lowering the lid.
Digging deep inside for energy she wasn’t sure she had, Daisy pushed against the closed chest to stand. With her shoulders back and head held high, she straightened the ribbons of the bow that held her Sunday hat in place. Numbness froze her countenance in resignation. Her father’s letter was tucked inside her small reticule for comfort as she journeyed forward into the day’s events.
Sunlight sliced into the cabin when she opened the front door.
* * *
James and John sat on the front steps, looking into the fields. Tucker leaned against the porch railing staring at the door. He stood to his full height as Daisy joined them on the porch. Hat in hand he smiled at her.
“Miss Daisy, you look lovely.” He took a step closer to her and hesitated, turning the Stetson in his hands. “I took the liberty of hitching my horse to your wagon for the trip into town.”
With a curt nod in his direction, Daisy said, “Thank you, Tucker,” before turning to her sons. “Well, boys, let’s go. Hop up into the back of the wagon.” Daisy set the boys into motion with her no-nonsense tone. Hands in his pockets, James kicked at the dirt as he walked. John scampered ahead of his brother and vaulted into the wagon.
Daisy cautioned her eldest. “James, mind your manners and do as you’re told.”
His “Yes, ma’am” was muttered so quietly Tucker almost couldn’t hear it. Tucker walked down the steps ahead of her and turned to offer his hand as she followed. He didn’t meet her gaze. He took her small gloved hand in his calloused one and assisted her down the steps. She immediately withdrew it when her feet touched the ground. He watched her twist the drawstrings on her reticule around her fingers as they slowly walked to the wagon.
Again Tucker offered a hand to steady her as she climbed into the wagon. Again she permitted only the briefest of contact and settled into the seat while he walked in front of his horse to climb up beside her. He was a bit surprised by how quickly she’d agreed to marry him. When it was all said and done, he was a friend from so far in her past she had not recognized him when he rode onto her land a mere hour ago.
Grabbing the reins and sending the horse forward, he said, “I’ll see about getting a couple of horses next week. We’ll need them for working the farm. Mack here is more for riding than pulling a wagon. He’s a ranch horse.”
Daisy kept her eyes straight ahead and her voice low so James and John wouldn’t hear her above the sounds of the wagon on the narrow lane leading to the main road. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to keep to the topic of the day. We can talk about such business later. I don’t want to remind the boys of the loss of their papa and our horses.”
“Good idea.” Tucker matched her volume. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”
“It’s not a problem,” she said between taut lips. “It’s just that so much is happening today. I don’t want to add to the weight of all that’s already on their minds. They’ve had a rough go of it.”
“I understand.” He turned the wagon onto the main road and signaled his horse to pick up speed as they headed toward town. They traveled in silence for a few minutes.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be married in the church, not the parsonage.” Daisy began to rattle off details for the afternoon’s agenda. “We can have a nice supper at the local hotel. It’s a very impressive establishment for a town as small as Pine Haven. The food is very good. I’d also like to stop in at the general store. The boys haven’t had a treat in a long time. I think this is just the occasion for it.”
“Whoa, Daisy. Seems like you’ve got this all planned out in your head already. Mind if I interject some thoughts?”
“Interject away.” She lifted her arm in a sweeping gesture. “It’s not like any of this was my idea in the first place. I was just trying to make the most of it.”
“Oh, good. That’ll help.” Tucker kept his eyes on the road ahead. “Sarcasm will be just the right spice to add to today. Keep it up and James will be back to kicking dirt by the time we get to town.” He grinned to let her know he was teasing her the way he had when she was a teenager. He turned and winked at her. He saw the corners of her mouth tug into a smile before he looked back to the road.
“You always had a knack for getting me out of a mood.” She settled her hands in her lap again and looked up into the bright sky, appearing to relax for the first time since he’d ridden onto the farm just after lunch. She took in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. The boys had curled up on the hay in the back of the wagon and fallen asleep in the sunshine. Their clothes would be wrinkled, but he was glad to see they’d settled down.
“How are you, Daisy? Really?”
“I’m better now. Not over it by any means, but better. Working the farm will take the stress out of you if you let it.” The underlying sadness in her voice revealed the true depth of her pain.
“If you ever need to talk about it, I’ll listen.”
Daisy put one gloved hand on his arm and he felt her gaze on him as he drove. “I remember many times when you did just that. Thank you, Tucker.” She cleared her throat. “Not just for being a friend who’s willing to listen, but for everything. I know what a sacrifice it is for you to give up your life to help me and the boys.”
“Don’t you worry about that for one minute. I’m sorry those little fellows lost their papa. I know what it’s like to grow up without a father. You might remember mine was gone before I was old enough to know much about him. Tuberculosis took him the winter I turned five. I want to be to your sons what your father has been to me.” He tried without success to cover the gravel in his tone. She gave his arm a slight squeeze of comfort, and he continued. “I also hope to be there for you in a way my momma needed when she was trying to raise me alone. It was a hard life. One I hope to spare you from.” He cleared his throat and snapped the reins, effectively ending the conversation. “Get up, Mack. We need to get to town.”
His mother had done her best but life without a father had been difficult.
Daisy’s dad had raised his daughters with the help of a housekeeper who came during the daytime. Mr. Warren had made it seem so simple.
