"Over here!" She and Hattie walked around the barn, following the voice.
"Stay right there!" Logan ordered.
"What's-" Daisy's words were cut off by a mighty whoosh as a sled came flying down the snowbank, stopping less than two feet from where she stood.
"Hi!" Jamie, all bundled up in his scarf and cowboy hat, waved his arms from where he sat, sandwiched in front of Bryce on the biggest sled Daisy had ever clapped eyes on.
"We've got a good team going here." Bryce grinned at her. "But I think we've got room for one more."
"I'm not getting on that thing!" Daisy refused. "No matter how much room is on it!"
"Well, not until we get it to the top of the hill, at least." Bryce handed Jamie to her. "Meet me at the top."
Left with no choice, Daisy trudged up the snowy hill. "Bryce, I..." The words died in her throat as she looked around her.
"Surprise!" Jamie clapped excitedly as Daisy walked over to the sight be-fore her.
A blue tablecloth covered an old tree stump. Bryce stood beside it, taking her hand and helping her step over the roots. He helped her sit down, Jamie resting on her lap.
"What are you up to, Bryce Chance?" she asked.
"We're waiting for a friend." Bryce pointed over to where Nosey trundled through the snow, determined to reach Jamie. When the dog, no longer a tiny puppy, reached them, Bryce picked her up.
"Nosey has something for you." He held the growing puppy up, and when Daisy reached out to pet the animal, she noticed a piece of twine tied around Nosey's neck.
"What's this?" She fingered the thick string. Nosey didn't need a collar, since she hardly ever left Jamie's side.
"Pull it in and find out," Bryce prompted. Daisy grabbed the long end of the string and began pulling.
And pulling, and pulling. Jamie giggled with glee as she brought up more and more twine. What have they got on the end of this thang?
Daisy gasped as she caught sight of the sparkling ring. Nosey snuffled her hand in wet encouragement as Daisy grabbed it.
"Daisy." Bryce dropped to one knee, still holding Nosey under one arm. "We've got quite a little group here. I've spoken with Jamie man-to-man and gotten his blessing to ask you something." He reached for her left hand, looking deep into her eyes. "Will you be my wife and make us a family?"
Daisy could only nod while Bryce slid the engagement band onto her finger. "Yes!" She finally managed. She stood up, and Bryce gathered her and Jamie into his warm embrace. I might not stay in Salt Lick Holler, Daisy knew, but I've found my home.
"Got a surprise for you two back at the cabin," Logan announced a few minutes later as he rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.
"Oh?" Bryce wondered what his brother'd done this time.
"When you told me how you'd be proposing, I made a few arrangements of my own." Logan grimaced as Hattie elbowed him in the ribs. "We made a few arrangements."
They all marched back to the cabin, Daisy shooting Bryce quizzical looks.
"I have no idea what they've planned." Bryce squeezed her hand.
"Preacher Jacobs!" Daisy's gasp told Bryce what was afoot. Logan and Hattie had made arrangements for the preacher to stop by while he was still in town.
"Are you ready for this, Daisy?" Bryce cupped her face in his palms. "We can wait if you want."
"Why wait?" Daisy's eyes sparkled up at him. "I love you and want to be yore wife."
His heart soared at her decision. "Let's be wed now then."
"Not quite yet." Miz Willow shooed Hattie and Daisy into the adjoining room. "You have to give the bride a moment to ready herself."
Bryce waited with Logan, Jamie, and the preacher.
"What's taking so long?" Logan paced around the cabin impatiently. Any stranger would've thought he was the one getting married.
"Hold still," Bryce ordered. "Daisy's worth the wait." Always has been.
She stepped out of the room in her green-striped wool dress, one of her delicate lace collars framing her face. She wore the gloves and hair combs he'd given her, too. Bryce swelled with pride at the sight of her.
He scarcely heard the words spoken by the preacher, although he knew the vows by heart. When the time came for him to pledge his love, his voice sounded gruff to his own ears.
"With this ring, I thee wed." Daisy sounded ethereal, like sunshine dancing on the grass.
"I now pronounce you man and wife," the preacher intoned grandly. "You may-"
Bryce kissed his bride.
"Good-bye, dearie." Miz Willow gave Jamie and Daisy one final hug. The snow had cleared enough for them to travel back to Chance Ranch.
" 'Bye!" Jamie chirped. He patted his cowboy hat more firmly in place. " 'Bye!"
Hattie stood on tiptoe to give Bryce a farewell hug. "I know you'll take good care of them," she whispered to him. "Give my love to Lovejoy."
"I'll be sure to," Bryce pledged. He turned as Logan slapped him on the back.
"Can't believe you're going." Bryce's younger brother shook his head. "Tell everybody I miss them, but I'm happy." Logan stopped to smile at Hattie. "Thanks for coming to Salt Lick with me, Bryce." Logan gave him a quick nod before almost cracking Bryce's back in a big bear hug. "Be happy."
"I will." Bryce smiled at Daisy and Jamie. "I will." After their final good-byes, they boarded the train and leaned out the windows to wave as Hawk's Fall, Logan, Hattie, and Miz Willow faded out of sight.
"I'm going to miss them." Daisy sniffed.
"I know." Bryce slung an arm around her shoulder and rubbed her arm. "Me, too. But you're going to have a whole army of people waiting to meet you back at Chance Ranch."
"That reminds me." Daisy nestled Jamie into the seat next to her. "I still don't know their names."
"Well, I'll run through them with you. You won't be able to call my brothers by name until you've been around them awhile. We all look a lot alike." Bryce rubbed his jaw.
"No, you don't," Daisy said loyally. "I could tell you and Logan apart the first time I met you."
"I appreciate that I caught your eye right off the bat," Bryce teased, "but it won't be so easy when there are five Chance brothers around. I had to come clear to Kentucky to catch your eye."
"You'll always hold my attention, no matter how many relations are on that ranch of yores." Daisy laid a hand on his chest. "I've already got me the Chance of a lifetime."
ABOUT THE AUTHORS.
TRACEY V. BATEMAN lives with her husband and four children in southwest Missouri. She believes in a strong church family relationship and sings on the worship team. Serving as vice president of American Christian Romance Writers gives Tracey the opportunity to help new writers work toward their writing goals.
CATHY MARIE HAKE is a Southern California native who loves her work as a nurse and Lamaze teacher. She and her husband have a daughter, a son, and two dogs, so life is never dull or quiet. Cathy considers herself a sentimental packrat, collecting antiques and Hummel figurines. In spare moments, she reads, bargain hunts, and makes a huge mess with her new hobby of scrapbooking.
KELLY EILEEN HAKE has loved reading her whole life, and as she grew older, she learned to express her beliefs through the written word. Currently, she is a senior in college working toward her BA in English. She intends to earn her Single Subject Credential so she can share her love of words with high school students! She likes to cook, take walks, go to college group activities at her church, and play with her two dogs, Skylar and Tuxedo.
end.