LITMIR.BIZ

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Tucker using their papa’s things was settled.

      Both boys headed for the door. “Morning, Mr. Tucker!” they shouted in unison as they raced to see who could get to the outhouse first before retrieving the items Daisy needed for breakfast.

      Tucker laughed and reached for a mug on the shelf above the stove. He grabbed a towel to protect his hand and poured himself a cup of coffee before going to look out the back window.

      “Sorry to wake you by chopping wood so early, but daylight is limited this time of year, and there’s a lot of work to be done.”

      He turned from the window near the foot of her bed, noticing she hadn’t taken the time to straighten the quilt. He could see the imprint where her head had rested on the pillow. He stepped around the chest that held her most precious possessions, remembering the day he’d gone to town for her father and picked it up from the general store. Mr. Warren had ordered it for her sixteenth birthday. The same year she’d met Murdock.

      How ironic that God had brought him to this place. After giving up hope of ever having Daisy for his wife, he’d resigned himself to live life alone. Now God had put him in a place where he and Daisy were together, but neither of them could love the other. He’d proposed to a young woman long ago. Alice Fields’s abrupt dismissal of his heart in favor of a former beau had shown him the depth of a woman’s first love. Then he’d allowed himself to grow fond of Daisy, but never told her. Now her heart would always belong to Murdock, and his had long since retreated into the hollow of his soul—never to risk rejection again.

      Daisy’s voice broke into his thoughts. “I’m sorry things are so behind. I’ve done the best I could, but it’s really more than one person can keep up with. James and John do their best, but they’re so young.” She opened the oven and put a pan of biscuits inside.

      The front door blew open, and James dropped the bacon on the cabinet beside the dishpan. Just as quickly, he trotted back outside.

      “Eager, isn’t he?” Tucker observed.

      “He knows he has to do his chores and lessons before he gets any free time. He likes to get as much done before breakfast as possible. It makes him feel like he’s got some say in the latter part of his day.” Daisy was slicing the bacon and laying it in the bottom of a hot skillet. The sizzling sound promised to become a delicious smell soon.

      “He’s a lot like you.” Tucker had removed the ashes from the fireplace and put in fresh wood for the evening. He took the ash bucket to the front porch to empty later. John came in with a basket of eggs and left to help his brother in the barn.

      “What makes you say that?”

      “He’s always asking questions, always seems to be taking charge, and just a little impatient.” Tucker teased her with his observations about James. “Not that those are bad things.”

      Daisy turned with one hand on her hip and the butter dish in the other. “If you mean he’s constantly aware of what’s going on around him, learning by inquiring, has good leadership skills and doesn’t like to waste time, then, yes, he is like me.” Daisy set the butter down on the table with a thud to punctuate her speech.

      “See. My point exactly. He’s a lot like you.” Tucker opened the door when he heard James coming up the steps with a fresh pail of milk. James set the pail on the cabinet and went to wash his hands behind the screen. John was only steps behind his brother.

      Tucker poured milk for both boys and coffee for Daisy. Then he refilled his own mug. The boys sat on their bench, and Daisy put the last of the food on the table and took her place on the end, by James. The twins and Daisy joined hands. John was seated next to Tucker and reached for him. Tucker couldn’t resist smiling at the quiet child and took his hand. Daisy and the boys bowed their heads.

      Tucker took the opportunity to study her. Tresses of golden hair escaped the bun twisted at the nape of her neck. Her face was hollow from the grief she’d suffered. Her freckles stood out against pale skin. One small hand held the hand of James. The other lay on the table, and his mother’s ring caught the shaft of morning sun that peeked through the window. The whole picture painted a stark reminder of the toll a person suffered on losing their true love.

      Daisy lifted her head and caught him staring. She indicated that he should pray. Raising her eyebrows higher and leaning her head toward the boys, she let him know she was asking for the sake of the twins. Tucker bowed his head.

      “Lord, we thank You for all Your blessings. Thank You for the food, and help us to make the most of this day You’ve given us. Amen.”

      Daisy and the boys added, “Amen.” She was looking his way when Tucker reached for the biscuits, and she smiled her thanks.

      It might take Tucker a while to adjust to the day-to-day workings of family life, but that’s what he’d come here to do. Would Daisy be willing to adjust to him? He could see them beginning to rebuild their friendship from the past. He hoped she never expected more than that, because that’s all he had left to give.

      * * *

      After breakfast Tucker disappeared into the barn. Between breakfast and lunch during the week, Daisy did lessons with the boys. When Murdock had been killed, the twins were terrified of leaving her alone. She’d agreed to let them school at home until after Christmas. In just over two months they would head to the town school every morning. She hoped the thieves would be found by then.

      She cleared away the dishes while James and John brought their books to the table. Watching out the window while she washed the last of the dishes, Daisy caught sight of Tucker riding out the back of the barn in the direction of the creek on the rear of the property.

      “Did you boys tell Mr. Tucker where the creek is?” Daisy dried her hands, untied her apron and hung it on a peg to dry. She joined James and John at the table.

      “Yes, ma’am. He asked us all kinds of questions yesterday on the porch while you were getting ready for the wedding.” James climbed onto the bench and opened his speller. “We told him about the fence line from the ranch next to us, and about the pond where we go swimming in summer and even about how far the cotton fields go out toward the Dixon place.”

      “James told him lots of stuff. I still don’t know how to talk to him much, Momma, but I’m trying real hard to like him because he’s your friend.” John had opened the Bible to find the place they would pick up their reading today.

      Daisy pushed the curling edges of John’s hair out of his face. “Thank you for trying, John. Mr. Tucker is a good man. I know you’ll both grow to like him. It’s okay to answer his questions. He has a lot to learn about our farm.” Daisy added quietly to herself, “And us.”

      * * *

      Tucker joined them for lunch. They ate the rest of the bacon and biscuits from breakfast. A piece of wedding cake prevented the lunch from being ordinary.

      “We’re going to miss this cake when it’s gone.” Daisy covered the remaining cake and put it on the cabinet under the window.

      “You can make us something sweet, Momma. You’re the best cook ever!” James licked icing from the corners of his mouth and headed for the door. “Can I go finish my chores now? I’m thinking I might want to go fishing later.”

      “Go ahead. Just don’t leave to go fishing without coming to the house and letting me know first.” Daisy poured water from a bucket into the dishpan. “John, you go with your brother. You’ve both studied enough for one day.”

      John stacked the books and carried them to the shelf in their bedroom before joining James at the door. They both put on their new hats.

      “Why don’t you save those new hats for church and trips to town? Special occasions and such?” Daisy didn’t want to see the hats come to harm during their everyday activities.

      “Mr. Tucker told us these hats were for protecting our heads from the elements while we work. We’re supposed to wear ’em every day.” James adjusted his brim and looked

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