Chapter Three

Daisy shifted on the hard surface of the stagecoach seat. According to their driver, they had less than an hour to go on their trip, and that was nearly forty minutes ago. She stretched to look out the window, pushing the oil cloth curtain aside for a glimpse at the countryside.

It wasn't at all what she was expecting. Rather than barren land, and dusty roads, the area was filled with trees, birds chirped, and off in the distance she could hear running water.

"First time in the west, sweetie," the older, robust woman named Ruth asked.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm from Saint Louis."

"What's a pretty, young lady like you doing in this part of California? You should be in San Franciso living it up."

"I'm on my way to be married," Daisy confided. "My husband-to-be is meeting the stage in Carriage Creek."

"Now that's exciting," Ruth said. "I was married once myself. He turned out to be a scoundrel, and I got rid of him right away."

"You divorced him?" Daisy asked.

"Nope, I shot him." At Daisy's gasp, Ruth chuckled. "He shot at me first, but my aim was better."

Daisy wasn't sure whether to be appalled or amused by the woman's comment. This was definitely not Saint Louis. Yet, by the same token, also not really the ‘wild' west, either.

The coach slowed down, pulling to a smooth stop. Daisy drew a long breath. This was it. "How much farther are you going?" she asked her companion.

"Another hour or so," Ruth confirmed. "I'm the next to last stop before they turn around and head north." When the door sprung open, Ruth chuckled and added, "You have yourself a nice wedding, and an even nicer wedding night."

A marriage in name only. Mister Addison's wishes swirled around in her head. Offering Ruth a final smile, she said, "I will. Thank you. Safe travels."

The coach's driver held out a weathered hand to help her from the stage. Daisy accepted his assistance and stepped out of the coach and onto the wooden platform. There was no one there. No sign of Mister Addison at all. She took a few steps toward the waystation's door and waited for her luggage to be unloaded. Perhaps her intended was waiting inside.

When the driver set the first of her bags on the ground, and then climbed up to the rack to grab the others, a man stepped out from the side of the building and reached up for the first suitcase, "I'll take that."

Daisy spun around and came face-to-face with Luke Addison. He was taller than she imagined. And even more handsome in person than in the picture he'd sent. His dark hair hung to his shirt collar yet was neatly combed. His eyes were the most intriguing shade of brown with gold flecks circling the black center.

"Mister Addison," she said softly. "I'm—"

"Miss Daisy Chambers. I assumed so since you were the only one getting off the stage." He gave her a quick up and down perusal, his gaze lingering on her face. "You don't look much like your picture."

Her cheeks warmed. "I'm sorry if—"

"You're prettier."

"Oh." She paused for a moment, surprised by his simple compliment, then asked, "Is that a problem?"

His broad shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug. "Not as far as I'm concerned." He gathered her luggage from the platform and started toward the side of the building from where he'd come. "My buggy's tied up over this way."

"How far is it to where you live?" she wondered.

"About a half hour drive, but we've got a stop to make first."

"A stop?" After two days of dusty stage travel, she had no desire to go visiting.

"The reverend is expecting us at the church for our ceremony."

Daisy's steps faltered. "We're getting married right now?"

He stopped short, and she nearly ran into him from behind. He turned and shot her a look of concern. "I can't very well take you home with me if we're not man and wife. It's not proper."

"I thought I'd at least have a chance to change my clothes and freshen up a bit."

As he'd done earlier, he raised and lowered his gaze, assessing her from head-to-toe. "You look fine to me. It's not like we were planning a fancy to-do. However, if you're set on something bigger, I can get you a hotel room here in town until a more formal church wedding can be arranged."

"Whatever you have planned is fine," she told him. "It's not like we're a real couple anyway."

His dark gaze narrowed. "Are you having second thoughts about the arrangements?"

"No. I'd never go back on my word."

"Good. Let's get going then. I don't want to keep the reverend waiting."

"Yes, of course. We wouldn't want to be late for our own wedding, would we?"

Luke wasn't exactly sure what he'd been expecting, but it certainly wasn't the beautiful woman with the pale blue eyes waiting to be helped down from his buggy. The tintype Zinnia Williams had sent didn't come close to matching the woman he was about to marry.

"Here you go," he said, stumbling over the three simple words the moment his grip closed around her slender fingers.

"Will your son be here for the wedding?" Daisy asked.

"No. He's back at the farm with my vet's assistant, John. My good friends, Caroline and Charlie Woods, will be here, along with Reverend Thomas and his wife Ernestine."

"Missus Woods is also your cook and housekeeper, isn't she?"

"Yes, and Charlie helps me run the farm. I'd be lost without them."

"I'm sure I'll appreciate their help while I'm getting my bearings."

His gait slowed, and he drew to a stop, turning to face her at the foot of the church steps. "They will be staying on, even after you've become my wife."

"Of course," she agreed. "I've no intention of usurping their place in your life. I'd hoped to focus my attention on your son."

"Good. That's why you're here."

He yanked open the door, a bit more forcefully than necessary. Cupping her elbow in his hand, he steered her inside and down the aisle to the front of the small church. The reverend, Missus Thomas, Caroline and Charlie all turned at the sound of footsteps.

"About time you got here," Charlie teased. "We were beginning to think Miss Chambers took one look at you and got back on the stage."

At his side, Daisy's soft laugh—hidden discreetly behind her gloved hand—tickled his ears, muddled his thoughts.

"As you can see," Luke bit back. "That wasn't the case."

"If anything," Daisy added, "it was my fault. I'm pretty sure Mister Addison wasn't expecting me to bring as much luggage as I did."

"I wouldn't call two cases and a traveling bag all that much," Luke countered. "At least not compared to some I've seen get off that stage." Closing the last few feet between themselves and the front of the church, Luke hastily made the introductions. "Reverend Thomas, Missus Thomas," he began, nodding toward the couple to his left. "This is Miss Daisy Chambers, my intended."

Daisy offered the reverend her hand. "Very nice to meet you both. I look forward to Sunday services."

"These," Luke continued, "are my good friends Charlie and Caroline Woods."

"I've heard a lot about the two of you," Daisy admitted, "both through my friend Tulip's accounts of Mister Addison's letters, and on the way here from the waystation."

Caroline took a step in Daisy's direction, and reminded her, "You're about to become Daisy Addison, my dear. I'm sure Luke won't mind being called by his Christian name." Turning slightly, Caroline asked, "Will you Luke?"

"I'm fine with whatever Daisy chooses."

"We don't hold much on formality around here," Charlie put in. "Except with the reverend, of course."

"Why don't we get this ceremony underway," Reverend Thomas suggested. "Earnestine, dear, if you'd be so kind as to play us a hymn in the background. Charlie, Caroline, you'll stand to my right as the witnesses." Lifting his bible up, the reverend motioned Luke and Daisy forward. "And, last but not least, the happy couple should stand right here in front of me."

Ten minutes, three bible passages, and one prayer later, Luke closed his eyes and drew a breath. He was once again, a married man. Only, this time, he wasn't going to let his common sense be swayed by a pretty face and fancy upbringing.

"Reverend," Caroline said once the ceremony concluded, "I'm making a special dinner tonight if you and the missus would like to join us."

"Ordinarily, Caroline, I would never turn down one of your fine home cooked meals, but Ernestine and I are riding down to Bow's Bend to spend a couple of days spoiling our grandchildren. I promised the youngest I'd take him fishing."

"Well then, we'll see you on Sunday," Luke confirmed.

"The ladies of the church are planning a tea for after services," Ernestine Thomas said. "A welcome for the new Missus Addison."

"That sounds lovely," Daisy said. "We look forward to it."

A serene smile lit her face and made his stomach churn. She'd been his wife all of five minutes and already she is fitting in better than…

Stop it! His inner voice urged. This is a new beginning for you, and for your son.

"We should be going," he announced, urging her toward the door with the light touch of his hand at her waist. "No doubt Josh is anxious to meet his new mother."

"And I'm excited to meet him, as well," she confided as they walked. "From the letters you'd exchanged with Tulip, he seems like an extraordinary little boy."

Once they'd reached the buggy, he helped her up onto the bench seat, before saying, "I need to speak with the reverend for a minute. I'll be right back."

"Take your time, Mister…um… Luke. I'm enjoying this lovely summer day."

He glanced back over his shoulder two or three times as he crossed the yard to where the reverend was locking up for the day. Daisy sat there, her head tilted, her face aimed skyward, as if she was soaking up the warm sun. Giving himself a shake to dislodge her vision, he continued forward.

"Thank you again, Reverend, for making time in your schedule for our wedding," Luke said as he approached. He handed the reverend an envelope. "A little something for your trouble."

"I appreciate it. Although, if I know Ernestine, she'll spend it on the grandbabies."

"Is your son-in-law still off work with his injury?" Luke asked.

"Another week and the doc said he can return to the mine. If I had my druthers, he'd get out of that smelly and dangerous business. However, it's what he wants to do, so I'm keeping my thoughts to myself."

"I suppose I'd better be going," Luke admitted.

The reverend chuckled. "Not too many men I know would be wasting valuable honeymooning time talking to me."

"Not much honeymoon time at the moment, what with the work around my place and the impending birth of half the farm animals in the county."

"The new Missus Addison seems like a lovely young woman," the reverend observed. "I'll say a little prayer that this one acclimates a mite easier than the first Missus Addison."

Luke nodded in the affirmative. "I'll appreciate any help you and the Almighty can give me."

Turning on his heel, he started back across the church yard. No doubt Daisy was wondering about her new husband's lack of manners.

"Sorry I took so long," he mumbled as he lifted himself into the buggy. "We'll be on our way home now."

"I wasn't worried," she said, a teasing lilt to her voice. "After all, it would be highly unlikely you'd ditch these two beautiful animals just to be rid of your new bride."

Luke's jaw twitched, but he held in his laugh. "True enough. They are a couple of fine horses."