Chapter Four

Daisy was relieved when they finally pulled up to the side of Luke's large farmhouse. Her entire body ached in places she hadn't known existed before she set off to begin her new life. Hopefully the afternoon and evening ahead would be relaxing. It seemed like forever since she'd felt the comfort of sitting on something not made of wood.

She took a moment to let the size of Luke's farm sink in. Off in the distance, she could see what appeared to be three full size barns. On the side of the closest structure, was a chicken coop. A large corral held a half dozen horses, each as impressive as the two pulling their carriage.

"Your farm is lovely," she told him.

"Thank you. We've been adding on as we needed to, given how quickly my veterinary practice has grown. Just recently, we gave the house a new coat of paint inside and out. I hope you like what we've done."

"I'm sure I will," she assured him. She was about to comment further on the size of the spread when her thoughts were interrupted by the loud squeals of a child.

"Papa… you're home."

Daisy spun in her seat toward the sound. A little boy… Luke's son… came galloping from the direction of the closest barn toward the carriage. He'd trip every so often until he consciously slowed his gait and straightened his stance. Despite Tulip's notes and verbal preparation, the child's physical deformity was more prominent than Daisy had expected, yet he didn't seem to let the shorter leg slow him down any.

"I'd better grab him before he goes arse over kettle," Luke said as he stepped to the ground. Scooping the boy up his arms, he turned so they were both facing her.

"Missus Daisy Addison, this is my son, Joshua. Although, he prefers to be called Josh. Josh, this is my new wife, Daisy."

"My new mama," Josh clarified, the childlike simplicity of his words drawing her smile.

Daisy held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Joshua, who likes to be called Josh. You may call me Daisy. Or, Miss Daisy, if your father prefers."

The boy shook his head. "Nope. I intend to call you Mama."

Daisy's heart clenched. In all her reviews of Luke's letter, all the mentions of his son, she'd never once considered the boy would be so eager to accept her as his mother. She glanced at Luke to see if he was going to comment.

"I suppose that would be fine," she said. "As long as your father approves."

Luke's broad shoulders lifted and fell in a shrug. "If that's what Josh wants, it's fine with me."

"That's what all my friends at Sunday School call their mothers," Josh explained. "So, that's what I should call mine."

Daisy bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. It all made perfect sense to her now.

"I understand you have a place in the house where you practice your printing and create wonderful pictures of the animals here on the farm," Daisy said, recalling some of what she'd read. "Maybe you can show me what you're working on later."

"I'm drawing a picture of Charlie Junior, although he won't come out of his hidey hole long enough for me to make sure his color is right."

"Charlie Junior?" Daisy repeated in question.

"He's my newest pet," Josh explained.

"Why don't I get Josh settled inside?" Luke suggested. "Then I can come back out for your bags and put them in your room."

Setting Josh down, Luke helped her from the carriage. Before he could lift his son back up, Daisy took Josh's hand in hers. "No need to carry him inside," she said. "He and I can walk together."

"Yeah, Papa, I'm not a baby," Josh insisted.

"I guess you're not, son," Luke agreed.

Daisy led the way up the three stairs to the back porch. With the lightest of touches, she encouraged Josh to take the steps on his own.

"This is better," he told her. "I usually go up on all fours. I like stepping up like big people."

"It takes a bit of practice, and something for support."

He squeezed her fingers where they held loosely to his smaller hand. "I have a cane that Mister Charlie made for me out of hickory wood, but I like holding your hand better."

"Once I get settled in and take a tour of the farm to get an idea of the layout, we can find ways for you to get around even easier than you do now," she explained.

"I can show you around the buildings tomorrow," Josh offered. "But we'll have to ride horses to see all the way up to the swimming pond." He narrowed his warm brown gaze and asked, "Do you know how to ride?"

"Yes, Josh, I ride. Although, it's been a while, so I may be a bit rusty."

"That's okay. My Pa is a great rider. He can teach you what you mighta forgot."

It was nearly seven by the time they finished supper. Daisy and Caroline were making quick work of the kitchen, while Charlie and Josh went out to feed the animals. Her wedding day had become quite surreal, with her new husband called away to deliver lambs for a distressed ewe.

"Is it always like this? I mean, Luke's being summoned to tend to his four-legged patients?" Daisy asked.

"Doctoring for animals isn't much different than it is for people, I reckon," Caroline confirmed. "When you're needed, you go."

"I suppose you're right. Luke's lucky you and Charlie have been here all along to care for Josh."

"Yep, ever since Josh's mother left, we've been available whenever Luke has to go out. This evening will be the first night in ages that we can go back to our own cabin on the far side of the property. We usually just stay here because we never know when he'll be called away."

"Well, I'm here now, so you're welcome to get away on your own," Daisy assured her. "I think I have the lay of the house, thanks to your earlier tour."

"Luke insisted you take the master bedroom, so you'd be close to the bathroom. If you'd like Charlie to fire up the boiler so you can take a bath, just let him know."

"A bath sounds wonderful, but I'll likely wait until Josh is in bed and sound asleep before I go upstairs. This is all so new to him that I wouldn't want him to wake up without someone around."

"I'm guessing that's one of the reasons Luke moved his stuff into the downstairs bedroom next door to Josh."

Daisy nodded, but then said, "It wouldn't be right to have a marriage in name only and still share a bed."

"Pshaw. This whole ‘marriage in name only' nonsense won't last long. Especially considering how pretty and smart you are and how lonely Luke must be… even though he won't admit it." Caroline rang the dish towel in her hands, and added, "Unless, of course, you're also keen on a celibate marriage."

"What I'm keen on is getting to know my husband a bit better before we consummate. I've no qualms about a real marriage. That was totally Luke's doing."

"Luke's a good man, and a great father. He adores Joshua and would do anything to make him happy. But he was hurt badly when Josh's mother left. Josh was too young to remember much about her. All he knows is that the other children have a mother, and he doesn't."

"Such a horrible shame," Daisy commented. "I don't understand how anyone could leave their child."

"She was a piece of work, that's for sure. Spoiled by her rich daddy and when her son wasn't perfect, she turned tail and ran."

"Josh seems to be coping quite well with everything, including my arrival."

"The boy had a rough time with his deformity. We're fortunate to have loving, Christian neighbors who have never made an issue of Josh's leg. Even their children have never teased him, and often go out of their way to choose games he can play."

"It's obvious they were raised properly," Daisy noted.

"If you'd like, since this is your first night and all, we can stay until Josh is asleep. He usually goes to bed around eight-thirty."

"No, that's okay," Daisy said. "You go ahead once Charlie and Josh come back. I'm sure he and I can manage. I've already promised to read him a bedtime story."

"I set his pajamas out on his bed," Caroline explained. "All he needs to do is make a bathroom trip and brush his teeth."

"Wonderful. Even a novice mother like me shouldn't mess that up."

"Make sure you check his bed though. He will try and sneak that furry rodent of his into his room."

"Rodent?"

"Charlie Junior, his guinea pig," Caroline confirmed. "Not a rat, but he sure looks like it to me."

"When Josh mentioned Charlie earlier, I assumed he was a dog or barn cat," Daisy admitted.

"Nope. Charlie's a squealy, squirmy guinea pig."

Luke let himself into the house shortly after ten. The only light came from the kerosine lamp atop the stove, and a single shaft of illumination visible from the parlor. After hanging his hat on the peg by the door, and discarding his boots on the woven mat, he made his way down the hall.

He peeked into Josh's room first, grateful to see his son was sound asleep, his arms wrapped around his worn teddy bear and his favorite storybook discarded on the side table.

When he gave the parlor door a gentle push, his breath caught tight in his chest. Daisy had dozed off in the rocking chair, the family bible balanced precariously on her lap. Her silky, dark hair was falling from its pins, the wispy tendrils teasing her pink cheeks. She was beautiful, and she was his wife.

In name only… remember… foolish man that you are. His conscience poked at him without mercy.

She's here for Josh. Nothing more, nothing less.

Well then, you deserve to be alone. How long do you think she'll stick around for a loveless marriage? How hurt will Josh be when another woman leaves you in the dust?

Cautiously, Luke eased his way forward. With the gentlest touch he could muster, given how haywire his senses were at the moment, he nudged Daisy awake.

"I'm home. Finally. You can go to bed if you'd like."

She shifted slightly in the big chair and her delicate hands lifted to wipe sleep from her eyes. When she opened them and saw him, a soft smile lifted the corners of her perfect lips.

"Welcome home. I trust the expectant mother did well."

"Yes, she gave birth to twins."

"How exciting." She stretched, like a cat unfurling from a long nap in front of a warm fire. "Josh went to bed without any trouble. No guinea pig to put out, and only two stories before his eyelids began to droop."

"Thank you for seeing after him."

"It was no problem. He's a sweetheart." She started toward the door, only to stop short when he caught hold of her wrist. "Yes?"

"I'm really glad you're here," he told her. "You're going to make Josh very happy."

"Just Josh?"

He sucked in a breath. "For now, just Josh is enough."

She offered him the most beautiful smile and his heart clenched tightly in his chest.

"You're right… for now."