Chapter Five

Once they'd seen Josh off to Sunday School in the church hall, Daisy hooked her arm through Luke's, and they made their way into the church for the reverend's sermon. She barely recognized the church where they'd married earlier in the week.

The once barren altar was now covered in glass jar vases filled with flowers of every kind. The empty pews held a couple dozen people, with more to come.

"Where would you like to sit?" Luke asked.

"You don't have a specific pew?"

"No, not in a while. I'm often called away and miss almost as many Sundays as I attend." He paused, then told her, "If you'd like to choose a spot, we can make that our family row."

Daisy laid her hand against his forearm and squeezed lightly. "Thank you, Luke. I'd like that very much."

They chose a spot midway down the aisle to the right of dais. Luke stepped back and motioned her forward while she scooted to the middle of the row. When he sat down beside her, he reached for a hymn book and a bible, offering them both to her.

She chose the well-used hymnary and laid it on the seat beside her.

"Fair warning," he whispered. "I can't carry a tune in a feed bucket."

Her laugh was gobbled up by her cotton-gloved fingers. "We can sing off key together then. According to my mother I must have been hiding in the weeds when they handed out singing voices."

The reverend's sermon was on new beginnings, with prayers and scripture devoted to the end of the growing season and coming harvest, a sign of God's generosity. Church news centered on the planned tea of celebration for herself and Luke. As soon as the closing prayer ended, the reverend made his way down the aisle to open the doors.

"We can sit for a few minutes, if you'd like," Luke suggested. "There's always a backup at the door."

The tea provided by the women of the church was attended by the majority of the members. Along with tea and coffee, there were finger sandwiches, cakes, and pies and quite possibly the most delicious shortbread cookies Daisy had ever tasted.

"It's so nice to see Luke find himself a wife," Delores Crandall, the town's dressmaker, said. "He's been on his own with that little boy for far too long."

Daisy offered the woman a smile, but then assured her, "He was well and truly never on his own. Mister and Missus Woods have helped Joshua become quite happy and secure."

"Well, of course, they have," Missus Crandall agreed. "But a boy needs a mother. A man needs a wife." Leaning close, Delores whispered, "Not that he was looking all that hard, mind you. There were a number of young women here in Carriage Creek who would have loved to be courted by our handsome vet."

"I've no doubt of that," Daisy conceded. "I suppose I should consider myself fortunate that Mister Addison is a patient man."

"Yes, I suppose you should."

Once Missus Crandall walked away, Daisy barely had time to draw a breath before another well-wisher took her place. Glancing around, Daisy relaxed when she saw Luke headed her way, a fresh cup of tea cradled in his hand.

"Sorry I took so long," he apologized. "Henry Walters had a question about the pills I gave him for his heifer."

"Is she okay?" Daisy wondered.

Luke's hearty chuckle twisted her gut in a knot, yet the feeling wasn't unpleasant. Not at all.

"They were nothing more than a vitamin supplement. Apparently, she likes the pills so much, she knocked the bottle off the shelf and tried to break it with her hoof to get more. Thankfully, Henry got to her before she was able to do any harm."

"Where's Josh? I saw him playing with his Sunday School classmates earlier."

"Most of the families with small children have already left so when Charlie suggested taking Josh back to their place for the afternoon, I took him up on the offer. I figured it might give us a few hours to talk. Or, if you'd like, we could take a ride around the farm."

"I suppose we could do both. Assuming we can get out of here graciously, given it's our party."

"I'm sure no one will mind." He shot her a teasing wink and then added, "After all, to these people, we're still in the honeymoon phase of our marriage."

Daisy changed into her riding pants and a simple cotton shirt. Digging through the dresser drawers, she located her leather riding gloves and stuffed them into the pocket of her trousers. By the time she reached the short corral, Luke had saddled two horses. She recognized his black gelding, having seen him ride off on a call a few times in the days since she arrived. The other horse was at least two hands shorter with a long golden mane.

"I snagged a hat for you from the pegs in the kitchen," Luke told her, offering her the brown suede tripoint covering. "The sun can get quite warm up on the hill."

"Thank you. All I need now is a holster and gun and someone might mistake me for a real cowgirl," she joked.

"If you say so," he said with a tinge of sarcasm.

Rather than wait for Luke's help, Daisy gripped the pommel, stuck her booted foot in the stirrup and pulled herself up into the saddle. "Mount up, cowboy," she teased. "I can't wait to see the other side of the farm."

"Yes, ma'am," he shot back. "At your service."

They rode for a good half hour before they reached the highest point on the ranch. With every uneven stretch, every gallop of her horse's hooves, Daisy was reminded of how long it had been since she'd been in a saddle. When Luke drew to a halt beneath a grove of trees, Daisy tugged on the reins and then stretched to work the kinks out of her back.

"Ouch," she exclaimed when one knot refused to budge.

"Are you okay?" Sliding from the saddle, he came to her side. "I should have taken a break before now."

"I'm fine," she assured him. "Just a little rusty. I'll take a hot soak when we get back to the house, and all will right itself."

Luke's gaze flared. His dark eyes bore into hers before he blinked and looked away. Motioning to the open land in front of them, he told her, "The property stretches from about a half mile to the west of the farmhouse and barns, across here, and then another two hundred acres to the east."

"It's beautiful. The grazing must be plentiful."

He raised his arms, offering her a lift down from the saddle. The moment his big hands closed around her waist Daisy's heartbeat picked up speed. Slowly, she slid down the length of his body until her feet touched the ground. When she looked up, they were face-to-face, breath-to-breath.

She wondered if he was going to kiss her. His gaze had darkened yet again, and his breath was thready, much the same as her own. Just when she thought he might lower his head and press his lips to hers, he stepped back.

"There's more than enough for my small herds of beef, goats, and sheep," he told her, his words breaking the spell between them. "The entire west pasture will give us plenty of hay for the winter."

"Joshua knows a lot about animals. He gave me a very informative tour of the barn my second day here. And was quite anxious to show me how to remove eggs from beneath the chickens without getting pecked."

"I'm glad he's taken an interest. It makes it easier to give him chores if he's got a stake in how the farm works."

"I bet he's looking forward to starting school this fall," Daisy reasoned. "I know he loves working on his printing and counting."

"He's taken quite a shine to you," Luke said, his tone filled with sincerity.

Daisy took a few steps forward until she'd reached a spot in the clearing where she could see from one side of the property to the other. She knew the moment Luke came to stand behind her. She could feel his presence as if he were touching her, even though he kept his distance.

She didn't dare turn around before she said what was on her mind. "Luke, I know I'm not the wife you were expecting… the wife you hoped for, but I give you my word, I will do right by Joshua."

He rested his hands on her shoulders, his thumbs drawing lazy circles as he spoke, "You're right. I had my mind set on Tulip. So much so, in my stubbornness, I nearly let you get away."

"But—"

"You've only been here for a week, yet it seems as if I've known you for ages. You're wonderful with my son. You fit into the community with ease, and you've earned both Caroline and Charlie's trust."

"What about your trust, Luke?"

"It's not that I don't trust you," he admitted. "I was burned… bad. I have a hard time trusting anyone, especially where my heart is concerned."

"Tell me about your wife… Josh's mom."

"There's not much to tell, other than Victoria Holden was the spoiled daughter of a Texas oilman who couldn't accept the fact her newborn son had a physical deformity. So, she ran home to her pa who pulled some strings and got her a divorce, whether I wanted one or not."

"I take it you didn't," Daisy prodded.

"It's not that I wanted to stay married to someone so selfish, I just don't believe in divorce. However, I had no say in it once Mister Holden started throwing his money around to any judge who could be bought."

"Do you still love her?"

Luke shook his head, the adamant motion sending his collar length hair flying across his firm jaw. "No, I'm not sure I ever did. At least not in the way a man should love his wife. I was infatuated… at least until she showed her true self. We'd had our squabbles even before she left. The day she walked out on Josh… on me… was the final straw."

"I suppose you should be grateful that Josh was too young to remember."

"True enough. He's never asked why he didn't have a mother, but he did make a point to mention all his friends did."

"Well, I'm here now and I have no intention of leaving."

"Even if our situation doesn't change?"

She turned then and cupped his cheek in her hand. "I accepted your terms, Luke. I don't go back on my word. I'd like to think, once we get to know each other, you may change your mind. When you do, I'll do my best to accept you as my husband and become a proper wife."