Chapter Six

Following a hot, dusty ride home from town, Luke dismounted and passed the reins over to John Packard, his veterinary assistant. "Any potential customers for the day?"

"We seem to be in between births at the moment, unless one of Hinkley's cows goes into labor early," John confirmed.

"They're all healthy. I don't think there'll be complications." Nodding toward the barn where their four-legged patients were housed, Luke said, "I'm taking the rest of the day off. Why don't you put John Henry away for me and then take off for home? I'm sure your wife will appreciate having you around to help with her overflowing vegetable garden."

John snorted a full-blown laugh. "I think I'd rather muck stalls."

Removing the package from his saddlebag, Luke shooed his friend away. "Go on, get out of here. If you don't want to pick vegetables, then go make a baby."

"That I definitely don't want to do. Four is plenty enough." John gave a tug on John Henry's reins, but then stopped to add, "Besides, it's not me with the new wife. If anyone should be making babies, it's you."

Yeah, right. Not that he hadn't thought about it. Repeatedly.

It was getting more difficult by the day to pass by his beautiful wife and not want to pull her into his arms. Yet, he wasn't quite ready. Not until he was sure she wouldn't leave.

Did you ever think your inattentiveness might scare her away?

"Shut up," he mumbled beneath his breath, chasing his annoying inner voice away.

The sound of his son's laughter drew Luke to the parlor doorway. Josh and Daisy were on the floor, a white cloth spread out in front of them. Daisy held a flat plate of tinted whitewash in her hand so that Josh could press his palm into the dish and then onto the blank cloth. With each press of his hand, Josh's giggles grew louder.

"Your turn, Mama," Josh insisted. "Put your handprint on the cloth."

Luke's breath caught, and his heart clenched. Just as it did every time his son referred to Daisy as ‘mama'. His son's easy acceptance of Daisy's place in their lives made Luke's own reluctance all that more noticeable. All that more shameful.

"Hey, you two, what are you doing?"

"We're making a tablecloth for our next picnic," Josh explained. "You hafta put your handprints on it too, Papa."

"I do?"

"Yes, you do," Daisy confirmed. "Tomorrow we're going to get Caroline's and Charlie's, and maybe even Charlie Junior, if he'll hold still long enough."

Luke held up the butcher's paper-wrapped box he'd picked up at the mercantile. "There's a package for you, Daisy."

"For me?"

"Yes, from some clinic in Chicago."

Daisy set aside the paint and rushed to her feet. "It's finally here. Thank the Almighty. I was worried Josh would outgrow it before it arrived."

"It's for me?" Josh asked. "What is it? I love getting presents."

"Let's get our hands clean and then we can open the parcel," Daisy suggested.

After a quick trip to the kitchen sink, she and Josh returned to the parlor, where Luke was waiting with as much impatience as his son.

"What is it?" he asked, parroting Josh's question.

"Something Tulip ordered before her plans changed. During one of your last letters, she asked you to take some measurements of Josh's leg."

"I figured she was curious as to the level of his… um… issue."

"It's okay, Papa, you can say it," Josh told him. "It's a deformally."

Luke bit back a laugh and corrected, "Deformity, Joshy."

Josh shot Luke a look that branded him stupid. "That's what I said, Pa. Deformally."

Ruffling Josh's hair, Daisy explained, "Tulip wanted the measurements so she could have a medical acquaintance of hers make a metal brace for Josh's leg. She wasn't sure if she should go through with her plan, given she wouldn't be here to help, but I assured her I'd see to it that it got fitted properly, even if it meant traveling to the closest medical clinic to do so."

"Will it make me walk better? Will I be able to run with my friends?"

"I'm not sure about running, but it will make walking a lot easier," Daisy told them. "As long as your father and I can figure out the instructions for fitting it to your leg."

"This is the bestest birthday present," Josh said with a giggle. "Even though it's not my birthday yet."

"That's right," Daisy said with a laugh. "Someone's getting older next week."

"It's me," Josh responded proudly. "I'm gonna be six."

"Let's take a look at this fancy brace," Luke suggested. "Then, after we have supper, we can see about fitting it to your leg."

Daisy put away the last of the supper dishes and then joined Luke and Josh in Josh's bedroom. Luke had seen to getting Josh ready for bed. Now, all there was to do was try on the brace.

Once they'd taken it out of the box, it had been a hassle to quell Josh's enthusiasm. He'd wanted to wrap it around his leg before they'd even had time to adjust the side screws according to the directions.

"I'm here," she announced, coming into the room. "I've brought some cotton batten for beneath where the metal touches your leg, just in case it's uncomfortable."

"It's gonna fit just fine," Josh insisted. "Cause you and Pa read all the words and you used Miss Caroline's measuring string to see if I'd gotten any taller."

While Luke read the instructions for the third time, Daisy unfolded the brace until they could fit it around Josh's knee. "This leather strap goes above the kneecap," she said, fitting the binding and cinching it snugly against Josh's thigh.

"Next, we put the bottom strap loosely around his ankle, and then work our way up, tightening as we go," Luke said, glancing back and forth between the list of instructions and Josh's leg.

"Let your Pa know if he cinches it too tight," Daisy warned.

Luke moved from one strap to the next. It was one thing, she suspected, to care for the well being of animals, as opposed to making drastic changes to your son's life. Closing her eyes, she said a silent prayer that the brace would work exactly as they hoped.

"There," Luke said with a drawn sigh. "That's the last strap going up the leg. Now, we come back down and tighten the bottom strap around his ankle."

"That's it?" she asked.

"No, not quite," Luke confirmed. "Now, each of these screws has to be tightened until there's no give in the brace. It shouldn't move in the slightest when he stands."

As soon as Luke was done, Josh scooted to the edge of his bed. "Can I try now, Papa?"

"Yes, but slowly. First you have to stand and get your balance," Luke explained. "Then, we make sure your hips are in line with your legs before you take a step."

"You must let us know if the metal pieces are rubbing against your skin," Daisy warned. "That way we can cushion those spots, so they don't get sore and hurt you."

"Are you ready?" Luke asked.

"Yes, sir. Help me up, please."

Luke lifted Josh to his feet and set him down. With a hand on each of Josh's hips, he straightened the boy's stance. Daisy pulled in a breath and held it, eager yet worried at the same time.

"Do you want us to hold your hands and walk with you?" She offered.

"No, Mama. I want to try on my own."

Josh took a tentative step, and then a second. His gait seemed even. His steps were short but steady. He made it all the way to his bedroom door before stopping.

"Does it hurt anywhere?" Luke inquired.

"It feels funny, but it doesn't hurt," Josh told them.

"How about we take it off for tonight?" Daisy suggested. "Then, you can put it back on in the morning to show Caroline and Charlie."

"Can I walk to the parlor and back first?"

"If you want," Luke agreed. "But if your leg gets tired or sore, stop and I'll carry you back to your bed."

Two trips to the parlor and back and Josh was ready to call it a night. "I'm tired now, Papa," Josh admitted. "Can you read me a bedtime story?"

Luke scooped Josh up and sat him on the bed. "Yes, of course, I can." Turning around to face her, Luke asked, "Could you fix us a pot of tea and meet me in the parlor? I want to make notes about where each fitting goes in case someone other than us has to help with the brace."

Daisy nodded. "That's a wonderful idea. I'll meet you there in twenty minutes."

"Make it fifteen," Luke corrected, tipping his head toward his son. "He's not going to last twenty."

Daisy busied herself with the tea and placed two slices of apple bread on a plate. Her attention on the refreshments she carried, she nearly ran headfirst into Luke when they both reached the parlor door at the same time.

"Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's me who should say ‘sorry'. I wasn't watching where I was going."

They took their seats on opposite ends of the settee and Daisy placed the serving tray on the table in front of them. "Shall I pour the tea?"

"Yes, please. I'll just be a minute. I want to make notes as to where we cinched each of the leather straps."

Daisy took a sip of her tea, and then commented, "He did quite well for the first time wearing the brace."

"He was very proud of himself," Luke noted. "He's already talking about how much fun it will be to walk into Sunday School on two good legs." After he'd also sipped on his tea, and eaten half a slice of the apple bread, he swiveled in his seat and met her gaze. "Thank you for convincing Tulip to stick to her plan."

"She felt very guilty about backing out on you," Daisy confirmed. "She thought it was the least she could do to help make amends."

"I'll have to send her my thanks. Not just for the brace, but for being so thoughtful in choosing you to take her place."

Her cheeks warmed at Luke's sincere words. "I'm honestly happy she convinced me to take this chance. These past weeks have been wonderful. Josh is a delightful little boy. The community is so welcoming, and the farm—"

"And me?"

"You're not so bad, Luke. That is when you're not wrapping your heart in a steel trap."

"I'm working on it. I was thinking that… perhaps… we could—"

A loud knock sounded at the kitchen door, interrupting what Daisy could only assume was Luke's attempt at suggesting they consummate their marriage. Much to her surprise, Luke let a rather vivid curse slip beneath his breath.

"Luke Addison!" she scolded.

"Sorry."

Daisy sprung to her feet and followed her husband to the back of the house. If someone was knocking this late in the evening, it could only mean Luke was needed. Which also meant, he wouldn't be coming back to continue their discussion.

He stepped out onto the porch to speak to their visitor, returning moments later to tell her, "I've got to go. Breech birth at the Tompkins place. It could take a while, so go on to bed. We can take up where we left off tomorrow."

Luke grabbed his hat from the peg and, surprising her once again, leaned over and buzzed her cheek with a chaste kiss.

"Be safe," she whispered. "I'll try to wait up."