tucked a thumb up under Ollie’s chin and raised it. “What’s God got to do with this, Little Britches?”
“He didn’t let Daddy stay with Mama. I’m just hopin’ He’ll hurry up and let me find her someone to hug on in case He don’t let me stay with her, too.”
* * *
Daisy’s heart tightened as if someone had struck her with a mallet. She never dreamed that the reason Ollie wanted to find a new daddy was because she feared leaving her mama alone. She’d assumed Ollie was tired of being smothered with affection and wanted it focused on someone else. At first, her interviewing and list-making seemed endearingly funny and sometimes frustrating, but now Daisy felt only selfish and unworthy of her daughter’s true concern. Ollie had lost a father and feared losing her as well to her uncles’ decisions.
“You’re not going anywhere, Ollie.” Daisy crossed the room to stand beside her. “So there’s no need to worry about that, is there, Uncle Maddox?”
Daisy stared at Maddox, hoping that her voice sounded more certain than she felt, praying it held no hint of begging. Surely he could see that Ollie needed the security of all she’d known, of a mother’s love, of living with someone who would never let her father’s name be dishonored. Even by the truth.
“I’ll chew on it for a while. No need to pick more bone for now.”
“What does ’zat mean?” Ollie looked puzzled.
Bass Parker chimed in. “That means he needs some time to make up his mind. Right, Mr. Trumbo?”
“If you’re gonna sleep under my brother’s roof you might as well call me Maddox.” Maddox rose to his six feet five inches of height. “And you’re right. I’ll hold off ’til you move to town. By then I’ll know more what I’m going to do about you and why you’re here. Ain’t decided if I’m gonna tolerate it yet. Can’t speak for the boys. They’ll decide for themselves.”
He held out his bear-paw-sized palm. “It’s been a waste of good boar-hunting weather meeting you, Parker. I can see by your knuckles you got more than good manners in ya and you can see by my nose I ain’t squeamish about shifting bones. So I hope we get through this without having to trade blows. We’ll be checking in on ya and making sure you’re healing good. People’ll get to gossiping and such if ya take too much time mending, being you’re under Daisy’s roof, ya know what I mean?”
Bass started to speak but Daisy interrupted him. “He’s hurt in the shoulder, Maddox. His ears are just fine. And don’t be threatening him if you want him out of here as soon as possible. The more he’s hurt, the longer he’ll have to stay.”
Her defense filled Bass with gratitude and more than a measure of surprise.
Ollie leaned over the side of the bed and took a good look at his knuckles. Her eyes softened as she studied him. “I better pray good and hard for ya tomorrow at church, Bass. Nobody, but nobody’s ever whupped Uncle Maddox. It would be the best fight ever, though, but you’d get hurt for sure.”
Maddox roared with laughter just as his brothers came running up the stairs and entered the already crowded room.
Jonas, the youngest of the three brothers, closest to Daisy’s age of twenty-four, ripped a bandanna from around his neck and handed it to Maddox. “What’s got ya gushing?”
Grabbing the bandanna and wiping his eyes, he also blew his crooked nose before handing the bandanna back to Jonas. Daisy almost withered with embarrassment right there on her planked flooring.
Maddox told his brothers what Ollie had said to set him to laughing so hard he’d cried.
Grissom, whose nose had fresh purple-and-yellowish hues that now wound into a second curve, looked down his odd-shaped snout. “I thought we came up here to kick him into the hereafter.”
Despite the fact that Bass looked as if he was struggling to stay awake, he spoke up and informed the newly arrived brothers what all had been said, discussed and judgment passed on concerning his reason for being here. He focused the conversation on himself, targeting the possible threats only at him and not at her custody of Ollie.
Daisy really took in the sight of her dark-haired patient. Though weak and obviously tiring more each moment that passed, his blue eyes were full of kindness and unspoken defense of her. A wounded knight in tarnished armor. Yet he guarded her. Though reluctant to admit it to herself, she appreciated him doing so and finally accepted something from Bass Parker gratefully.
“Maddox here said he’d give me time to heal my shoulder before he decides whether or not to adjust my nose,” Bass finished. “I hope you two gentlemen will do the same.”
“Maddox? All that true?” Grissom exhaled a long breath that revealed he had been holding in a readiness to add his fists to a fight.
“True as boogers on bandannas,” Ollie announced before Maddox could reply.
Male laughter erupted in the room.
“Lord help us, child.” Daisy tried to keep a straight face. She didn’t know whether to laugh or be exasperated yet again. She wasn’t even sure if she meant keeping her in-laws at bay or getting her daughter raised. “Are any of us up to this challenge?”
Ollie pointed to their houseguest and leaned in to whisper to Daisy only. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll keep my eye on everybody. And I won’t let them hurt Bass, ’least ’til I make sure he ain’t the daddy I been askin’ God to send me.”
Bass woke Sunday morning sore but feeling better. The house was quiet and he wasn’t sure if anyone else was awake. He liked this time of day when he could review the previous day and set a goal for making this one work well for him.
But yesterday had been eventful. Of all the things that occurred, the one conclusion that came from it was to focus on getting to know Daisy Trumbo better so she’d let him fulfill his obligation. Let him make up for his role in Knox not coming home. What little she’d shared of herself so far intrigued him, and he had to admit he was grateful to have met the real woman to whom he owed the obligation.
He knew the Trumbo brothers were a huge challenge, and she faced them with great courage. He admired her bravery and liked that she stood her ground with them concerning her rights to keep and raise Ollie. Bass envied having a parent who was able to love that much. Negative thoughts concerning his own mother and father threatened to seep inside his musings, but he pushed them away. That was troubled water already crossed and no amount of wading through the memories would do anything but drown him in sorrow.
Focusing again on what he’d discovered about Daisy, he smiled at her stubborn spunk, her readiness to defend even him and the kindness of her heart. She’d been able to put aside what she disliked about him and was still willing to help him recover. Daisy was fair and just. It had been such a long time since he’d met anyone like her.
He even found her oddly striking in appearance and that surprised him most. Tall, slim, hair the color of harvest wheat, eyes the color of what? He wasn’t sure he had ever seen anything worth their comparison. He’d have to think about it awhile. For now, maybe he’d settle on the amber of the crystal chandelier that graced one of the mansions he’d visited in Biloxi on Plantation Row.
She just didn’t fit the description of any woman he’d ever shown any interest in before. His occasional choice of dinner companion, more often than not, was a dark-haired beauty of shorter stature and quick wit. Not that he’d had all that many social engagements.
From the time he was a boy he’d seen his parents use love as a weapon to turn on each other, so he didn’t want to love like that. Bass told himself if he hardened his heart then no one could hurt him and he would never anchor anyone down who wanted what he couldn’t and didn’t know how to give. He planned to focus solely on doing his duty and raising his sister. He would never allow his heart