Tucker smiled. “I fully expect to be challenged on a regular basis. And I expect to rise to the occasion.” Using the side of his fork, he cut off a large bite of cake and paused before putting it in his mouth. “Don’t forget I’ve known you for a long time. I know a lot about how you can be.” His smile almost became a smirk, effectively returning her challenge and making her smile.
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She cut practically identical pieces of cake for the boys. Tucker imagined equality was the only road to peace between them.
Daisy served herself, and Tucker watched her savor the sweet dessert with all the fervor of the twins. While they ate, he remembered how he’d once hoped for a strong and healthy marriage with this beautiful woman. If she’d been older, he would have told her how he felt. Before she had ever met Murdock. Now he knew that even after she had time to grieve the loss of her first husband, Murdock would always be her one true love.
Falling for Daisy all those years ago was the last time he’d risked trying to find lasting love. As a boy, he’d seen his mother never recover from the loss of his father. He also watched Daisy’s father choose to live alone after losing his wife. He wouldn’t let himself dwell on how he’d learned firsthand the power of someone’s first love. Rejection was hard to live with. It was harder to leave behind. He vowed never to put himself in that position again. He would be Daisy’s friend—but nothing more.
Daisy held the edge of the seat as Tucker pulled the reins and stopped the wagon in front of the general store. James and John leaped to the dirt and assisted their mother from the wagon.
“Good job, boys. I’ll be back as soon as I’ve taken care of a few errands.” To Daisy he said, “Get whatever you need. I’ll stop in and settle up when I get back.” Tucker signaled Mack, and the wagon lurched forward.
James and John each grabbed one of Daisy’s hands and tried to pull her into the store. “Come on, Momma. We can help you shop. Mr. Tucker says we’re good shoppers. He says we got good taste.” James rattled away as usual.
Daisy resisted their pull long enough to see her wagon turn right at the corner. Tucker could be going almost anywhere. Pine Haven consisted of two intersecting streets lined with businesses that served the small, growing community. Pine Haven Church sat at the opposite end of the street Tucker had turned on, and the livery was at the other end. The general store was just shy of the main crossroads.
Standing on the porch of the general store, Daisy wondered what business Tucker could be conducting. He’d turned in the direction of the bank and the lumber mill. There was also a post office and a blacksmith in that area. Or could he be going to the livery? He’d mentioned wanting to purchase horses. They hadn’t discussed money yet. Daisy hoped he wasn’t going to take on too much without at least talking to her. She’d always known what Murdock was doing with their money. Was Tucker a man who considered their money to be his money? Did he think a woman should leave matters of business to the man? Murdock had taught Daisy how to keep the financial records for their cotton crop. She was well versed in the costs of farming, how to balance the funds to make it from one harvest to the next and how to survive lean times.
Feeling a tug on each hand, Daisy followed James and John into the store, still thinking about Tucker’s errands. For all their past friendship, there was a lot Daisy didn’t know about the man who was now her husband.
* * *
Tucker opened the door of the sheriff’s office and stepped into the dank atmosphere. The two small cells on the back wall each had a tiny window lined with bars to prevent escape. Minimal light came through the dirty front window. The smell of gun oil and dust assailed his nostrils. A man sporting a heavy mustache and several days’ growth of beard dozed behind the massive wooden desk. The tarnished star on his vest was the only clue the unkempt man was indeed the sheriff. He was of an indiscernible age somewhere between thirty and fifty. The chair creaked under his weight as he shook himself and lowered the front legs to the floor at Tucker’s appearance.
“Sheriff Collins?” Tucker extended his hand. “I’m Tucker Barlow.”
The sheriff fumbled to his feet and squinted at Tucker from beneath scraggly eyebrows. “What can I do for ya?” His face remained wrinkled as he stirred himself from sleep.
“I’m new in town. Just wanted to stop by and introduce myself. I married Daisy Mosley earlier today. I understand you’ve been searching for the men who killed her first husband.”
“Yep.” Sheriff Collins sat back in his chair. “Wanna sit? Sorry you caught me nappin’. I’ve been up late most nights trying to keep an eye on things in case those thieves head back this way.”
Tucker took the offered seat. “Have you had any success?”
“Not much to go on. The sheriffs from the counties around us haven’t been able to help me, either. Nobody’s seen nothin’. I sent out flyers and telegraphed everybody I figured would know something. Even got the Rangers lookin’ into it for us. Only know more horses were taken from a county south of here. Owners weren’t home so nobody got hurt.”
“What about clues from the Mosley farm? Did they leave any signs of who they were?”
“We know for sure there’s two of ’em. Know that from the horseshoe prints they left. Murdock’s horses was shoed here in town. Blacksmith here knew which marks was from Murdock’s horses and which ones wasn’t. Tracked ’em to the creek at the edge of the property, but lost ’em. They knew to get in the water and ride. Smart thieves, too. Murdock had some good horseflesh. I want you to know we’ve done all we could. It’s hard when nobody saw or heard what happened. The little missus was in town with her boys.”
“Will you let us know if you hear anything? I’d like to see these men brought to justice. I hate to think of them hurting other people like they did the Mosley family.” Tucker stood and put his hat back on his head.
“I’ll sure do it, Mr. Barlow. You take care out there. Don’t like them fellas being on the loose myself.” Sheriff Collins leaned the chair back and propped his feet on the desk again. “I been especially worried ’bout the missus and those cute little boys. Didn’t want no more harm to come to ’em.”
“I’ll be protecting them now. By the good Lord’s help, we’ll be fine.”
* * *
An hour later Tucker returned to the general store. Daisy stood at the porch railing, her toe tapping the boards, impatience growing by the minute. She and the boys had finished their shopping within twenty minutes. The twins’ restlessness with waiting caused her to send them across the street to the Ledford Dressmaker Shop. Milly Ledford had a son, Reilly, who was a year younger than her boys. They were playing upstairs in the Ledfords’ living quarters.
“Ahh, you’re ready. I’m glad. It’s going to be dark soon. I didn’t want to have to wait long.” Tucker pulled the large brake handle and vaulted from the wagon to the ground in front of her, smiling. “What do I need to load up?” He was looking around for her purchases. “And where are James and John?”
“Ready?” The word came out slowly. Daisy took a deep breath. “Yes, you could say we’re ready. We have been for the better part of an hour.” She indicated a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with twine. There was also a crate with a few grocery staples. “The boys could only be still so long. I sent them across the street to play with a friend.”
“Will you get them while I go in and settle the bill?” Tucker set the crate over the side of the wagon and brushed his hands together to remove the dust.
“I’ll get them now.” Daisy descended the two front steps, pretending she didn’t see his offered hand. “But the bill is already settled.” Daisy kept walking without looking back. She disappeared