Free Chance Of A Lifetime by Kelly Eileen Hake

green dress and asked where I’d purchased it.”
    “That’s nice.” Daisy enjoyed hearing that such an astute man would remark on the quality of her work.
    “Daisy, I know you’ve been doing business with Mitch Flaggart for years, but Frank asked me to try and change yore mind.” Hattie waited for a response.
    “I’ve relied on Mitch since I was jist a girl and Mama traded her lace with him.” The lessons on making lace were some of Daisy’s fondest memories of her mother. She loved it when the two of them sat quietly, needles moving rhythmically as they created something beautiful.
    “Yep. But he’s getting on in years, Daisy.” Hattie paused, and Daisy nodded to acknowledge it was harder for Mitch to make the trip to Hawk’s Fall—and would be harder still to get to Salt Lick. “And the fact of the matter is, Frank reckons he cain get a fine price for yore work.”
    The figure Hattie quoted stopped Daisy in her tracks.
So much money. I cain’t cipher, but even I cain tell the difference is impressive. I hate to leave Mitch in the lurch, but I have to do what’s best for Jamie and me
.
    “He knows I work collars and veils and table runners—not christening gowns or hoods?” Daisy had to make sure the market was right.
Filet Lacis
, while stunningly intricate, wasn’t pliable enough to use for those things. Tatted lace worked well, but Daisy didn’t know that method.
    “I tole him as much,” Hattie affirmed. “He says it’s hard to find yore fancy handmade lace here in the States. Iff ‘n yore agreeable, he won’t have to pay such hefty trading taxes, so you’ll both come off well.”
    “That’s good.” Daisy nodded as much to herself as to Hattie and absentmindedly stroked Jamie’s hair.
    “He said summat about how yore lace is different than even the stuff he ships over. Summat about it going the other way?” Hattie puzzled aloud.
    “I do it backward on account of bein’ left-handed.” Daisy smiled. She’d practiced enough with Mama to do it with her right, but she worked so much faster using her left.
    “He says as how that makes it more rare.” Hattie smiled.
    “I suppose it might be so, but plenty of other thangs are more precious,” Daisy said. “Thangs like family and friends.”

    “What’ve you decided to do about your share of Chance Ranch?” Bryce asked Logan as they mucked out the stalls later that morning. Each of the six brothers held equal stake, and Logan was owed his due even though he didn’t plan to return.
    “I telegraphed with Gideon and Paul while I was in Charleston,” Logan admitted. “We’re thinking the best thing to do is buy me out. I’ll take a few of the horses and a few head of cattle. Whatever my share of land and other livestock amounts to, I’ll take half the money value of what I’d get after taxes if we were selling it all outright.”
    “Only half?” Bryce echoed. “You’re entitled to all of your portion, Logan.”
    “I know, but I’m not going to be around to work it. Besides, I’m the youngest, so we all know there was some time when I didn’t pull enough weight for the equal split.” Logan grinned happily. “Truth is, I’ve got the business started up right here, and Hattie and I won’t hurt for money. We have land, friends, steady income, and purpose. She’s the healer, keeps the bodies around here hale and hearty. I negotiate trades and keep their finances healthy. That’s more’n enough for any man.”
    “I understand.” Bryce thought of all the new Chance children. The next generation would be much bigger than the six brothers who started out at Chance Ranch. They’d decided long ago that, regardless of how many children each brother had, the land would be redivided equally among their progeny when the time came ripe. Every Chance son and daughter would hold equal stake once more. Logan wouldn’t have any children, so it made sense to let his brothers buy him out.
    “I can’t believe I’ll be going back