Prologue

First Saturday in August 1889

Lake McCoy stood by the corner of the barn, watching his brothers and their wives smile and laugh as the wedding celebration for his middle brother, Collins, and his new wife, Mary Anne, started to wind down. He had a smile on his face, but inside, there was a yawning emptiness, and he silently wondered when he’d meet the woman God had set aside for him.

God, you do have someone for me. Right? I mean, if you had someone for Collins and two special women for Denver, surely you have someone for me.

At the age of twenty-three, Lake was the youngest of the three McCoy brothers. Unlike his eldest brother, Denver, Lake was considered a hot head when he saw an injustice being done. At the same time, he also took the role of peacemaker between Denver and their middle brother, Collins. This was especially true since Lake and Collins had left the eastern slope of Colorado and come to live on the ranch Denver had homesteaded years earlier.

Lake loved living in the mountains, and he loved living so close to his brothers, but working on a cattle ranch wasn’t what truly interested him. He loved growing things. He yearned to develop a piece of lower pastureland, turning it into fields of green, maybe even learning to cultivate some of the native trees and edible plants in the area.

Unfortunately, the one time—several weeks earlier—that he’d broached the subject with his brothers, they’d both given him incredulous looks of disbelief. They made good money breeding cattle and selling them to others.

“You want to grow plants?” Denver parroted his words back to him, shock written on his face. He’d pulled his cowboy hat off and slapped it against his thigh as he shook his head in disbelief. “You can’t be serious?” he’d asked, and then turned to look at Collins.

Collins had been equally shocked but a bit calmer as he asked, “Why would you want to worry about plants when the cattle operation is going so well?”

“I know the cattle are doing well—”

“Then why do you want to go off and do something that’s doomed to fail more than it succeeds?” Denver asked, cutting Lake off and pointing a finger at the open barn doors. “All it takes is a little bit of a drought or too much water, and your plants are useless.”

“I know there are lots of risks,” Lake had informed them, doing his best to keep his temper.

“And plants take a lot of work. The cattle operation is running smoothly right now.” Denver had worked tirelessly to cultivate a system where the McCoy brothers weren’t even responsible for transporting the cattle being sold more than a few dozen miles away. The thought of wanting to forgo that lifestyle for one of daily toil, working the hard ground and depending upon the weather to cooperate to yield a good harvest at the end of the season seemed ludicrous to Lake’s brothers.

“I’m not expecting either of you to stop ranching. I just want to try my hand at something new. I’ve thought about this…”

“Not enough,” Denver groused with another shake of his head. “Just because we have a small garden out behind the house doesn’t mean you can grow plants on acres of ground.”

“I know there will be challenges—”

Collins cut him off, stating, “And more failures than successes. Haven’t you been listening when everyone gets to talking at the feed store? Farming is hard work with little reward.”

“I have been listening,” Lake replied, anger and frustration evident in his voice. “You two aren’t listening to me. I’ve thought about the dangers and all the things that could go wrong. I’ve even come up with a few things I want to try to help prevent some of them. I just want a chance.” His eyes moved between his brothers, hope dying when he saw that neither of them was even willing to consider his request. They thought he was crazy and this was just some wild idea he’d come up with that didn’t even merit a second thought.

“Plants? Let’s focus on cattle. We’re going to have the largest herd of calves ever this year, and that won’t leave any time for planting little seeds in the ground and watching them try to grow. Floods, drought, fire, hail—those are all real threats in these mountains,” Denver told him. “And you want to risk an entire season trying to grow plants that could all be destroyed in a few minutes.”

Lake had somehow known they wouldn’t understand. While he loved watching the calves grow and mature, he yearned to get his hands into the dirt. He wanted to figure out ways to counteract poor weather and lack of rain. He saw growing things as a challenge—one he was anxious to accept—but first he needed his brothers’ approval and acceptance.

What he perceived as their ridicule of his dreams had instantly fired his emotions, and he’d jumped on his horse and stormed away from the barns and house.

Lake had vented his anger alone, with only the birds and wildlife to hear as he’d ridden up to the alpine pasture and yelled his frustration into the wind. At the time, Collins and Denver had been at odds daily, and he’d not wanted to add to the tension. But each day, he found himself struggling to find peace and contentment doing the same thing as the day before. He wanted to grow things. He wanted to plant dry seeds in the ground and then stand amazed as they sprouted and grew tall and strong, yielding food for man and beast. I just need to find a way to convince Denver and Collins that this would be a good thing for everyone. Not just me.

Bringing his thoughts back to the present, Lake wandered from his position by the barn, smiling and nodding as folks began to take their leave, wanting to get back to town before sundown. The ranch hands had lit a small bonfire in a clearing in front of the bunkhouse, and he gravitated toward it, seeing several young men about his age from Glenwood Springs.

“Your brothers look really happy,” Zeke Jarvis commented with an easy smile. He was a stocky young man with curly brown hair and muscles earned by hard work hauling feed bags and hay bales. His pa, Russell, owned the feed store in town and at one time had been one of Denver’s best friends. After the death of his first wife, Denver had isolated himself from the entire town—blaming them in part for her death. That had all changed in the last year, and Lake had enjoyed getting to know some of the younger men in town.

“They are,” Lake confirmed.

“So, it seems you’re next,” Abel Parks joked.

“Well, that doesn’t seem very likely. Both of my brothers’ wives have come about because of the saloon and the criminals running the place. With it shut down, I’m not sure how any of us are supposed to meet eligible women,” Lake commented, trying to keep the frustration and uncertainty from his tone.

“We were just discussing that very thing,” Zeke told him. “We’re all thinking about going up to some of social dances the larger ranches host each fall. Have you been to any of them?”

Lake shook his head, tipping his hat back as he looked at the young men around the fire. “Have any of you?”

“No.” That seemed to be the consensus, and Lake could tell there was a bit of hesitancy about going and trying something new. “Maybe we should all make plans to attend the next one.”

Zeke nodded enthusiastically, as did Abel and several of the other young men. “That sounds like a great idea. My pa gets all the notices and such. I’ll find out when the next one is, and we’ll make plans at church to go together.”

Lake agreed, and shortly thereafter the last of the guests began loading up. Before long, he watched his brothers head off to their respective homes with their wives. Denver had his arm wrapped around Shelby as he led her back toward the main house. While Lake still lived in the main ranch house, his room was on the opposite side of the building from the area Denver shared with Shelby and their son, David. When Shelby laid her head on her husband’s shoulder as they walked together, Lake felt a sense of longing for that same closeness with his own wife one day.

“Thank you for everything you did to help today.” Mary Anne’s voice brought his head around as Collins stopped with her hand in his own.

“You’re welcome,” Lake stated, giving them both a smile and tipping his chin at his brother. Collins returned the gesture and then bent down and whispered something in his bride’s ear. Lake watched as a blush climbed into her cheeks, and then with a chuckle, his brother took her hand and quickly led her away, down the newly cleared path toward the small house he’d built for them.

Lake stared after them for another minute. He was pleased to see his brother so happy, and yet he couldn’t stop feeling jealous. Sighing, he wandered down toward the small pond, skipping stones as the sun slipped behind the mountain peak.

He thought about the conversation with Zeke and the others, letting a variety of scenarios play out in his mind. He wasn’t sure what he was hoping he would find at one of these social dances, but if attending them would give him the opportunity to meet young, unmarried women, he would go and be on his best behavior. He wanted a wife, a home, and a family of his own. Maybe this would be the first step to obtaining all of them.

Chapter One

November 1889

“I sure hope there’s hot coffee on the stove when we get in,” Lake stated to his brother, his breath making a white stream of vapor in the chilly air. The contrast between the two brothers was never more evident than when they were sitting side-by-side on their horses, their hats tipped back, letting their distinct colorings shine forth. While Lake took after his oldest brother and father, with curly, dark brown hair and sky-blue eyes, Collins took after their mother, with his sandy blond hair and pale gray-blue eyes.

Their voices were similar, a little gravelly and deep, and their height was almost the same, but their personalities were vastly different. Lake was the youngest brother, quick of temper and always wanting to try something new. Collins had suffered extensive abuse at the hands of their grandfather, unbeknownst to his brothers, and was the middle child and peacemaker of the McCoy trio. No matter how different or alike they were, however, at the end of the day, they were the McCoy brothers and would always have one another’s backs.

This morning, the brothers had shared the duty of riding the nearest pasture’s fences, breaking up the iced water troughs and making sure none of the animals were down or in distress. With snow falling weekly now, they needed to make sure the cattle had plenty of hay and water or risk having them get sick and possibly even die.

“I hope Shelby’s feeling better,” Collins commented. “I know Denver was grateful we let him stay home this morning and watch over her. Especially with how rambunctious David was after breakfast.”

Lake nodded. “One of us needs to get him outside once it gets warmer and let him get rid of some excess energy.”

Lake still remembered when Shelby and David had first arrived at the ranch. She’d been hiding in one of the line shacks, a small infant in her arms. It was obvious she was running away from something, and Lake shook his head when he remembered how she’d remained mute for the first while. The strawberry blond had quickly found a place in both his and Collins’ hearts, and while it had taken a bit longer with their brother, Denver had stepped up and married her to keep her and the baby safe. Now they were such a part of the McCoy family, Lake had a hard time remembering life without them at the ranch.

“Maybe we can take him riding in the corral later,” Collins suggested.

“That sounds like a good plan. He does love that horse. I wonder if Todd managed to find Doc?” Lake added. As he and Collins had headed out, Denver had been doing his best to make Shelby comfortable, while keeping a very active toddler entertained. The three brothers were almost certain Shelby was in the beginning stages of labor, but she insisted she’d just overdone it the day before and her back was just a tiny bit sore.

“We should know soon enough,” Collins said, referring to the fact that they were less than ten minutes from being back at the barns.

When Denver had come in from his early morning chores and seen his very pregnant wife making breakfast while rubbing her back continuously, he’d grown concerned. Concerned enough that he’d sent Todd, one of their resident ranch hands, off to fetch Doc Samuelson, not wanting to risk trying to take Shelby into town with another winter storm fixing to cover the landscape with snow. The storm had been building for days, just leaving a few inches of new snow each day, but this morning, the clouds looked ominous. Dark gray and very low in the sky, obscuring the higher mountain peaks.

The temperature had dropped significantly overnight, and the brothers had agreed they needed to make sure the cattle were in the closest pasture where they could keep the ice broken up in the watering troughs. It was also much easier to feed the animals when they were close together.

The brothers rounded the last bend, seeing the smoke from the ranch house rising to disappear amongst the low-lying storm clouds shortly after it reached the tops of the trees. Lake noticed the unfamiliar wagon in the yard and whistled, grabbing his brother’s attention.

“We’ve got company.”

Collins nodded, his body as tense as Lake’s was. He relaxed as they drew closer. “It’s Doc. Todd must have convinced him he needed to hurry.”

Lake relaxed his muscles as well, only to have them tense up again as concern for Shelby rose in his chest. “Do you think she’s doing okay?”

“Only one way to find out,” Collins stated as he turned his mount toward the barn. “Let’s get the horses settled and go see.”

Lake followed, and fifteen minutes later, both brothers were striding toward the house, their long legs eating up the distance. Lake was the first one through the front door, his eyes going wide and his shoulders drawing up as he cringed at hearing Shelby’s cry from her and Denver’s bedroom.

Denver paced before the fire, throwing his brothers a look Lake construed as part fear and part relief that he was no longer alone. “Doc got here just as her water broke,” he informed his brothers quietly. “She sounds like she’s in so much pain.”

Lake glanced around. “Where’s David?”

Denver shook his head with a rueful grin. “Not sure how, but he’s taking his nap in Collins’ old bedroom. Mary Anne is in with Doc and Shelby.”

Another cry made all three brothers hold their breaths, their faces reflecting concern for the young woman who had entered their lives a little over a year earlier and brought healing and restoration to their family. Lake especially was grateful because Shelby had managed to help his brother deal with the loss of his wife and unborn child. He knew Denver still had moments where the past caught him unaware, but with Shelby by his side, he’d been able to laugh again, and the brother Lake had always looked up to had resurfaced.

“She’ll be all right,” Lake stated softly, silently praying his words had gone straight to God’s ear.

“She’s in good hands,” Collins added. “Doc’s delivered half of the town. He knows what he’s doing.”

Lake added a nod in support, and both brothers placed comforting hands on Denver’s shoulders as it suddenly grew eerily quiet. Without meaning to, Lake found himself holding his breath and turning his eyes toward the hallway.

Why is it so quiet? Father God, please keep Shelby and the baby safe. Let this be over soon, for Denver’s sake.

The silence was broken as a soft cry broke the air. All three brothers sagged in relief as air rushed back into their lungs. Denver stepped toward his and Shelby’s room, unable to remain outside a moment longer. Lake and Collins shared a look of hope and trailed after him, stopping at the entrance to the hallway as their older brother paused outside the door.

“Uncle Lake?” A small childish voice surprised them both, and Lake turned and knelt to scoop a very sleepy David into his arms.

“Hey, David. Did you sleep well?” Lake brushed the sweaty hair off the little boy’s forehead and wrapped his arms around him when David laid his head on his shoulder.

David nodded and then tucked his thumb into his mouth. “Where’s mama?”

“Um…she’s in the bedroom with Doc,” Collins answered when Lake just looked at him in silence.

“Is she sick?” the little boy asked, taking his thumb out of his mouth to speak before tucking it right back in.

Lake shook his head and tried to explain what was happening behind the closed door at the end of the hallway. “Remember how your ma’s tummy got big and she told you there was a baby inside?” David nodded, and Lake continued, “Well, it was time for the baby to come out, so Doc is helping her.”

Denver turned when he heard them speaking, as if he’d just become aware he had an audience. He’d yet to open the door, and Lake could see the hidden fear he was trying to control. Lake knew his brother wanted this baby more than anything in the world and that he was very afraid both the baby and Shelby would somehow be taken from him. Just like before.

“They’re fine,” Lake told his brother confidently, meeting his eyes with a solid nod. “Go check on them.”

“Doc said—”

“The baby is here,” Collins reminded him. “I’m sure everything’s fine—”

The door opened just then, and Mary Anne walked through, stopping when she saw the men standing in the hallway. “I was just coming to get you.” She spoke to Denver, giving him a warm smile. “It’s a little girl, and I know she’d love to meet her pa, but Doc needs you to come talk to Shelby. She’s really tired and keeps trying to fall asleep. Doc needs her to push a few more times, and he’s not having much luck getting her to cooperate.”

Denver pushed past Mary Anne uncharacteristically, and rushed into the room, leaving the door ajar.

Lake watched as a tired Mary Anne fell into her husband’s arms, hugging him tightly as the conversation from the bedroom drifted into the hallway.

“Shelby, sweetheart. We have a little girl. She’s beautiful. Just like her ma.”

“Denver, I need you to help her into a semi-reclining position and get her to wake up enough to push a few more times. She’s still bleeding, and we need to get it stopped.” Doc’s voice was calm, but there was an underlying seriousness in it no one missed. Lake offered up a silent prayer for some heavenly intervention.

“Shelby, did you hear Doc?” Denver’s voice came through the doorway. “He needs you to push. Come on, now. You’re such a strong woman. Everyone’s waiting to come meet our daughter, and I know you want to hold her. Stay awake and do what Doc’s asking of you.”

Lake and Collins shared a concerned look over Mary Anne’s head. They’d both heard stories about women who died during childbirth. They’d also known Doc Samuelson long enough to know that his voice was tinged with real worry.

“I’m gonna take David back out into the kitchen and start working on some lunch,” Lake stated, carrying the little boy out of the hallway. He got him settled in a chair at the kitchen table, using a length of fabric tied around his waist and the back of the chair to ensure he would not topple off. He gave him a small cup of milk and then turned and stared at the opposing wall.

Father God, we need your help right now. I don’t understand all what’s happening with Shelby, but you have to help her be all right. Denver couldn’t handle it if anything happened to her or the baby. I know he couldn’t. I don’t think any of us could. Could you work a miracle right now and fix whatever’s wrong? Please?

Lake took down the leftover bread from the day before and was searching for a knife to slice it with when Collins and Mary Anne walked into the kitchen, holding hands and looking much more relaxed than he’d left them.