Chapter One

Genoa, Nevada, 1870

The first hue of gray-blue sky was starting to rise in the east. Cade McGraw looked out the window as he sipped his coffee, enjoying the morning before he would get to work on his chores.

With the challenges of running a ranch, he had to appreciate the brief moments when he could get his mind ready at the start of the day. It was a chance to enjoy the silence before the chorus of cattle and to let his muscles rest before the strain of roping. He preferred to stretch his bow legs before a day on horseback.

Cade had gotten used to the silence. It had been quite some time since the house had been filled with musical notes, laughter, and happy voices. Back then, they’d spend the morning before chores eating their eggs and chatting about who would be in the field and who would check the fences and whether or not that ancient cow had another calving left in her.

But now, it was just him. Cade was on his own, and the quiet settled him. It was better this way. He had lost the people who mattered to him most, anyway. After the deaths of his parents, there was no reason to go through the hassle of trying to create a new family or expecting anyone to help him run the ranch aside from his hired hands.

Cade stared at his coffee and shook his head to rid himself of the thought. He needed to focus. It was going to be a busy day, driving the cattle to the north pasture. If he wasn’t careful, that troublesome calf just might manage to throw the whole morning off, as he had the day before.

He heard the usual steps of Luke outside, coming up to the front door, followed by the regular three knocks.

“Come on in,” Cade called out.

Luke entered the house, his cowboy hat on, his chaps snug.

“Morning, boss,” Luke said, scratching at his gray-flecked beard.

Cade laughed and shook his head.

“I’m nobody’s boss, Luke. You ought to know that by now. You manage to get that water pump working again?”

“Sure did. And I’m ready to go with whatever we have coming at us today.”

“That’s good. I want to get the cattle into the north pasture. I just want to make sure that we don’t have any further problems with that little fella from yesterday. We have to check the fences first.” Cade passed a mug of coffee to Luke. “I don’t know how he managed to find the one and only weak spot, but he did, and I can’t waste another day trying to wrangle him or any other.”

“Absolutely. I’ll ride along the perimeter we’re covering today and have a look. Then, once we get them all through, I’ll do the ring and make sure the rest is settled.”

“Perfect. And if you find anything that needs repairing, just let me know. I’ll be working that horse otherwise.”

“Mighty fine horse he is.”

“Mighty stubborn, more like,” Cade muttered, taking another sip of coffee.

“Well, I suppose he knows who his master is,” Luke teased.

“Are you calling me stubborn?”

“I wouldn’t say anything to the contrary.”

“It’s a good thing to be solid—grounded.” Cade shrugged. “I don’t know why a man gets a bad reputation for being sure of what’s best for himself.”

“Because sometimes people disagree that a man can see that clearly. Think about your sister. If you’re stubborn in your solitary ways, she’s stubborn in her belief that you had best be getting married.”

“Oh boy, you have no idea.” Cade shook his head once more.

“I do. I’ve seen it. She’s probably coming by again later today to pester you about getting married. That seems to be her favorite pastime.”

“Sometimes I think she just wants to mess with me, and other times I figure that she is the most determined human who ever lived,” Cade said.

His sister was relentless in her desire to see him married off. She had a great husband, and they had a wonderful relationship, but Rosalind and Gideon had always been the romantic sorts. They weren’t like Cade, who had loved and then lost the person who was supposed to stand by him. They didn’t understand what it was like to feel that sense of betrayal and abandonment.

“Anyway, we need to get about our business. It’s time to load up. Finish your coffee and we can get a move on.” Cade nodded to Luke.

They left the mugs in the washbasin before setting out for their horses.

“All right, you go ahead and ride along the fence while I take a look at the herd.” Cade directed. “I want to give a thorough count before we go through all the hassle. I wasn’t prepared enough for yesterday, and I don’t want a repeat of that.”

But then, as Cade reached his horse, he paused.

“What’s going on?” Luke asked in confusion.

“Did you hear that?” Cade didn’t want to ask the question. He didn’t want to even admit that he’d heard anything, let alone a noise that, if he guessed right, was completely out of place.

“Yeah. It sounds like a baby crying,” Luke said.

Almost against his will, Cade rushed to the barn with Luke right beside him, then halted abruptly when they reached the first stall.

In that stall, sure enough, was a baby.

“Well…that’s odd.” Cade felt a touch panicky. “What’s a baby doing on my ranch?”

“Let me take a look. There might be someone close by. Maybe they just dropped the baby right now, or maybe they’re even still here watching, just to make sure someone finds him…or her…”

Luke took off to look around, while for a moment, Cade stood frozen. But as the baby fussed and softly cried, he found himself looking closely at the child’s face and wondering what he was supposed to do.

Was this some sort of prank?

Whatever it was, he needed to go to Rosalind. She would know what to do.

Chapter Two

Dayton, Nevada, 1870

Lena Hart ran from the main room with tears streaming down her face, then rushed out the door and into the sunlight. Stopping to catch her breath, she took a seat on the porch. Why would her mother and father think that this was a good idea? Why would they want her to marry some old man? She had told them, time and time again, how she longed for a happy life and a marriage that was born out of love and true affection. Their only answer was that Beckett Slade loved her and would be a good husband.

But he was terribly old, and she wondered if he even knew what love was. He didn’t truly even know her, and only thought she was beautiful. He wouldn’t want to marry a young woman who didn’t love him in return, would he? Not if he really cared about love at all. It was a horrible thing to expect from her, and she couldn’t bear the idea of it.

Her mother and father kept reminding her of his wealth, but that meant nothing at all to Lena. She didn’t care about his money. Sure, it meant a lot to her mother and father, who had fallen on hard times, but it just made her feel like they thought she was for sale or something.

Lena yearned for a husband. She wanted a large family with as many children as she could possibly have. And yes, she loved the idea of marrying a rancher. Beckett didn’t even do the work on his own ranch. He hired other people to do everything. With that in mind, Lena knew that he would never allow his wife to do any real work. She wanted the sort of husband who would let her be the mistress of the household and get her hands in on the work.

“Lena.” She heard her mother’s voice from the doorway.

Lena took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She knew she had disappointed her mother and father yet again. Not only with her refusal to marry Beckett, but with her passionate nature that so often embarrassed them. She was too vibrant, too active.

She stood up, wiping the tears from her cheeks, and brushed her dark brown hair back from where it had stuck to her face.

“I wish you could see this for what it is,” her mother went on. “This is an excellent match. You should be grateful. Beckett is a perfectly fine man, and he would make a good husband.”

“But, Ma, I don’t love him,” Lena said sadly. “He’s not the sort of man I ever could love.”

“Just because he’s older than you doesn’t mean—”

“It’s not only his age, Ma. There’s so much more to it than that. I’ve told you and Pa. I want to fall in love. I want someone who is going to love me for who I am, not just what he thinks he sees in me.”

Her mother looked sad for a moment, her gaze a reflection of Lena’s.

“Beckett will be the perfect husband, Lena. He owns the most successful ranch in the area. He can offer you stability and safety. You don’t realize what a blessing that is. It’s important for any woman to have a man who is really going to care for her and give her a stable life. Don’t you see that?”

“I see what you and Pa want. I just don’t see how it could ever matter to me,” Lena replied.

“What more do you want, Lena? What more do you want than safety and security and comfort? You can raise your children so they want for nothing. You can give them the moon. You know what I would go through if it meant giving you the moon?” Her mother looked downcast.

Lena was desperate now. How could she appeal to something her mother could not refute?

“I never asked for the moon, Ma,” she said gently. “You and Pa, you’ve had hardships in your own lives, haven’t you? You went through so much.”

“And? Lena, that isn’t relevant.”

“Of course it is. You and Pa, you couldn’t have a baby. You wanted one and tried, but a baby didn’t come for the longest time. You’ve told me more than once that the only thing that got you through those hard years was the love that you and Pa had for each other.”

“That’s…that’s different,” her mother said, although her voice faltered some.

“It’s not different. You needed Pa. And eventually, God took care of you, and you had me. You always say that I was your miracle. But what you’re asking is for me to enter a life without love, and without the miracle at the end.”

She could see the softening of her mother’s eyes and found herself hopeful that, perhaps, she had finally made her case. Maybe she would finally get them to understand, to see what they were asking her to give up.

“I know what you mean, my dear. I really do.” Her mother chewed her lower lip. “And what you said does make sense—”

“But it doesn’t change a thing.”

The low voice of Lena’s father came from behind her mother, his shape appearing in the doorway.

“Pa,” Lena began, but got no farther before he went on.

“Lena, your mother and I love you,” he said. “That’s why we know that this is what’s best for you. You can’t just push to get whatever you want. You need to think about your future and what really matters. Life isn’t always easy, but a husband like that makes it easier.”

“Beckett isn’t the only man who can provide for me,” Lena argued.

“Enough, Lena,” her father said sternly. “I have told you that this man will be your future husband, and that is final. You need to obey us on this. I have had enough of your arguing.”

Lena hadn’t seen her father angry all that many times in her life, but she could sense that his frustration was absolutely about to burst into anger. And yet, this was her entire life ahead. How could she sit by and let them plan something so abhorrent for her?

“Pa, I just can’t marry him!” she retorted.

“You will marry him, Lena! And that’s final!”

With that, her father stomped down the stairs of the porch and made his way to the barn to begin his daily chores. Lena couldn’t help but get choked up. The tears ran again, but this time, she tried to hug herself and not let it be so visible. She didn’t want the dramatic sobbing that would only serve to fuel the frustration of her mother and father, mild people who didn’t get overly passionate about much.

“I know it’s not nice to think about it right now, Lena. I know you don’t love him, and you think you never will. But Beckett is a good man and, one day, you will turn around and realize that he was exactly the sort of man you had always hoped for.” Tenderly, her mother brushed Lena’s hair off her face again.

“Do you think I could learn to love him?” Lena asked, uncertain.

“Of course you will,” her mother said. “I know you will. One day, you’ll see.”

Lena knew it was hopeless. She had to give up trying to convince them. They were never going to realize just how miserable she would be if she had to marry Beckett. They would never understand that she couldn’t bear the thought of his hands, his musty breath, or the way he looked at her, which left her feeling like she needed to hide.

Defeated, Lena went back inside and made her way to her room. She didn’t particularly want to be inside or alone, but she felt the need to hide away from her parents.

“Dear Lord,” she prayed, kneeling beside the bed. “Please give me the answer. Give me peace through all of this and help me to find Your will. Help me to find a way out.

“Let me find a man who will marry me for real love, not just someone who thinks I’m nice to look at. Let me marry someone who really loves all of me, not just someone who happens to be rich. Amen.”

Lena sat on her bed and looked up at the ceiling, as if at God.

“Is this Your will for me?” she whispered, suddenly terrified. She truly hoped it wasn’t, but a small part of her feared that maybe it was. Maybe this was exactly what God wanted for her. And if He and her mother and father all demanded it, who was she to refuse?

Lena trusted her parents and wanted to obey them, to show them respect, to listen to them. Yes, love was more than a happy feeling. It was commitment, it was respect, it was honor.

But it wasn’t this. She couldn’t bring herself to do it, and if that meant she had to take drastic action to get out of the situation, then maybe that was exactly what she needed to do.

Lena thought through her options and couldn’t find one that would be easy. Everything pointed back to her making her parents angry or disappointed. Otherwise, the only way to make them happy was to accept her fate, give in, and marry Beckett.

Would she really have to do that? Or could she find someone else who would marry her first?

Chapter Three

Dayton, Nevada, 1870

The next morning, Lena was silent at breakfast. She made little eye contact with her mother and father, but sensed that they were about to lose their patience with her.

“Ma, I’d like to pay a call to see Evelyn,” she said. “Do you need help with the laundry first?”

“No.” Her mother shook her head but didn’t look at her. “I like peace when I do my laundry. That’s just not something I see happening today. You head on over to Evelyn’s and get out your frustrations. When you come home, your father and I expect an apology and a change of heart.”

Lena swallowed hard. She didn’t like being scolded like this when it was her mother and father who were being so desperately unfair. Why couldn’t they see that she was just trying to live a happy life? Why couldn’t they see that it was wrong for them to have such a wonderful marriage built on love, yet be unwilling to let Lena do the same?

She saddled her horse in a hurry and rode over to Evelyn’s home, at the edge of another ranch. Evelyn would make her feel better.

“Oh, good, you’re here for a visit!!” Evelyn met her with a smile. “I want to hear all about these rumors that your ma and pa have already married you off. Come help with the milking so we can talk.”

Lena smiled to herself. Just because she had gotten out of her chores for the day didn’t mean Evelyn would. Instead, her raven-haired friend dragged Lena down to the barn and had her fill the grain box.

They sat in the barn for a while, with Evelyn doing the milking and Lena moving the pails of milk as they filled before bringing an empty one.

“We’ll be drying them off soon, so it’s time to make more cheeses,” Evelyn said.

“I’ll come around and help. I know it can get a bit hectic.”.

“Why don’t you instead tell me what’s going on in that head of yours,” Evelyn prompted. “I can see you look miserable. Is it your ma and pa? All about that prospective husband again?”

“I don’t understand how they can’t see it. It’s a mess, Evelyn. I can’t marry that man, and they don’t see why I object. I wish I could make them realize how horrible it is to have to marry someone you don’t love.”

“He’s a good man, though, isn’t he?”

“Sure. And everyone keeps reminding me of that. But how can I marry an old man who I always thought of like an uncle? He’s more like that than he would be a husband. I just don’t think I could ever think of him .in terms of romance.”

“You keep saying that, and I know what you mean. But I also know your mother and father do want you to be happy, and the old man has an awful lot of money. I wouldn’t mind an uncle with all that money, if he would give it to me when he passed on,” Evelyn said, giggling.

“Evelyn, that’s awful!” Lena chuckled despite herself.

“I’m just saying, it might be worth those leathery old hands for a while if you have a bit of freedom afterward,” Evelyn said with a shrug.

Lena swatted her friend with the towel Evelyn was using to clean the teats, and the two laughed.

“You know…” Evelyn was smirking now, the kind of look she always got when she had an idea that would shock Lena.

“Oh goodness. What is it?” Lena asked, afraid of the answer.

“Have you seen those advertisements for wives? The mail-order bride ones? Where you find a husband by correspondence and he sends money for you to come and marry him?”

“You can’t be serious!” Lena laughed.

“Why not? It’s a perfect option. You can find adventure, get married with adventure and romance, and be spared having to marry Becket,” Evelyn said, with a shrug.

“And? It means leaving my mother and father behind. I love them, you know that. I could never just up and leave them like that, even if it did mean escaping a marriage to Beckett.”

“Then you’ll marry Beckett, Lena. It’s really your only other option. Either you get away, or you get married. You realize that, don’t you?”

Lena couldn’t deny the truth of what she said.

“I suppose you’re right. But I just can’t accept that being a mail-order bride is the right choice. I mean, think about it. I have no guarantee that I’d be going to marry anyone I would love then, either.

“I might be marrying someone far worse than Beckett could ever be. I might even end up married to someone older than him. It’s foolish. I have no hope…”

But even as she spoke, Lena wondered. Once considered, the idea started to take hold.

“What choice do you have, Lena?” Evelyn said frankly. “Think about it. Your parents’ opinion will not change. They have made it abundantly clear they expect you to marry Beckett no matter what. This is your fate. This is your entire future. I know that becoming a mail-order bride might not seem like a great option. As you said, there are risks. You may not like the man you end up marrying. You may not like the life you are forced to live. But at least it would be a fate that you decided for yourself.”

Those words stuck in Lena’s mind and echoed again and again.

A fate she decided for herself. How true that was! She wouldn’t be allowing anyone else to make the decisions for her. She would make the choice. She would form her own ideas. She would do what she could to escape a life she didn’t want.

Evelyn may have had a crazy idea, and Lena didn’t know if she liked it. But it was something she could control. And that made it deeply tempting.

“You can marry this man, or you can get away for a while. You can marry a stranger. And no, it’s not going to be easy or perfect. But it’s not Beckett. And you can contact your mother and father at a later time, when you think that they will feel better about the decision and be willing to accept what you have done,” Evelyn finished.

“Accept it?” Lena asked.

“Yes, accept it. They love you, and they really do want what’s best for you. Over time, they will cool off. They will be furious at first, or maybe just sad. But after a time, they will be so happy to see that you are happy. They will miss you and want you back in their lives. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

Lena knew that her mother and father would say there was a great deal wrong with that. They would be furious that she was disobeying. But Lena figured that even if she was unhappy with a man she chose from the paper, she wouldn’t be any happier being married to Beckett. So why not?

“Maybe…maybe we can just look at the papers,” she said cautiously.

“Yes!” Smiling, Evelyn rushed to the tack room and came back with the papers. clearly eager to help with the search.

Lena saw a couple advertisements that didn’t seem so bad, like a banker who was a few years older than she and was looking for a wife. But then, she saw that he was in Boston. Lena didn’t want to go all that way. She liked living out west.

“Who else is there?” she asked.

“What about this one?” Evelyn asked, pointing to another.

“Man seeks wife to help at his ranch. But—Evelyn!” Lena cried, making a face. “It says that he is sixty-four!”

Evelyn giggled, “Okay, you caught me. I was just teasing with that one.”

“Maybe this is hopeless.” Lena sighed.

“It’s not. Do you see how many advertisements there are in here? It’s actually quite sad how few eligible women there are if this many men are looking for wives through the paper. ” Evelyn said wistfully. “I might as well sign myself up.”.

“Then you can steal my sixty-four-year-old husband,” Lena teased back.

“Perhaps I will. Or, maybe, I’ll just marry Beckett.” Evelyn laughed.

Lena smiled, but she felt a weight in the pit of her stomach. She still dreaded having to face her mother and father again, and face their renewed pushing her toward this marriage. How would she feel upon seeing them if she decided to go through with this?

It would take time, of course. Once she picked a man worth having, she would need to wait and see if he actually wanted her in return. Then, she’d need to travel to him. But even though it would take time, maybe it wouldn’t take long enough…

“What about this one, Lena? ” Evelyn pointed to another listing. “I’m serious. No more jokes, I promise. Look.

“Man, twenty-six, with successful ranch looks for a wife to help him care for his thriving acreage and herd,” Lena read.

She thought about it for a moment and then read the advertisement again. He was just outside of Genoa, Nevada. Nor far away. That was nice. If she did take a step like this, she would want to be close enough to her mother and father that when they were ready to reconcile, she could visit them, and they would visit her. Not that it would be easy, but it was certainly possible.

“What do you think? He seems quite reasonable,” Evelyn said.

“Reasonable or not, at least this sounds like the sort of man who would be a better option than Beckett. I would like to live on and work a ranch with my husband.’

“Why don’t you marry Beckett, and when you feel like ranch work, you can come here and do my chores?”

Lena laughed.

“That’s not what I meant. Beckett doesn’t do the work and would never allow me to. But this man wants someone who is going to help. That’s freedom.”

“And he’s a far better age for you.”

“True.” Lena nodded. “It’s not that I dislike someone being older than me, but I would like a husband who isn’t going to die before we have been married a decade.”.

“So, what do you think?” Evelyn asked again.

Lena swallowed the lump in her throat. This time, it wasn’t a matter of sadness or fear or worry or desperation. There was excitement at the heart of it. There was hope. There was the longing for something more and someone new.

Could this be an answer to her prayers? Was this the will of God she had been seeking?

The consequences would be staggering, but Lena hoped that, in time, things would settle. For now, she truly thought this might be an option after all.

Was this man her future husband? Could they make each other happy? Was this everything she had been looking for and so much more?

Or was it a mistake that would bring her to her knees?