Prologue

Santa Fe, New Mexico

1882

“Can I talk to you a moment, Naomi?”

Eleanor Finch stood in the doorway to the sitting room. Her graying hair was perfectly pinned back from her clear-skinned face, her dress immaculate as usual, her hands clasped in front of her. The woman never looked out of place or disheveled.

Naomi put her sewing aside and stood up, wincing as a needle she’d forgotten about stabbed her in the knee through her skirt.

“Are you all right, dear?”

“Sorry, I wondered where that needle had gone.” Naomi plucked the needle out and put it on the table beside her. “What is it, Mrs. Finch?”

Immediately, she could tell that something was wrong. The landlady of the boarding house looked uncomfortable, unable to look her in the eye. She clearly didn’t want to have this conversation, but she was doing it. Naomi felt the unease in her stomach. What was going on?

“I…I think you should sit down, Naomi,” Mrs. Finch said, clearing her throat and shuffling from foot to foot.

Normally, Naomi would prefer to stand, but she could tell that this was serious. It was not like the landlady to be uncomfortable and looking as if she would prefer to be somewhere else. She couldn’t figure out why she would be nervous to talk to someone she’d taken in, though.

Swallowing, Naomi sat and tried not to fidget as the older woman sat across from her. Mrs. Finch took a deep breath.

“First, I would like to say that I’m incredibly sorry about this, my dear.”

“Sorry about what? You haven’t done anything.”

“Actually…” Mrs. Finch hesitated before the words came tumbling out. “I haven’t been able to pay the rent on this place for some time now.”

Naomi blinked.

“Excuse me? You…haven’t?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“But the boarding house has been very popular over the years. You’ve got plenty of people coming in here…”

Mrs. Finch shook her head sadly. She looked like she was about to cry.

“I’m afraid people have been taking advantage of me. It started with helping someone who needed a place immediately and didn’t have any money, and word about my kindness got out. Guests would come here expecting the same treatment because they knew someone who’d stayed here, and would either pay the promised discount or leave without paying. If I tried to bring it up, they called me uncharitable. But how am I supposed to pay for this place and pay my bills if they don’t pay for their stay?” She was now wringing her hands together. “The only person who’s been paying regularly and making sure I’ve got money coming in is you.”

Naomi listened to this with growing amazement. The boarding house she’d been living in for the last two years had always been so popular. It was rare to have a quiet day there. Mrs. Finch had allowed Naomi to stay as long as she wanted as long as she paid her way, and she’d been very diligent about it, making sure her wages from her multiple jobs paid for her share. She wasn’t about to become a burden for anyone else.

She couldn’t believe it. She stared at the woman sitting across from her.

“Is that why you’ve been living on bread and water lately?” Naomi asked. “You said that you weren’t feeling well, so you weren’t very hungry.”

Mrs. Finch nodded.

“I’m afraid that my debts are growing, including the food bills. I have to focus on feeding the guests and not myself.”

“If I’d known…”

“You’re just a girl, Naomi. You need to eat well.”

“I’m in my mid-twenties, Mrs. Finch,” Naomi pointed out.

“Well, you’ll always be a little girl to me, my dear. Especially at my age.”

“You don’t need to worry about me. If I’d known, I would’ve done the same as you.”

The older woman shook her head with a sigh.

“It wouldn’t have made any difference. I’m too far into debt, and the only way I can get out of it is to…” She hesitated a moment. “To sell the boarding house.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“What? You…you’re selling this place? But you’ve had it in your family for fifty years! You were born here!”

“I know, but I don’t have a choice. My guests have made it practically impossible for me to keep running it, and I’ve got creditors who are demanding to be paid.”

“And you think you can get the money you need from the sale?”

“I’ve been given an offer that can wipe everything out and then give me what I need to live comfortably for the rest of my life. I’d be a fool to turn it down.” Mrs. Finch bit her lip. “Unfortunately, that means I have to leave. And, so do you.”

Naomi felt like the rug had been ripped out from under her. She gripped onto the arms of her chair, glad that she was sitting down. She couldn’t believe this was happening. This had been her home after bouncing around for so long. Mrs. Finch had been a mother figure to her.

Naomi felt like she was the only one who hadn’t taken advantage of the landlady. She felt sick. She felt her chest tightening, and it became a struggle to breathe. She was losing her home. How could this be happening again?

“I…I’m going to become homeless?”

“I’m so sorry, Naomi.”

“What about you? Where are you going to go?”

“My daughter, Abigail, said that I could come and live with her.” Mrs. Finch grimaced. “Unfortunately, she doesn’t have room for you. You have to know, if I could take you with me, I would. You’re like a daughter to me.”

Normally, those words would make Naomi feel happy, but they barely registered. Naomi knew that she wouldn’t have been allowed in Abigail’s home. Abigail didn’t like her, treating her like she was feeding off Mrs. Finch’s kindness and taking advantage of her. That was far from the truth, but Abigail didn’t believe it.

She wouldn’t have accepted it, anyway. She didn’t want to be where she wasn’t wanted. Naomi had felt like that for years, going from various homes and boarding houses, barely staying long enough to settle down properly. Mrs. Finch was the first person who let her stay. She had shown her kindness, and knew that she was reliable.

She had several jobs in town, showing how good she was and how hardworking she could be. Naomi hadn’t understood why nobody would give her a chance. The trouble was that even with the wages she got, she couldn’t afford a place of her own.

“But…what am I supposed to do?” she whispered. “Where can I go? My family is dead, and I’ve got no one…”

“I’ve thought of that.” Mrs. Finch reached for the newspaper on the table beside her. “And before you get upset, listen to my reasoning.”

“What reasoning?”

The landlady held out the paper, which was open to advertisements. Naomi took a closer look at the page. It was for mail-order brides. Men looking for wives.

Clarity set in. She stared at Mrs. Finch.

“You…you think I should look for a husband?”

“It’s an option. I know you don’t want to rely on anyone…”

“Of course I don’t! Why would I want to rely on someone who’s not going to treat me properly?”

“You don’t know they’re going to treat you badly…”

But Naomi shook her head. She could feel the panic brewing.

“At my age, my prospects have dwindled drastically, and I wouldn’t be able to find myself a suitable match. My options are not as they should be.”

Mrs. Finch gave her a smile.

“You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re hardworking, kind, gentle, pretty…”

“Pretty?” Naomi asked.

“You should look in the mirror. You’re a pretty woman. Age won’t matter if you find the right man.”

Naomi didn’t know about that. She’d had fancies in the past, but that was long ago. Those who did show interest wanted something in return, and Naomi had backed away from it all. Everyone saw her as an orphaned waif who amounted to nothing.

Even though this town was her home, she hated it.

“Maybe you can find someone who wants a companion instead of a wife,” Mrs. Finch suggested. “You could look through these and make a decision. Even if it falls through, you might be able to find a new home for yourself.”

“Do you think so?”

“I’m sure you can. You’re a resourceful woman, whether you care to admit it or not, and you can put your mind to anything. I’m sure there are going to be plenty of people who can appreciate you.”

Naomi was grateful for the older woman’s praise. Mrs. Finch had always been supportive and kind to her and the thought of leaving was terrifying.

But it might be her only option. And there wouldn’t be people who treated her badly; she was an orphan nobody wanted to help out. Even at her age, she was still having her neighbors react as if she were a pain. It was demoralizing to know that all she was useful for was fixing everyone’s clothes for a pittance.

She hesitated as she took the newspaper, the rough paper rubbing against her sore fingers.

“Do you think this is the best thing for me to do?”

“I would love for you to stay with me, Naomi, but there are things that even I’m unable to do.” Mrs. Finch gave her a smile, her eyes filling with tears. “I just want to know you’re going to a good place, that someone is going to look after you.”

“I can take care of myself, Mrs. Finch.”

But the older woman continued to smile and stood up, giving Naomi a slight nod before she left the room. Naomi heard a sob as the door closed. She sat back and looked at the various advertisements. There were so many. How was she supposed to pick one out when she didn’t know what to look for?

She needed a new place immediately. She was going to be left with nothing, and Naomi was aware that she didn’t have much choice. If she didn’t find something fast, she would be homeless. She doubted anyone would want to give seamstress work to someone who didn’t have anywhere to live.

There was no point in continuing with her work, not when she had more important things to worry about. Leaving her sewing in the sitting room, Naomi took the newspaper up to her bedroom. She had a nice room toward the back of the house near Mrs. Finch’s room. The furniture was simple, as was the decor, but Naomi had been allowed to do what she wanted with it, and it felt like a little home, her own escape.

She stood in the middle of the room and looked around, realizing that she was going to be losing all of it within weeks. That made a lump form in her throat. Why couldn’t she hold onto something for a while longer?

Blinking away tears, she lay on her stomach on the bed, selecting a pencil from the bedside cabinet. Then she began to go over the advertisements, light streaming in from the window.

There seemed to be many men desperate for wives. It made Naomi wonder why they would blindly ask for wives in a newspaper instead of beyond their own front door. Then she remembered Mrs. Finch talking about how settlements often only had men, who wanted to marry, so they had to find a way to get women to come out to them. She wondered if it was actually successful and how many were happy marriages.

She couldn’t expect a happy, loving marriage, though. She just needed someone who wanted a wife for practical reasons, who could give her a place to live. Someone she wouldn’t have to worry about being thrown out. She would do whatever she could to keep it going.

Or, as Mrs. Finch suggested, she could strike out on her own if the potential marriage didn’t work. Start afresh in a new town.

An advertisement further down the page caught her eye. Naomi shifted the paper up. It was from a man called Daniel Hale. He was in Arizona and worked with his brother on a ranch, and was looking for a wife willing to help with the ranch work. He said it was hard work, and wasn’t for the faint of heart, but he promised to make sure the prospective wife was treated like a princess.

Naomi had never worked on a ranch, but it couldn’t be that difficult. She wasn’t afraid of hard work. And it proved that she would get somewhere to live as well. Ranchers liked their workers to live nearby, and she would be in the main house with Daniel and his brother.

Could she cope with looking after a ranch?

Did she have a choice?

Naomi circled the advertisement, then scrambled off the bed to grab her writing kit from her dresser. And there was no time like the present.

Chapter One

Verde Valley, Arizona

One Month Later

When Michael collected the mail from the post office, he hadn’t anticipated anything out of the ordinary. He was expecting the usual, nothing out of place. But then he noticed a letter addressed to Daniel in an unfamiliar handwriting. The writing appeared to have been written by a woman. He thought it was from Clara, but why would his brother’s ex-fiancée be sending a letter by the post office? Besides, he didn’t recognize the postmark.

“Daniel’s been very popular lately, hasn’t he?” Adeline, the postmistress, remarked as Michael sifted through the letters. “I feel like he’s been trying to tie himself down.”

“What?” Michael looked up. “What did you say?”

“Well, he and Clara argue all the time, don’t they? I figured Daniel’s trying to find himself a wife.”

It felt like Michael had misheard her. What on earth was she talking about? Had Daniel been looking for a wife? Adeline was right. Daniel and Clara were always arguing. But to hear Daniel had been looking for someone else…

What was his brother doing? Had he gone insane?

Hurrying out of the post office, Michael managed to mount his horse, even with his foot slipping. He hurried out of Verde Valley, making his way through the trees that surrounded the town to his ranch. His home looked like a log cabin, placed in the middle of a clearing. His father had said there was no point in cutting the trees down because they would provide a natural barrier against rough weather.

Daniel was sitting on the porch, whittling something. Michael jumped off his horse before they had completely stopped and stormed over.

“Your letter from your beloved is here,” Michael said snidely, tossing the letter into Daniel’s lap.

“What?” His brother looked confused.

“When were you going to tell me that you were advertising for a wife? I thought you and Clara were taking some time apart.”

Daniel cleared his throat, his face going red. “I…I just wanted to have a wife, that’s all.”

“So you wrote off to have a complete stranger as your bride?” Michael demanded. “Where are you two supposed to go? Where will she live?”

Daniel looked at him like he’d gone mad. “Why are you asking that? She would be living here with me.”

“What?”

“I live here with you, and she would be my wife. She would live with me.”

Michael scoffed. It felt like he’d been hit in the face, reeling from the news. How had he not known this was happening? He pushed his Stetson up on his head and knocked the hat off. He had to scramble to catch it. Daniel chuckled.

“You look more flustered than I am.” Daniel had a wry grin on his face.

“Can you blame me? You never said anything about this!”

“Why should I tell you about me getting married? It’s not any of your business, is it?” Daniel asked.

“But she’s coming here, and I own this place!” Michael insisted. “Why would you invite someone here without asking me?”

“Because I’m a grown man, and I don’t need your permission.”

Michael shook his head. “It’s going to be a stranger on the ranch! How can you not see that’s a bad idea?”

Daniel rolled his eyes.

“Don’t worry about it. You fret too much. Besides, the woman I’ve chosen is going to help out. She says that she’s a hard worker, and she’s willing to do whatever she can to help.”

“Oh, really?” Michael pointed at the letter in Daniel’s lap.

Michael refused to accept what he heard. Daniel had said the only person he wanted to marry was Clara, but now that he seemed intent on finding someone else. Was he trying to make Clara jealous? Michael felt sorry for the woman coming to marry Daniel.

Then he realized what his brother had said.

“What? She’s coming today?”

“She’s set to arrive on the train this afternoon. She’ll have to be met at the station.”

“You could’ve told me about this!” Michael cried, frustration flashing through him. “How could you not say a word about this to me?”

Daniel shrugged. “Well, you’re finding out about it now, aren’t you?”

“That’s not what I’m talking about.”

“Anyway, there is a favor I want from you, Michael.” Daniel stood up, dusting off his trousers. “Can you go and collect her from the station? Her train will be coming in at two.”

Michael thought he’d misheard. What did he just say? He stared at his brother.

“I beg your pardon? Did you just ask me to collect your future wife?”

“I’ve got some things to do here, and I won’t be able to get away in time.”

“And you think I have the time? You go to the station right now and wait for her. Don’t even think about getting out of this.” Michael’s hands were on his hips.

“But I can’t!” Daniel protested. “I really do have a lot to do.”

Michael snorted and folded his arms. “You make it sound like I have nothing to do.”

“Well, you always said you would help me out when I needed it.”

“I was talking about helping with the ranch, not with someone arriving by train!”

Daniel shrugged. “It’s nothing bad. She’s getting collected by her brother-in-law. That’s all.”

“Daniel…”

“It’s going to be fine, Michael. I don’t think you need to be so concerned.” Daniel grinned and clapped Michael on the shoulder. “You never know; you might like her. Then you won’t have to worry about a stranger living on the ranch.”

“What…?”

“Anyway, that’s great of you to help me out. I’ll see you when you get back.”

And with that, Daniel hurried back into the house and shut the door, leaving Michael wondering what was going on. His brother was not normally like this. Certainly not someone who would put an advertisement in a newspaper for a bride. He’d declared many times that he would always love Clara and would never consider anyone else.

Then the two of them argued, and Daniel said he wouldn’t have anything to do with her again. Despite the arguments the pair had, it was clear they loved each other. Daniel was just incredibly stubborn and thick-headed.

Not for the first time, Michael wondered if Daniel had been dropped as a baby. Their father would be very unhappy knowing that his younger son was behaving this way.

Now he was stuck with collecting the woman from the station. Michael was tempted to let his brother handle his own mess, but that would mean the woman would be left alone. and knew nobody else. He couldn’t do that to her; he wasn’t that cruel.

And the train was coming into Verde Valley soon. He didn’t have much time.

When did he become a messenger boy for his younger brother?

Muttering under his breath, Michael mounted his horse and made his way back into town, this time at a slower pace. As he went, he fumed over Daniel’s behavior. He just couldn’t do this without saying anything, and then use Michael to collect the girl. It wasn’t fair. If he was going to advertise for a wife, the least he could do was come to meet her. What was the potential bride going to think?

He was still upset as he reached the train station. Leaving his horse tethered outside, he went into the building and stepped out onto the platform. The train had already arrived, the passengers were disembarking. There weren’t many coming to Verde Valley, but they did have quite a few visitors. With the forest scene and the smell of pine year-round, it was a picturesque place.

He stood near the exit, looking over the passengers as they walked past. There were several young women, but none appeared to be alone. And nobody was waiting on the platform, either. Had Daniel gotten the day wrong? The next train was due at dusk. Daniel could fetch her himself.

Then he heard raised voices further down the platform. Michael pushed off the wall and made his way toward the voices. A fruit stall was set up on the platform, and the owner, a large man with thinning blond hair, had hold of a young lad’s arm. The boy was trying to pull away, his expression terrified.

“Give it back to me!” the man bellowed.

“I didn’t do anything!” the boy cried. “I promise!”

“I saw you stealing from my stall! Give them back to me.”

“Let him go, sir.” Michael blinked when he saw a slender, dark-haired woman hurried over. She put a hand on the seller’s arm. “Why don’t you let the boy go?” she suggested.

“What?” Came the bellowed cry from the man.

“Do you think you’re going to get anywhere behaving as you are? You’re scaring the boy.”

The seller snorted. “Do you think I care? He stole my produce, and I want it back!”

The boy was crying silently, tears streaming down his cheeks. Michael watched as the woman refused to back down, despite being much shorter than the man in question. While he admired her for refusing to back down, he wondered if she knew this was going to get worse.

“I was right over there,” he heard the woman say as he approached. “I saw him the whole time, and nothing was taken.”

“You must need your eyes checked, then, because I saw him steal a couple of pears!” the seller bellowed.

“I can assure you, I’m not in a position of lying about something. I really didn’t see him steal anything.”

The seller’s eyes widened. He was about to say something when Michael joined them.

“What seems to be the problem?” Michael asked.

The seller glowered at him, jerking his chin at the woman before scowling at the sobbing boy. “Someone likes to steal from my stall quite regularly. He thinks he’s sneaky about it, but I catch him every time.”

The woman frowned. “I can assure you that I saw nothing…” she began, but Michael cut her off, digging into his pocket for some coins.

“I think we can settle this.” He handed a few coins to the seller. “There, Mr. Bulger. That should cover the pears Ashton stole, right?”

Ashton was well-known in the Verde Valley. His family was always getting into trouble with the law, and he seemed to be taking the same way. He wasn’t a bad child, but he didn’t have the best people to guide him. And he did seem to enjoy goading Mr. Bulger wherever the man set up his stall.

Mr. Bulger growled and shook Ashton before letting him go. The boy immediately ran off, disappearing from sight. Mr. Bulger shook his head.

“You shouldn’t let him go,” he muttered. “He’s going to come back and do it again.”

Michael watched the boy go and then turned to the young woman, momentarily taken aback by her appearance. She was dressed in simple clothes that looked almost threadbare, her hair pinned back from her face. She was very pretty, with large dark brown eyes and a rosy red mouth. Her skin was pale, and though she looked exhausted, she stood with her shoulders back and her head held high.

She didn’t look happy as she looked back at him.

“Do you think that was such a good idea?” she asked. “Giving that man money when the boy didn’t do anything?”

“Ashton’s so skilled that he could steal something in front of you and you’d never notice,” Michael replied.

“What?”

“He’s a known thief in the town. So is the rest of his family. He’s been doing it for some time now.”

She looked horrified.

“I…I can’t believe that.”

“I’m afraid that’s how it is. He likes to be around newcomers who don’t know him because they soften toward him. So, keep away from him, otherwise he’ll take advantage of you.”

Her eyes narrowed, her lips thinning. “I am a good judge of character, thank you, sir,” she said stiffly.

“After what I’ve just witnessed, I don’t think that’s the case.”

Her eyes flashed, and Michael found he enjoyed riling her up. There was something expressive about her mannerisms. It was enticing. Then he remembered what he was supposed to be doing and cleared his throat.

“Apologies, miss. I can’t stand around here arguing with you. I’ve got to find my brother’s bride.”

“Brother’s bride?” Her voice stopped him as he started to turn away. “He couldn’t come himself?”

Michael snorted. “My brother is one of those people who plans something, but doesn’t follow through. I swear he’s going to get into trouble with that one day.” He scratched his head. “Anyway, it looks like she’s not here, so I’m going to have to wait around until she shows up. I don’t have time to talk to you.”

“What’s his name?”

That made Michael stop. He frowned at her, seeing her eyes were now wide as she stared at him. Curiosity took over.

“Why do you want to know?”

“Well…” She swallowed and looked decidedly uncomfortable. She shuffled from foot to foot. “I’m here to meet my future husband. I don’t have a photograph, just a name. I thought…”

Her voice tailed off, but Michael could see where this was going. And realization settled in his stomach. She couldn’t be, could she?

“What’s your future husband’s name?” he asked.

“Daniel Hale.”

Michael’s heart sank. This was the woman Daniel planned to marry? This was embarrassing. He took off his Stetson.

“I’m afraid that’s my brother, miss.”

“What?”

“He’s the one who couldn’t get away from the ranch. He asked me to collect you from the station.” Michael coughed. “I’m Michael. Michael Hale.”

Her mouth dropped open, and she stared at him in apparent disbelief.

“You mean…he couldn’t come here?”

“You’ll see him at the ranch, Miss…?”

“Reed. Naomi Reed.” She licked her lips. “I presume that he’s very busy right now?”

“You could say that.”

Michael was beginning to wish Daniel had come instead.

He was going to have a few choice words with his brother when he got back.