Prologue

Denver, Colorado (May 1884)

Rosie Whitaker lifted her face to the sky and screamed, a sound so raw and filled with anguish that it seemed to pierce the gray sky above her. She shouted until her voice cracked and her lungs burned… until every ounce of pain and frustration was expelled from her body. When she couldn’t scream anymore, she dropped to her knees, utterly spent. Then, she collapsed onto the ground, her body wracked with sobs, tears streaming down her face as she cried out all the sadness and sorrow that had been building inside her for so long.

“I’m sorry, Mama.” Rosie sat up, sniffling and wiping the tears from her bright, hazel-colored eyes. “I should have stayed home with you that night. I had no idea the pneumonia would come on that fast. I just knew that Mrs. Campbell was having a hard time with the birth. I feared she’d have complications or lose one of the twins. She most likely would have, too, if I hadn’t been there. Little Troy might not have made it at all. Or Mrs. Campbell, either, for that matter. I know that’s not a good excuse for leaving you. I wish I could go back and change things, but I can’t.”

Rosie reached out and carefully arranged the flowers she’d placed on her mother’s tombstone when she first arrived at the cemetery. The vibrant colors of the daisies, bluebells, and buttercups stood in stark contrast to the gray stone, bringing a touch of life to the somber setting. She took a deep breath, feeling the cool breeze on her face, and began to speak softly. “It feels a little cold for May, but the flowers sure are pretty. They remind me of the ones we used to pick together with Sarah.”

Rosie stood, brushing off her skirt. “Sarah’s doing well, Ma. She’s strong and healthy, just like you always hoped she would be. Though I hate to say that her head stays in the clouds most of the time, and I swear my sister lives in a fairy world. But she’s got your spirit. She’ll grow up soon enough.”

A cool wind whipped through the cemetery, and Rosie pulled her shawl tighter. “And, Pa, you’re probably still disappointed in me. I’m sorry I haven’t married yet,” she said, her gaze dropping in shame. “I just… want to be a doctor, Pa. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, really, except for your approval. California was beautiful, and my professor at the university said I was one of the smartest pupils he’d ever had, male or female. This is what I was made to do, Pa. It’s 1884. Times are changing. Women can doctor just as well as men. And I didn’t love Evan. I tried to. For you.”

Sighing, she smiled sadly at her father’s tombstone. “We miss you. We miss both of you. I’ll come back as soon as I can get away and let you know how we’re doing. I’ll try to bring Sarah with me next time if I can.”

Rosie sniffled again, fishing a hanky from her pocket and dabbing her nose before she turned to walk home. She didn’t say it, but she doubted Sarah would agree to come. Sarah was just as busy as she was. But unlike Rosie, Sarah couldn’t seem to settle into a profession. Or even on just one man. At twenty-two, her main priorities seemed to be who was having the next party and whether she had a new dress to wear to it. Rosie shook her head, exasperated. It was probably her fault that Sarah was floundering. Since their parents passed, Sarah was all that she had left. She knew she was overprotective and coddled her sister too much. Frankly, she couldn’t help it.

That was probably the reason why Rosie was still single at twenty-eight. Well, that and her overzealous passion for healing. She supposed she could have married Evan last year—had actually planned on it for a while. But he insisted that she give up practicing medicine once they married.

“You won’t have time to be calling on sick folks once we start having our young ‘uns,” he’d said. “You’ll stay home and take care of them like you’re supposed to.”

She wasn’t sure whether that was unreasonable or not. It seemed to be the attitude of most men in Denver. But if that was all married women were supposed to do, she wasn’t sure marriage was for her.

“Hello, Rosie!” Mason Laughlin stood on his porch and waved.

Rosie stopped in her tracks and glanced up. She’d been so lost in thought she hadn’t even noticed Mason standing there. “Hello there, Mason! Are you well?”

Mason wrung his hands. “Oh, yes, I’m fine,” he told her. “It’s Annie, you see. I’m afraid she isn’t doing very well.”

“Oh, no,” Rosie said sympathetically as she changed direction and headed toward Mason’s small cabin. “Is it her arthritis again? How about we take a look and see what’s ailing her?”

The relief on Mason’s face was visible from across the yard. “You’re an angel, Rosie. A true godsend.”

An hour later, Rosie was wrapping up her visit with Annie and preparing to leave. It hadn’t taken long to mix Annie a new draft. This time, she let Mason watch. She would teach him how to prepare it himself so he could help Annie if Rosie was unavailable. “And remember, Mason, two teaspoons every four hours. That should keep the pain at bay.”

“Y’all take care,” Rosie said. As she left Mason’s small cabin, she couldn’t help but smile, knowing that she had made a positive impact on both Mason’s and Annie’s lives. Being a physician was her calling, and moments like these reaffirmed that she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. For the rest of the short walk home, Rosie thought about her patients. There were a few she’d need to ride out to see—those who couldn’t come to her. She was still lost in thought when her house came into view.

“Rosie! Rosie, come quick!”

Rosie glanced up to see Sarah jumping up and down on the porch, waving a piece of paper.

“Oh, no. What grand party have we been invited to now?” she murmured to herself. “And how much is it going to cost me?”

Rosie continued her slow, steady steps toward the modest home she shared with Sarah. It could stand a coat of paint, but it wasn’t that bad. They had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining area, a parlor, and a nice, cozy sitting room they used in the evenings. Rosie was proud that she was able to provide that for Sarah.

“What is it?” Rosie called as she reached the yard.

Sarah huffed. “Only the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me in my whole life!”

Rosie struggled not to roll her eyes as she started up the porch steps. “Well? Tell me, then.”

“Here,” Sarah said. “I’ll read it to you.”

“Okay,” Rosie said, sitting down on the porch swing. “I’m listening.”

Dear Miss Whitaker,

I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Levi Harland, and I was pleased to come across your advertisement seeking a husband. After reading your words, I am in hopes that we might be a good match.

I am a rancher living in Virginia City, Montana, and I believe we could build a happy life together here. I make a respectable living and have a solid, stable home to offer a new wife. I am looking for a partner who is kind, strong, and willing to share the responsibilities of life on the frontier.

Enclosed, you will find money to cover your travel expenses to Montana. I know this is a big step, but I want you to know I’ll do my best to make you feel at home. I look forward to meeting you and hope that, if nothing else, we can be good friends.

If things go well, I’ll have my attorney draw up the appropriate marriage contracts. Please write and let me know when you plan to arrive so I can make the necessary arrangements. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours sincerely,

Levi Harland

Rosie waited for Sarah to finish before jumping up and snatching the letter from her hand. She read through it herself, with her own eyes. Then, she read it for a second time. At first, she thought perhaps Sarah was playing a joke. But as she continued reading, she slowly realized this was no joke. This man was serious.

“What is this man talking about, Sarah?” Rosie demanded, shaking the letter impatiently. “What advertisement is he referring to?”

“I—” Sarah’s eyes grew misty. “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this,” she screeched. “I’m going to my room.”

Rosie watched Sarah storm away, disappearing into the house and slamming the door behind her. She continued to stand there staring blankly at the door, taken aback by the thought of her younger sister posting a mail-order bride advertisement.

“What was she thinking?” Rosie murmured as she went inside. Did she not think about the consequences of her actions? This was not a game. This was serious and life-altering. She sat at the small wooden table in the kitchen, her hands trembling as she held the letter. The words blurred before her eyes, but they were already etched into her brain. A strange man had responded to the mail-order bride advertisement that her sister had placed. Rosie had no idea that Sarah had done such a ridiculous thing. How could Sarah have betrayed her like this?

Sarah, standing across the room in the doorway, looked contrite. “I didn’t think anyone would actually answer it,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was just a dare, Rosie. A silly dare with my friends. I never expected this.”

Rosie took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. “A dare? Sarah, this is serious. You can’t just play with people’s lives like this.”

Sarah’s eyes filled with tears again. “I know that. But Missy Morgan called me a chicken in front of all our friends and said I was too scared to do it. I couldn’t let her get away with that. I had to prove she was wrong.”

“Who cares what they think?” Rosie snapped. Then, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself. She’d get nowhere with Sarah if he was ranting. “Well, I hope you’ve learned your lesson now. You’ll write back at once and tell the man you’ve made a mistake.”

Sarah looked down at her feet. “I was going to do that. But now that someone has answered, I can’t help but wonder if maybe… he might be my soulmate, Rosie.”

Rosie shook her head in frustration. “Soulmate? Sarah, you’ve never even courted or had a beau for longer than a fortnight. This isn’t one of those romance novels you read. This is real life. You can’t just run off and marry a stranger.”

Sarah’s expression hardened with determination. “You can’t tell me what to do.”

“Please, Sarah. We don’t know anything about this man. How old is he? Does he have children? Why isn’t he married? I have a thousand questions, each one scarier than the last.”

Sarah sniffed but remained defiant. “Well, we won’t have any answers unless we go.”

“Sarah, if you want to get married, there are plenty of men around here to choose from. We’ll find the right fellow for you here, at home.”

“I know it sounds crazy, but I need to meet him. Something inside me is urging me to get on a train and head to Montana, Rosie. And I can’t ignore it. What if this is my one and only chance at true love?”

Rosie sighed, knowing that once Sarah set her mind to something, it was nearly impossible to change it. “I can’t talk you out of this, can I?”

Sarah shook her head. “No. I have to see this through.”

Rosie groaned. What would her ma and pa do if they were still here? That was just a silly notion. If her ma and pa were still here, Rosie would have never dared to undertake such a reckless endeavor. “Well, if I can’t talk you out of going, then I’m going with you. It’s the least I can do to ensure you stay safe.”

Sarah’s face softened. “Thank you, Rosie. I knew I could count on you.”

Rosie managed a small smile, though inside, her stomach was churning. She would have to brew some ginger tea if she had any hope of getting to sleep tonight.

“Go on,” she told Sarah, shooing her out of the kitchen. “I’ll start supper and call you when it’s ready.”

“Thank you, Rosie. I love you!” Sarah said as she turned and skipped away.

Rosie could scarcely believe that Sarah was actually entertaining this fantastical scheme. It was undignified and irresponsible, not to mention ridiculous and downright harebrained. But what could she do about it? Sarah was right. She was an adult now, and Rosie couldn’t make her do anything. At best, Rosie could hope that after one look at this man, Sarah would run for the hills. After all, what kind of man would agree to marry a woman he didn’t know and hadn’t ever seen before? There was bound to be something drastically wrong with him.

She tapped her finger on the envelope as she considered her options. There really didn’t seem to be any good ones. She could do nothing and just let Sarah run off and experience real life on her own. Or she could go with her. She could not let Sarah put herself in that much danger alone.

Sarah had never traveled further than the livery at the edge of town. Rosie was doubtful that she could make it all the way to Virginia City, Montana. And, even if she did make the journey, her prospective husband could turn out to be a drunkard, a murderer, or some other kind of deranged outlaw. What if he hurt Sarah?

Rosie’s stomach dropped again. She stood, walking over to the stove to put the kettle on. She grabbed a cup from the cupboard and added some ginger to it. Then, she leaned back against the table and waited.

Her mind wouldn’t settle, though. What would happen to Sarah, and to her, for that matter, if they traveled all the way there and found that they weren’t compatible? Would they be free to come back home? Would they even want to come home again? She could only imagine what people would say about them chasing some man across the country. They might both be ruined for life.

Her stomach gurgled. The thought of lying had always been repulsive to Rosie, but she could see no other sensible option. She would have to invent a relative, maybe an aunt or a grandmother, and say they were needed. “Yes. That’s what I’ll do.”

She already felt a tiny hint of relief as she poured her tea. Tomorrow will be a busy day. If they were really going through with this, she’d need to find an agent to help her rent her house, make sure all her patients were seen to before she left, write to the doctor in Golden to see if he could cover her practice, and pack their things for storage. She was exhausted just thinking about everything.

Rosie took a sip of tea, immediately feeling the warmth surge through her. “I hope this is worth it,” she murmured.

Suddenly, a loud crash had her gasping as she sloshed hot tea in her hand. “Sarah!” she called. “What are you doing?”

“Packing,” Sarah replied. “I want to leave as soon as possible.”

Rosie sighed. This was going to end in disaster. She could feel it in her bones.

Chapter One

Denver, Colorado

Rosie yawned, opening wide just as the shrill sound of the train’s whistle pierced the morning air. The past three weeks had been a true test of endurance. She hoped to catch a light nap once they were on the train.

“We’re next,” Sarah whispered. “Wake up.”

That was easy for her to say. She hadn’t been up delivering babies since three o’clock this morning. As the couple in front of her stepped onto the train, Rosie held out their tickets to the elderly conductor.

He looked at Rosie, then at Sarah, and back down at the tickets again. Frowning, he turned his attention to Rosie. “I’m sorry, ma’am. But it’s not our usual practice to allow young women to travel this kind of distance unaccompanied. Is your husband joining you?”

Rosie struggled to school her features, finally managing a small smile. “I don’t have a husband.”

The man growled. “Parents, then?”

“We don’t have any parents, either.”

Scratching his head now, he glanced over and motioned for another man to join them. Rosie wrestled with her temper, largely successful, but it was a trial. It wouldn’t get them any closer to Virginia City if she were to poke the man in his eye, though.

“Charles,” the conductor said. “I’m afraid we might have a problem.”

Charles, apparently a conductor, too, smiled and nodded at Rosie. Charles was much younger and appeared to be much friendlier than the elderly gentleman. He took the tickets and studied them for a moment. “May I ask why you’re traveling to Virginia City, Montana, alone, Miss Whitaker?”

“I’m not alone,” Rosie corrected. “I’m with my sister.”

Charles smirked. “I can see that. Allow me to correct myself. May I ask why you and your sister are traveling to Virginia City, Montana, unaccompanied, Miss Whitaker?”

Rosie was sure they could hear her heart pounding in her chest. They had to get on that train. She’d already rented her house to a nice young couple and their baby. She’d arranged for Dr. Morrison to cover her patients and had stored all their belongings. They had nowhere else to go.

“I’m afraid we are both unmarried,” she began, making her voice sound thin and frail. “Our parents passed away before my father had the opportunity to arrange for any matches. We are heading to our elderly aunt’s house now, where we’ll help with the housework and ranch chores. We are in hopes that our uncle will choose appropriate husbands when he feels it is time.”

“I see,” Charles nodded. “You have no brothers or male cousins who can attend you on the train?”

Rosie shook her head sadly. “No, sir. It’s just myself and my sister until we join our aunt and uncle in Montana.”

“Well, Frank,” Charles said, handing him back their tickets. “I think we can make an exception for these two ladies. It sounds like they are victims of some unfortunate circumstances, and I wouldn’t want to hinder them from joining their family. I’m sure between the two of us, we can give them the benefit of our guidance and protection.”

Frank nodded. “That’s what I was thinking myself. I’ll try my best to keep an eye on them as much as I can during the trip.”

“That’s a good man,” Charles said, patting Frank on the arm. “They’re in safe hands.”

Rosie had to bite her lip to keep from shouting. “Thank you,” she gritted out.

Finally, Frank stowed their trunks and allowed them to board, leading them directly to their seats. “Here you go. Stay put, and you shouldn’t cause no trouble. I’ll come back and check on you later.”

Rosie tried to smile but felt sure it looked more like a grimace. “We will behave,” she said sweetly, her sarcasm lost on poor Frank.

Regardless, she watched him leave the car, relieved that she could finally close her eyes and get some sleep.

“I wanted to punch him in the nose,” Sarah whispered.

“Sarah!” Rosie had intended to scold Sarah but ended up giggling instead. It was probably the fatigue getting to her. “Don’t say things like that. It isn’t proper.”

“You laughed,” she accused.

Rosie shook her head, then closed her eyes. Sometimes, she really missed the days when she could tell Sarah what to do and not get any sass in return.

“You can’t go to sleep,” Sarah groused.

“I can’t? Why not?”

Sarah blinked, confused. “Because I’m not sleepy, and you have to stay awake and watch me,” she informed her. “We’re on a train, surrounded by strangers. What if something happens?”

Rosie smirked. “Charles will keep an eye on you. Don’t worry.”

The clatter of the train wheels beneath her continuously reminded her of their journey. As Rosie stirred from her sleep, she heard the soft patter of rain against the window. She yawned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. The sky outside was a dull grey, and the landscape was covered in a misty veil. The rain had started the day before and, so far, hadn’t stopped.

She glanced at Sarah, still sleeping peacefully with her head resting against the window. They had started this incredible adventure with excitement and anticipation. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long to see that the other passengers weren’t quite as excited to have Sarah and Rosie traveling with them. Rosie had tried her best to ignore the disapproving glances and whispered comments from the other passengers, but it had made their journey more challenging than she had expected.

Rosie sighed and leaned back in her seat, trying to forget the judgmental stares and speculations. She had always been independent, and the idea of traveling alone had never seemed daunting to her. But it was clear that not everyone shared their perspective.

The other passengers were mostly older couples and families who seemed to find it hard to accept that two young women could undertake a journey on their own. Rosie didn’t care if they were mean to her, but she wanted to protect her sister from their ignorance and prejudice.

As the train chugged along, the rain grew more intense, finally turning into a relentless downpour. The windows fogged up, and the sound of the rain hitting the roof became an annoying background noise. Rosie tried to distract herself by reading a book, but between the rain and the other passengers, she was having a hard time concentrating.

Not an hour later, Sarah woke up, stretching and yawning. She noticed the rain and gave Rosie a sympathetic smile. “Looks like we’re in for a wet week,” she said.

Rosie nodded. “Yeah, but at least we’re dry. Could be worse, I suppose.”

Sarah chuckled. “Absolutely. Remember when we went looking for some flowers for Ma as a birthday present and got lost in the woods?”

“How could I forget?” Rosie sighed. “I thought Pa was going to surely take me to the woodshed.”

Nodding, Sarah reached out and patted Rosie’s hand. “Well, this is nothing compared to that. Whitaker women won’t be beaten down that easily, not by a little rain or a few glares from these sourpusses.”

The rain continued to pour throughout their journey, and the storms grew more intense. The train made several stops along the way, and each time, Rosie and Sarah stepped out to stretch their legs and look around at the town. Despite the rain and the unfriendly passengers, they still found moments of joy and beauty along their journey.

On the last evening, the train’s whistle echoed through the clean Montana air as it pulled into the station at Harrison.

“I can’t believe we’re here,” Sarah said excitedly.

“Well, we’re in Montana,” Rosie replied. “We still have a ways to go before we reach Virginia City, but I think the hard part is over.”

Rosie and Sarah stepped onto the platform, stretching and gathering their belongings, both grateful to be done with trains for a while. The journey had been long and tiring, but they were almost done now. Rosie glanced around, taking in the small, quiet town. It was a shocking contrast to the bustling streets of Denver that they’d left behind, maybe a quarter of the size with small, modest buildings and only a few people that Rosie could see.

Doubt crept in, and Rosie began to question again whether she’d done the right thing. She still believed that Sarah truly didn’t understand what she had gotten them into. The idea of leaving the comfort and familiarity of Denver for this harsh, unfamiliar country seemed ludicrous. Besides, what would happen when they knocked on this man’s door and found an unfriendly house inside? The man could make a living out of luring poor, unsuspecting women to his lair, stealing everything they own before casting them out into the night. Rosie’s stomach churned.

What was she going to do? Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she could ever call this place home. But the thought of returning to Denver alone and leaving Sarah behind was nearly unfathomable. She was well and truly stuck.

“Well, I suppose we should find the coach house,” Sarah encouraged.

Rosie nodded. “That’s probably it over there,” she said, pointing next door at a surprisingly large station. “Let me find someone to help us with our things.”

They sat in the station, having a cup of tea while waiting for their coach.

“How much further now?” Sarah asked.

“We should be there tomorrow night,” Rosie replied. “Fingers crossed that we don’t run into any delays.”

“At least it’s stopped raining.”

Rosie smiled. It was just like Sarah to always find a bright side, whatever situation they found themselves in. “Yes. Thank goodness for that.”

“I’m getting nervous,” Sarah admitted. “It feels so… real now. I’m going to meet Levi tomorrow. Do you think he’s excited, too?”

“I’m sure he is.”

“I hope his is the first face I see when I step out of the coach tomorrow.” Sarah sighed, then gasped. “Oh no! How will he know when we arrive?”

Rosie smiled patiently. “Don’t worry. I sent a letter before we left Denver outlining our exact route and arrival plans. I’m sure he’ll be waiting for you.”

“Thank you,” Sarah wilted in her seat. “I’m not sure what I’ll do without you, Rosie. Will you stay with us?”