
He stopped, ashamed by how close he was to begging. Clara looked past him at the boardinghouse women gathered in…

Ruth Whitaker looked Mabel up and down, slowly and without shame. Then she said, “She’s fatter than the others.” The…

“What does Kane want with a starving baby?” Grace asked. Caleb’s jaw worked. “The baby’s mother was Lillian Fairchild.” Grace…

Then Jace looked at Mabel. His face changed. “Who the hell are you?” Ruthie stood. “Pa—” “Go to bed.” “She…

His voice was hoarse. “What do you want from us?” Clara held the stamped contract in her hand. The paper…

Stanton’s voice was smooth as oiled steel. Two other men entered with him. Daisy slipped behind the hanging quilt that…

The auctioneer cleared his throat. “One-fifty from Mr. Maddox. Do I hear one-seventy-five?” No one spoke. Virgil looked at Boone,…

Nora walked toward him fast. “What are you doing?” “Unloading,” he said. “I can see that.” He lifted another sack…

Then Victor Ames had arrived in a storm. He had bought oats for his horse and stayed three days to…

Then she took Boon’s hand and walked with him into the November night. Behind them, the tavern door closed with…

The next morning, Vivian bought a stagecoach ticket. Red Hollow appeared after hours of brutal road: a dozen buildings clinging…

That stopped her. She stood in the middle of the road, boots buried in mud, blood damp under Ellen Price’s…

“Is there something I can change into?” Jesse opened the chest and took out a blue work shirt. He handed…

She kept them through January, when snow fell for eleven days straight and Iron Creek became a white ditch between…

Miss Mercer looked toward the other two women and gave a tiny shrug. “Then I’m afraid it is not what…

So he did. She bit down on leather and held both babies to her breast while Rowan dug the lead…

“What does Elias Rourke have to do with me?” “He needs a housekeeper.” Clara almost laughed. “So do plenty of…

She pressed herself back against the log wall. “Where am I?” “North of Durango. High country.” “Who are you?” “Jonah…

“May I carry those parcels to your wagon?” “I can manage,” she said automatically. “I believe you can.” His voice…

Sheriff Pike folded the paper too quickly. “You got an accusation to make?” “Not yet.” Jasper’s eyes narrowed. Luke finally…