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Prologue

Chicago & Northern Railroad

Late September 1872

“Tessa, do you think anyone saw us get on?” the s woman’s side

Tessa Roarke peered out her dirty traininto the darkness before turning back to look at nine-year-old Coalie “I don’t think so, but we’ll have to be very careful” She patted her lap,for Coalie to stretch out on the hard bench and place his head there “I think we’re safe” She wasn’t at all sure, but she kept her doubts to herself

Coalieout full length on the bench, using Tessa’s lap as a pillow His boots scraped against the hard wood, adding to the noise surrounding the the tracks, the belching sound of the smoke from the stack, the periodic whistles, and the snores of the ers Tessa looked down at Coalie’s blond hair

His breathing deepened She thought he must have fallen asleep, then the sound of his whisper startled her “Maybe we should go to one of those lawyers” Coalie opened his big green eyes and looked up at her

“Oh, no,” Tessa protested immediately “No lawyers I can’t abide lawyers They’ve no loyalty They e people for it No, Coalie It’s important that we stay away from the likes of them This has to be our secret We can’t tell anyone”

“I won’t tell, Tessa” Coalie sat up and hugged her “I proo to any lawyers neither”

Tessa kissed his forehead and s across his brow “I know you won’t”

Coalie settled back down, lying across Tessa’s lap once again Tessa sighed, closed her eyes, and tried to rest Her past was behind her Her future, and Coalie’s, was in the far-off territory of Wyoo and surviving the great fire, how er could there be in a town called Peaceable?

At the back of the railroad car a big blond man watched the woman lean over the child He’d followed theerous streets of Chicago to the train station He hadn’t expected her to be traveling with a young boy He hadn’t expected her to leave Chicago at all Tessa Roarke was heading for Peaceable, Wyo, and there was no way for him to stop her

Miles down the track, in the tiny town of Peaceable, attorney David Alexander slept soundly, a battered-looking orange tomcat curled up beside him, both of them blissfully unaware that their lives were about to be turned upside down

Chapter One

Peaceable, Wyo Territory’

November 1872

“Help!”

David Alexander sat bolt upright in bed, instantly awake He thought he’d heard cries for help in his sleep