Chapter One
Mercy Creek
The snow was beginning to seep in through his boots, and his feet were cold.
Nate would be surprised if he could wriggle his toes once he got his boots off.
His socks were certainly going to be steaming once he hung them up by the fire.
One would think Mercy Creek’s town marshal might earn himself warmer boots for trudging through snow after other men’s troubles, but apparently the badge did not come with comfort.
Of all the days for drifters to harass the ranches, it had to be today.
Right after a terrible storm that had a few inches more of fresh snow.
Drifters were normally innocent, sometimes straying onto land when they didn’t know the way.
It was usually people on the run or arrogant louts who thought they could get away with anything because they came from wealthy families or had a fancy job title.
Called themselves drifters because they didn’t care to work.
They were obvious from the criminals and guns for hire who often loitered around.
Nate would rather tackle a gunman than a rich boy who believed he could do whatever he wanted.
This time, a group of young men decided to walk across some land and bother the cattle by the river.
It resulted in a few animals getting loose, and the rancher and his men had to catch and drag them back.
To say they were annoyed after finding one of the cattle injured was an understatement.
And the young men simply scoffed, saying they shouldn’t have been so skittish in the first place.
Nate counted three of the seven sitting in his jail cell, along with two of the ranch's employees.
That was going to be interesting for the next couple of days until they calmed down or someone came to get them out, whichever happened first.
A night in jail would be just what they needed, especially the jumped-up men who thought they were better than everyone else due to money. Nate wasn’t keen on those people; they made his teeth grind.
It was a relief to get home and rest, but then he remembered he’d promised his sister he’d come over for supper.
Nate didn’t want to, not when he was soaking wet and cold, but he couldn’t say no to Isabelle.
His older sister had been something of a mother figure to him since he was young, and it was hard to turn her down.
Jack knew about that all too well; it was how Nate’s closest friend had gotten married to Isabelle in the first place.
The spark had been there, but Jack had been too scared to make a move, so Isabelle had done it instead.
She was always taking the reins, and Jack was more than happy with that.
At least he would get to see his friend and his two nephews. Sammy and Tommy were always able to lift his spirits. He needed that. If Isabelle insisted that he come for dinner, it meant she wanted something.
Nate wasn’t looking forward to that. What scheme had she thought up this time? Whatever it was, Nate didn’t want to get involved. He had too much going on to get caught up in something Isabelle cooked up.
The snow had gotten worse by the time he arrived at Isabelle’s house, the wind almost knocking him through the door. Jack was off the settee, hurrying over as the door banged against the wall.
“Careful!” He pulled Nate into the house and pushed hard to shut the door. “Another gust and we’ll lose the door.”
“Do you mean again?” Nate quipped, taking off his Stetson and smacking the snow off it. “I swear it fell off several times last year. Aren’t you going to get a new door?”
“Eventually. I suppose.” Jack ran his fingers through his hair. “Just another job I’ve forgotten about. Don’t tell Isabelle about it, will you?”
Nate couldn’t help but laugh.
“Knowing my sister, she probably already knows.”
There was a squeal from the kitchen door, and his nephews rushed in, followed by the tall, plump figure of Isabelle Mercer. Tommy and Sammy jumped at Nate, who managed to catch the two of them and lift them off the floor.
“Uncle Nate!” Tommy scrambled up him first, and Nate almost dropped him again. “Are you having supper with us?”
“Apparently so.” Nate glanced up at Isabelle. “I trust that it’s going to be worth my while?”
His sister smiled at him, a glint in her eye. Then she clapped her hands and lifted Sammy away from Nate.
“Get down, Tommy. Nate’s not a tree. You shouldn’t be climbing on him. Jack, darling, why don’t you take them into the back room and play in there? I want to talk to Nate first.”
“All right.” Jack gave her a dubious look. “Aren’t you going to let me listen in?”
“Absolutely not.”
Jack grimaced and gave Nate an apologetic look. Normally, his friend would find out what Isabelle wanted to discuss and let Nate know beforehand, but this time she’d apparently been quiet about her plan. Nate wasn’t sure he wanted to hear it.
He folded his arms and waited for Jack to take the children out of the room, closing the door behind him.
“All right, Isabelle. What have you done?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t be innocent with me. I know you too well. What have you done?”
Isabelle tried to look innocent, but she quickly rolled her eyes and sighed.
“I wish you wouldn’t be like this, Nate. It’s all for your own good.”
“What is?”
She hesitated, and Nate groaned. It was just as he suspected.
“Oh, no, not again! What have I told you about that subject?”
“You don’t know until you actually make an effort.”
“I don’t want to make an effort! That’s the point! Why can’t you leave me to be a miserable old man on my own?”
Isabelle tittered and fished into the pocket of her apron.
“Because being a miserable old man doesn’t suit you. Especially when you’re still young.”
“And it’s just how I want it. You can’t change my mind.”
“Well, you might when you see this.”
“What?”
She held out a letter, and Nate had a sinking feeling in his stomach. She hadn’t, had she?
Trying not to snatch the letter out of her hand, he opened it and scanned through it.
It looked like any other letter, the writer talking about themselves and how they would be delighted to come to Mercy Creek to join him, and that the place sounded absolutely delightful.
Confused, he reached the bottom and read the name, written in a neat signature.
Rachel Bell.
It was as he suspected. Isabelle had sent off looking for a potential wife for him.
“Oh, Isabelle, you haven’t…”
“Well, what was I supposed to do? Leave you as you are when you clearly need someone in your life?” Isabelle huffed and put her hands on her hips, blowing strands of auburn hair out of her face. “You think you know better, but I know you better than that. You need a wife.”
“And you went looking for one?”
“Not in so many words. I just placed an advert in the newspaper. There are so many ads looking for wives, and even husbands. You had quite a few replies, but this was the best of the lot.”
Nate listened to this with growing horror.
Of all the things his sister had done, this was the worst. Going behind his back like this.
He’d said he wasn’t looking for a wife at all, and Isabelle was to keep her nose out of it.
Unfortunately, his sister tended not to listen.
It was like she didn’t care what he thought.
The anger started brewing, and Nate had to fight it back, the feeling bubbling in his chest.
“Why do you keep doing this?” he demanded.
“What?”
“Meddling in my life. How many times have I told you that I’m not interested? I don’t want to be a part of whatever you’re planning for me. It’s not fair!”
Isabelle scoffed.
“You think it’s fair to me that I have a brother who has no intention of settling down? How do you think that makes me feel, seeing you miserable?”
Nate almost burst out laughing. That was a new one for him.
“My marital status is not going to affect you in any way whatsoever. You’re just annoyed that you’re not getting your way.”
“It’s not about not getting my own way, Nate! I just want you to be happy!”
“I’d be happy if you just leave me alone!”
He was getting a headache. How did Isabelle not understand that he wasn’t willing to work with her? It would be so much better if she left him alone. He stormed away from her.
“Isabelle, I told you after you attempted to get me to talk to Miss Samways after church at Easter. And I also told you when you tried to get me to escort the Medford twins to the summer festival, not to mention when you suggested I take Joanne Lloyd to the harvest festival and help with her stall as her husband wasn’t around anymore.
I am perfectly fine as I am. Stop palming me off onto desperate women who want to get married. ”
“I’m not palming you off!” Isabelle cried. “And they’re not desperate women. They’re eligible.”
“And I am unwilling. What sort of marriage is that when one side is reluctant?” Nate ran his fingers through his hair. “Just… stop it, will you? I’m not looking for a wife, and I don’t want to get married.”
Isabelle’s expression faltered, guilt flickering across her face before she lifted her chin with stubborn resolve. “Well, you won’t have a choice with this one.”
Nate stilled.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She’s coming here. We’ve arranged for her to come to Mercy Creek and you’ll have a quiet ceremony at the town hall…”
“You must be out of your mind!” Nate couldn’t believe what he was hearing. His sister had gone crazy. “I can’t believe you’d do this to me. I never wanted any of this!”
“Nate…”
“Look, you write to this Rachel Bell immediately and tell her that it’s all changed. I don’t want to marry her, and she would be wasting her time if she came here.”
Isabelle groaned. “You can’t tell me to do that!”
“Why not?”
“Because she’s likely on her way right now. And I was writing pretending to be you.”
“Which makes it even worse!” Nate couldn’t stay any longer. He jammed his Stetson on his head. “I’m going home. Don’t bother saving a place for me at the table. I’m going to eat elsewhere.”
“But the children were excited to see you!” Isabelle protested as she hurried after him. “What am I going to tell them?”
“Tell them the truth. That you messed around with your brother’s life and he’s refusing to bow down to your wishes.
” Nate glanced over his shoulder as he opened the door, bracing against the wind.
“I love you, Isabelle, and I will forever be grateful for you being there when I needed someone, but this is too far. And I won’t let you get your way this time. ”
He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him. His feet were ice cold, but he didn’t care. All he wanted to do was to go home, where he should’ve stayed in the first place.