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“East.”

“Thanks, Quincy.” At the livery he gave his horse feed and water, then rode from the rail station east, following the tracks Quincy had discovered and losing them, but picking them up again a couple miles farther away.

He’d gone half a mile farther when the smell of smoke touched his nostrils and he scanned the sky, spotting a thin thread of black twisting into the horizon. He headed toward it and met two riders coming his way. As they neared, he recognized Timothy Watson and Buck Hanley, two of Quincy’s part-time deputies. Timothy wore his hat tipped back on his head. “Found your lumber, Mr. Gardner!”

“Somebody hauled it out here and lit fire to it,” Buck supplied.

Daniel absorbed that grim news. “We’d better stay and watch it,” he said. “Last thing we need is a prairie fire. This is a pretty stupid thing to do.”

Buck’s somber expression showed concern, as well. “Surprised a spark hasn’t caught the grass afire yet.”

“Got anything we can scoop dirt with?” Daniel asked.

“I got a tin pan in my saddlebag,” Timothy offered.

“I have one, too,” Buck said.

“I have a knife,” Daniel informed them. “I’ll loosen dirt and you toss it on the fire.”

A couple of hours later, only a few embers still glowed. Even though it was spring, the three men were hot and dirty under the Kansas sun. Daniel yanked out the questionable boards and kicked dirt on them. They stayed until there was no threat of the fire spreading.

“I appreciate you both sticking around to see this through,” Daniel told them in a solemn voice.

“We have a stake in Cowboy Creek, too,” Buck said. “I’m doin’ the deputy job and working for Owen Ewing so I can save up and start my own business.”

“What do you want to do?” Daniel asked Timothy.

“I put a deposit down on a building. I’ve been watching to see who comes along to see if I can find a partner. Not sure, but my options are open.”

“Let me know if I can help you when you decide on something,” Daniel said.

“Will do.”

The three of them mounted their horses and headed back to town. Uneasiness settled over Daniel and didn’t let loose. Someone had stolen that wood and destroyed it, not caring who or what was hurt in the process. A prairie fire could spread for miles, decimating everything in its path—wildlife, crops, farms. The motive for such an act escaped him.

He’d talk to the town council about immediately hiring another guard for the station and railroad yards. It was better to take preventative measures than be sorry later. Daniel didn’t intend to let anyone undermine what they were working so hard to build. There was too much at stake.

* * *

Leah joined the other young women on their walk to church. It was a beautiful morning, warm and filled with sunshine. The perfect day for a joyful announcement. She wished she felt more jubilant than cautiously relieved. Her future wasn’t as uncertain as it had been a week ago, but apprehension still wound its cold claws into her conscience. Daniel Gardner had always been a close friend, but when it came to pondering a husband she’d never so much as considered him. Maybe she’d been too close to him and had foolishly overlooked what was right in front of her. Now that the war had cut her world into pieces like a jigsaw puzzle and she had to fit it back together again, he was the best option she had.

She felt guilty for thinking that way, as though he hadn’t been a choice back then, but now he was good enough. But it wasn’t that way at all, and she sure didn’t want him to have the impression he was her last resort. He would make any woman a good husband, and she was truly blessed that he’d asked her to be his wife.

When they reached the new church building, Aunt Mae stood outside the door with Reverend Taggart and a dark-haired young woman who, by the size of her swollen belly, could only be Opal Godwin. Aunt Mae smiled from ear to ear. She wore a lavender-and-cream-striped dress with ruffles on the cuffs and hems of the jacket, skirt and overskirt. Lace at the neck cut into her abundant chins, and the matching buttons down the jacket front looked as though they might pop at any moment.

Opal, who was painfully thin by contrast, wore a loose dress with white lace-trimmed bodice and sleeves and a gray pinstriped skirt with black trim. Pleats draped the round protrusion of the child she carried. The colors washed out her already-tired complexion.

“You’re all here!” Aunt Mae beamed. “I left early to help set up for the celebration after the service, so I didn’t get to see your lovely dresses. I hope your breakfast was adequate.”

“It was tasty and satisfying,” Hannah replied.

“Welcome,” Reverend Taggart greeted them. “Darling.” He kissed Hannah’s cheek.

“Opal has been looking forward to meeting you,” Aunt Mae said, addressing Leah.

“And I her.” Leah took the hand Opal extended and placed her other hand over the back. “I hope to be able to call on you this week, Mrs. Godwin. I’m a midwife.”

“I’ve heard all about you, and I’m relieved to know you’re here. But, please you must call me Opal.” She kept her voice cheerful, but her brown eyes and the dark smudges beneath them belied her weariness.

“Your husband is a boot maker.”

Opal nodded. “An extremely talented one.”

“And you help him?”

“I’ve always helped him in the shop, but he won’t let me now, so I’ve been staying in our upstairs quarters sewing and doing a lot of reading.”

“Your husband is looking out for your welfare and that of your child. Rest is good.” She leaned forward so Opal was the only one to hear her. “I expect to be doing a lot of that myself in the months to come.”

Opal raised her eyebrows in question.

“I’m expecting a child, as well. I answered the advertisement to find a husband because mine died only a few months ago and I have no family left.”

Opal hadn’t released Leah’s hand, and she squeezed her fingers gently. “I’m sorry for your loss, Mrs. Swann. You must have been frightened and felt very alone.”

A flutter of the old heartache caught in Leah’s chest, and she fought it down. Opal’s understanding left her feeling vulnerable. “Yes. Finding Daniel and Will here was like having family again.”

“I’m glad you found your way to us.”

“So am I. Thank you. And please call me Leah. How is your appetite?”

“I’m never very hungry.”

“We’ll have to do something about that. Your baby needs sustenance and so do you. This is an important job you have, nourishing this baby.”

“Everything seems to make me feel sick,” Opal admitted.

“We’ll see what we can do.” Leah flashed a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry, all right?”

Menfolk climbed the wooden stairs behind them, so the women entered the church. Morning sun streamed through the stained glass windows that lined the side walls, creating arcs of color across the plain-hewn pews, polished floorboards, as well as heads and shoulders of those already seated. The color and warmth lent a surreal tone to the already reverent atmosphere inside the building.

“Isn’t this the most inspiring sight we’ve seen yet?” Pippa said from behind Leah’s shoulder. “All the colors of God’s rainbow right here for us to enjoy on Sunday morning. This little church couldn’t be any more beautiful.”

“It is beautiful,” Leah agreed with a soft smile for her energetic friend.

“Who do you suppose will be the first to marry here?” Pippa asked.

Leah didn’t reply, but a flutter in her chest stole her breath for a moment. It would be her. She would be marrying Daniel in this very place. Soon.