Page 1 of Mail-Order Viscountess

CHAPTER 1

February, 1870

Butte, Montana Territory

The crate hit the wagon bed with a satisfying thud, and Thomas Balfour scraped a sleeve across his forehead as he turned for another. The morning sun had climbed higher over Butte’s ice-hardened streets, melting some areas into slush. Though his breath still formed small clouds as he moved, loading supplies for the ranch had burned through the cold in his limbs.

The physical exertion felt good. Better than standing still. Better than thinking.

“That’s it for the baking goods.” His older brother James hefted another wooden box alongside where Thomas placed his. “Mrs. Wang will be happy they finally have these spices back in stock.”

Thomas grunted and pushed a crate of nails and tools in next to the others.

James had been acting strange all morning—cheerful in that forced way that meant he was hiding something. And James’s wife, Rose, had been glancing at Thomas with an expression he couldn’t quite read. Pity, maybe. Or concern.

Were they hiding something from him?

The mercantile’s back door stood propped open despite the cold, and Rose’s voice sounded from inside, discussing fabric with the shopkeeper.

It didn’t seem like all three of them had needed to come on this supply run, especially since Butte lay a full day’s wagon ride from their ranch.

Thomas could have handled it alone, or James and Rose could have made a holiday of it—newlyweds that they were.

But his oldest brother, Enoch, had insisted. Something about having help if the weather turned bad and the road became impassable. At least coming to town had given Thomas the chance to order the last of the supplies he’d need for the trip west.

A familiar wagon rolled past the alley, and Thomas glanced up to take in the pair on the bench. Two Stones and his wife, Heidi.

These two traveled the area sometimes, trading for specialty items, though their home was farther west. Good people, these. They’d brought Enoch’s wife to the ranch last year when she’d been injured and in need. No telling how many others they’d helped in their travels.

Two Stones reined in his team beside their wagon, his expression as unreadable as ever, though his dark eyes held a friendly glint. Heidi raised a gloved hand in greeting, her smile as warm as her husband’s was hard to read.

“Good to see you both.” James stepped forward, brushing his hands on his trousers. “How’s the trading?”

“Fair enough.” Two Stones’s voice carried that quiet steadiness Thomas had always appreciated about the man. “Heading south to the Bitterroot before the passes close.”

“You two should stop by the ranch next time you’re anywhere close.” Thomas moved in beside his brother. “Mrs. Wang would think it’s Christmas if she had the chance to feed you for a night or two.”

Heidi chuckled and leaned against her husband’s arm. “We might just take you up on that.”

Two Stones gave one of his rare almost-smiles—little more than a softening around his eyes—and dipped his chin. “We’ll find you.”

The pair rolled on, their wagon disappearing around the corner toward the livery, and Thomas turned back to the supplies. He gripped the edge of another crate and hauled it toward him. The wood bit into his palms even through his work gloves.

“Thomas.” James’s voice came from too close behind him. “Leave that one. We need to talk.”

The hair on the back of his neck prickled. What now?

“Plenty of time for talking on the ride home.” He grabbed the box and swung it up. “Still got half a wagon to fill.”

“The supplies can wait.”

Something in James’s tone made Thomas drop the crate into the bed harder than necessary. He turned and pulled off his gloves. “What about?”

James shifted his weight, glanced back toward the mercantile door, then met Thomas’s eyes. “There’s a reason we wanted you to come with us to Butte.”

“Obviously.” Thomas crossed his arms. Now they’d finally get down to it.

James scrubbed a hand through his hair—the movement was a sure sign bad news was coming.