Chapter One
WESTERN CANADA, 1883
Her son was missing!
Dianne White’s heart leaped to her throat, and stuck there. She scanned her surroundings. Where would a curious five-year-old go? Trees pressed to the edges of the clearing where the way station stood. With the underbrush so thick, Eddie could be four steps away, and she wouldn’t see him.
Behind her, harnesses rattled, and men called as they unhitched one set of horses and replaced them with another, preparing the stagecoach to continue its journey to Golden Valley. She needed to be on that coach.
“Eddie! Come to Mama.” The dense forest sucked up the sound of her voice.
No little boy called out an answer or trotted from the bushes.
She called again as she headed to the crowding trees.
“Ma’am?”
The driver’s voice stopped her.
“Ma’am, I can only wait a few minutes. My schedule?—”
“I understand. He can’t have gone far.” She parted the bushes and stepped onto leafy, dank ground.
Eddie wasn’t there. He didn’t squat down to examine a bug or twig or something else that interested him.
“Eddie!” The word choked from her throat and drifted as far as the overhead leaves.
A path of sorts meandered through the trees. Could a small shoe have made that faint print? She hurried along after it, continually calling for her little son.
The quietness became overpowering, and she paused, straining for any sound to direct her in the right direction. Birds chattered and squawked in the rustling trees. The wind sighed through the branches. Wait. It might be only her imagination, but she believed—wanted to believe—that in the distance, a tiny voice called, “Mama.”
Battling back the branches, she followed the narrow trail.
Another sound came to her. The gurgle of rushing water. Her heart surged up to her mouth, and she quickened her pace.Lord, no, not a river. Please keep my son safe. Please.
Branches caught at her sleeves. Leaves tangled in her hair. She charged onward. Light beckoned beyond the dark trees. Flat rocks lay ahead. Yellow flowers grew in the soil to the side. Sprigs of grass fluttered in the breeze. And five feet below ran a narrow band of water. Not more than ten feet across but deep enough and furious enough to carry branches. Clinging to an overhanging tree was her son.
“Eddie. Hang on. I’m coming.” Rocks twisted her feet. Brambles caught at her skirt and skin. They didn’t slow her as she scrambled down the hill to the water’s edge. Gripping the tree, she stretched as far as she could. Eddie lifted his hand, reaching for her. His legs swept downstream, threatening to carry him away. Her chest hurt as she held her breath.
“Hold on. I’ll get you.” She eased closer. Her feet sank in the wet ground. Still, Eddie was not within reach. Gritting her teeth, she stepped into the water and gasped at the iciness.
The water rose to her ankles and then to her calves. As she eased closer, her skirts swirled around her legs, tugging at her. She had to save Eddie before the water dragged him away. Dragged them both away with no one to rescue them.
She fought the current, grabbed him, and struggled back to the shore. There, she collapsed on the grass, Eddie safe in her arms.
“Son, you’re like ice.”
His teeth chattered. He tried to answer, but his words were garbled.
“I need to get you warm.” Sitting up, she looked around, Eddie held tightly in her arms. His cold little body chilled her to the core. How far were they from the way station? She couldn’t recollect how long she’d rushed through the bushes. Could she even find the trail she’d followed?
Wait. What was that smell? Was it smoke?
She jerked to her feet and sniffed. Definitely smoke. Woodsmoke. A fire, but was it in a fireplace or in the forest? Her arms tightened around her son. How fast could she run holding him?
Struggling under his weight, she scrambled up the rocky incline and stopped to study her surroundings. There. Smoke came from a log cabin’s chimney in the near distance. A promise of warmth.
She hitched Eddie to her hip and made her way in that direction. Following a vague trail, she slid down a steep path, fought through low bushes in a narrow valley, and panted up the other side, Eddie clinging to her neck and whimpering.
