CHAPTER 1
May 26, 1869
Balfour Ranch, near Walnut Springs, Montana Territory
The quill trembled in Enoch Balfour’s hand. As he sat at his desk, the paper before him shifted into the image of William’s broken body seared into his mind. He squeezed his eyes shut to fight the memory. Thetick, tick, tickof the grandfather clock in the great room downstairs echoed through the still house.
He forced his lids open. Forced his focus back on the pen in his hand. He must write this letter, no matter how much it pained him.
Dearest Father,
It is with a heavy heart that I must share the most grievous news. Our beloved William was?—
His hand shook and a drop of ink splattered across the page. He clenched his jaw, fighting the rising tide of emotionthreatening to drown him. He had to be strong, had to fulfill his duty as the eldest now.
But the words wouldn’t come.
He pushed to his feet and strode to the window, then gazed out at the snow-capped mountains that had been his refuge these past years. How could he leave this place? Yet what choice did he have?
“William, what am I to do?” His words fogged the glass. “You were meant to lead, not me.”
In the reflection, he caught sight of the portrait behind him, above the fireplace—the five Balfour brothers in happier times. William’s confident smile twisted a knife in his chest.
Enoch turned away and made himself return to the desk. He sat and took up the quill once more. Finally, the words poured out of him, each one like a drop of his own blood.
Our beloved William was killed in a tragic accident yesterday, thrown from a horse he was training. His injuries were too severe, and he passed before we could staunch the bleeding. I am undone by grief, as I know you will be.
As I am considered the eldest now, I understand I must uphold the family duties. I will return to England and take my place in parliament as William planned. I ask only for a little more time to settle matters here and bid farewell to the life I have loved.
Your dutiful son,
Enoch
He pushed the paper away and leaned back in his chair. His body had little strength left, but his mind…his mind wouldn’t rest. If only he’d been there with Will. They could have worked together with the colt. His brother would still be here now.
He stood and stepped to the window. As he stared out, the mountains blurred in front of him. He would have to leave this place. His home. Return to a land that held only hard memories.
Hopefully his father wouldn’t force a marriage on him the moment he reached England, the way he’d threatened Will. Father thought Lady Cecilia, the widowed daughter of one of his good friends, the Earl of Canford, would be an excellent match.
After one exchange of letters with the bitter, opinionated woman, Will had chosen to find an American woman—though locating one who met his father’s qualifications of genteel upbringing and family ties to England had proven challenging.
No such woman existed out here in the mountain wilderness of the Montana Territory, so Will had started his search with an advertisement in the eastern papers.
Enoch breathed out a sigh. Would he be better off trying the same thing? Will had communicated with a few ladies who responded, but only made a formal offer to one. Thankfully, she’d never sent an agreement. At least, not as far as Enoch knew.
His gut clenched. He’d need to go through Will’s correspondence to be certain. One more painful duty.
He had to come to terms with the fact that his life was no longer his own. His dreams, his future, had been changed in one fatal moment.
Like an avalanche sweeping down a mountain, he was powerless to stop the charge. All he could do was face it head-on and pray he would not be found wanting.
Again.
CHAPTER 2
July 3, 1869
Savannah, Georgia
