A Mail-Order Dawn Read online

  A Mail-Order Dawn

  Miners to Millionaires - Book 6

  Janelle Daniels

  Dream Cache Publishing

  When a freak snowstorm catches Rosalie Davis outdoors, she realizes the western adventure she craved when becoming a mail-order bride might not be everything she imagined. Before freezing to death on a canyon trail, she’s found by the local blacksmith. Her only chance for survival is a nearby shelter, through treacherous terrain and frigid conditions. But surviving in a run-down trapper cabin together brings its own set of problems.

  Tom Brewer knows how tough a Montana winter can be, but facing extreme conditions without food has him worried. For years, Tom has been too busy with work to think of much else, but after being trapped with Rosalie, he realizes how much he’s missed. Now, the snowstorm seems a minor issue compared to his attraction to her. Because no matter how he craves her, his desire to protect her is even stronger.

  After a wolf attack, their horses bolt, leaving them stranded in the dilapidated cabin to survive through winter unless rescued. But can Tom and Rosalie survive in such tight quarters without giving in to what they want most?

  To sign up for Janelle Daniels’ readers club and receive notice of new titles as they are available, click here.

  To my Romance Dreamers friends. Thank you for being my cheerleaders! You always bring a smile to my face.

  And Dan. Life together is the ultimate adventure.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Epilogue

  Titles by Janelle Daniels

  Chapter 1

  Rosalie Davis tugged the front of her coat together, hoping to ward off the biting cold. She released her horse’s reins and rubbed her hands together in a futile effort to warm them. She should’ve dressed warmer, but the day had started out so sunny and bright, she’d been lulled into complacency. This was early December in Montana. She should have known better.

  You’ll be warm soon enough, she told herself. She was going up the canyon to see a friend who’d taken ill. She planned to sit by the fire and warm her hands and body until she couldn’t stand the heat, then stay a little longer. Besides, a girl from Ohio could handle a little cold. She might’ve come to Montana to become a mail-order bride to a wealthy—and insane—miner, but she had grown up on a farm. She was tougher than she looked.

  While she didn’t visit Cassie often, as the distance to her home prevented more frequent trips, it had always been a pleasant journey. But what had seemed like such an easy trip this morning, now looked complicated. Her eyes narrowed at the thick gray clouds above, willing them to stay as they were until she arrived at the cabin. They could unleash after, and if need be, she could stay with Cassie until the storm passed.

  But even as Rosalie thought that, a single snowflake pelted her cheek, then another.

  Her heart rate kicked up and she urged her mount a little faster. She still had another hour and a half until she arrived, and there was nothing but nature between Rosalie and her destination.

  If she was caught out here…

  She pulled her coat tighter around her and lowered over her horse, whispering encouraging words. They could outrun this. It was possible. The snow may only fall light enough it won’t matter one way or another. She might even make it home tonight after her visit.

  But after ten minutes, the storm had increased enough that their tracks were covered almost as soon as they made them. Snowflakes clumped on her eyelashes, and she tried to keep her head low while still viewing their path.

  “Come on, girl,” she said to her horse. “We can make it.”

  Her teeth started chattering five minutes later, and she knew white-out conditions were coming quickly.

  She was going to die out here.

  Rosalie hugged her horse, hoping its body warmth would preserve her a bit longer. The wind whistled as the storm picked up speed.

  The wind howled again, almost sounding like it had called out, Wait, which made her wonder if the cold was affecting her mind. She’d heard freezing to death wasn’t a painful way to die, all things considered. There were much worse ways than going completely numb and falling asleep. She didn’t realize she would hallucinate as well—

  “Stop!”

  She sat up and whipped her head around. Now that was definitely a person. “Hello?” Was someone really out there? “Anyone there?”

  A man galloped into view, stopping his horse just inches from hers. “What are you doing out here?” he yelled over the storm.

  She tucked her freezing hands inside her coat now that she wasn’t gripping the reins. “I was on my way to visit a friend up the canyon and the storm caught me. Where did you come from? Is there a cabin nearby?” She’d raised her voice to be heard, and she prayed he would say yes. Now that she wasn’t alone, a kernel of hope filled her. She and her horse just might survive.

  He shook his head and some of the snow coating his hat fell off with the movement. “I just came from there and it’s even worse. You won’t make it before freezing to death.”

  She shivered at his words, her body already half-frozen. “It’s not much better back down the canyon either. I would’ve turned back long ago, but I’d hoped to outrun it.”

  He nodded hard, his lips pressed into a frown. “There’s a trapper’s cabin not far from here. It isn’t in the best condition, but we might be able to survive there.”

  She barely heard him over the howling wind, but managed to catch just enough to understand and nodded quickly. “I’ll follow you.”

  “Stay close.”

  They urged their horses forward, and she prayed the cabin wasn’t far. After a few minutes backtracking, he turned into the forest. She hesitated, knowing it was dangerous to leave the trail, but right now, it was worse on the road. The trees partially shielded her from the thickly falling snow, but it was darker and colder in the foliage. They moved slower now as they maneuvered through fallen branches and brush, but she didn’t take her eyes off the man for a second.

  He moved forward with purpose, and she believed he knew exactly where he was going. So instead of questioning, she prayed. Prayed they’d make it through this alive, that she would live another day to learn better survival skills, learn how to detect weather changes sooner, and she promised never to put herself in this position again.

  More light filtered through the branches just before they came to a stream flowing higher than it should, well past its banks. At least, it looked like it used to be a stream.

  Even over the wind she could hear the man swear.

  Rosalie swallowed hard and looked back at the river, wondering if they were going to die here. The cabin had to be on the other side or he wouldn’t have stopped. “Can we cross it?”

  When he didn’t answer after a long moment, she was about to repeat her question when he said, “We have to.”

  He didn’t need to add why. This was their only option. It was either cross the river and hope for the best, or freeze to death. “What do we do?”

  He dismounted and came to her side, and it was the first time she got a good look at his face. Tom Brewer. His dark eyes pierced hers and tendrils of heat curled within her. He was the blacksmith in Promise Creek. She’d seen him a few times around town, but had never been formally introduced.

  “I’m going to get in the water and lead the horses across while you ride. Gather your skirt and lift your legs on the saddle so you don’t get wet.”

  She
shook her head. “But you can’t! If you get in that water—”

  “There’s no other choice, and we don’t have time to argue about it. The cabin isn’t far. If we get there quick enough after crossing, I’ll be fine.”

  She swallowed any further arguments. He was right, this was their only option. She gathered up her skirt and lifted her legs to the top of the saddle, trying to keep her balance.

  “Hang on!” Tom grabbed both the horses’ reins and led them quickly into the water. He stumbled on something at the edge of the riverbed, but righted himself before completely losing his balance. He then waded into the water, first checking his footing and the speed of the current, before leading the horses further in. Halfway across, at what she hoped was the deepest point, the water came up to his waist.

  He cursed again as his horse shimmied back, but managed to pull both animals forward. Her own mount tried to rear, and she screamed as she started edging off to the side, but Tom quickly took charge and kept the horse down.

  Before she could right herself, Rosalie’s leg slipped into the icy water, and a shocked half squeal, half gasp escaped her lips as liquid filled her boot, drenching her stockings.

  With a few more encouraging words sprinkled with oaths, Tom led them out on the other side of the river.

  “Are you all right?” he yelled back to her.

  “Fine!” She didn’t mention her wet leg. There wasn’t anything to be done about it now, and he was completely soaked, so she sure wasn’t going to complain about one leg. “Let’s go!”

  His movements were jerky as he climbed up into his saddle, and she knew his limbs were frozen. They had to get to that cabin now.

  They maneuvered into the thick forest on this side of the river as quickly as they could, careful not to injure the animals.

  “Just a little farther!”

  She prayed he was right, but she didn’t know how he knew where they were. She couldn’t see anything. The dim light, mixed with the thick snow, blinded her almost completely.

  She was, however, able to see Tom when he suddenly slumped in his seat. “Tom!” She moved her horse next to his, and he jerked up at her touch.

  “I’m fine.”

  “No, you’re not! You’re freezing to death!” She chewed her lower lip as tears pricked her eyes. He’d gotten in that river to make sure she stayed dry, so it was because of her he was in such bad shape. He slumped again and she quickly pushed their horses together so he could lean against her. “Where is the cabin? Is it far?” She could hear the shrill panic in her voice, but she hoped he couldn’t.

  He pointed through another cluster of trees. “It’s straight through there.”

  She looked at the foliage, wondering how he could know that, when it looked exactly like every other clump of trees surrounding them.

  Steeling herself, she gathered his reins in her hand. “Lean on me. I’ll get us there.” She didn’t know where the strength in her voice came from, but he must’ve believed her, because he rested heavily on her.

  A sickening feeling surged through her. He was about to pass out. And if he lost consciousness and fell off his horse, there was no way she could get him back on.

  His life was in her hands, and she wouldn’t fail him. “Hold on tight. Don’t you dare fall off, you hear?”

  After more prayers, they pushed through the last cluster of trees into a small meadow. A tiny cabin with a lean-to sat in the middle, and although she wanted to cry with relief, she didn’t. She could cry later, once they were warm and safe. “We’re here!”

  His head lolled, and she could tell he was just barely holding on. She brought the horses to the lean-to, hoping it would give them enough shelter to survive. The animals were still frozen from the river, but she had to take care of Tom before seeing to their needs.

  She dismounted quickly, securing their mounts, before moving toward Tom. “Can you get down?”

  “I’m not sure.” He shifted in the saddle and groaned. “You might have to catch me.”

  “What!” His clothes might have obscured his form, but they sure didn’t hide his mass. “You’ll crush me.”

  She got a harsh chuckle from him, and she was grateful he was well enough for that. “I’ll endeavor not to squish you.” He grunted as he lifted a leg over the saddle.

  “You can do this.” She moved behind him and tried to take some of his weight. She hadn’t been kidding. If he fell on her, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to get up. It took a lot of strength to be a blacksmith, and from the feel of it, Tom could more than handle it.

  As if he couldn’t hold his own weight any longer, he fell the last little bit to the ground. Rosalie stumbled back a step, but kept her grip tight on him. “Whoa!”

  His knees buckled a moment before he straightened them.

  “Can you walk? We’re almost there.”

  His jaw clenched, but he nodded. She couldn’t tell if it was because he was in pain, or if it was a sign that only sheer grit and determination was getting him through this.

  Rosalie’s grip on Tom remained tight as they painstakingly made it up the three wooden steps onto the porch. Looking at the rotting logs and the off-kilter door, she could only hope the inside was better maintained, but she’d take mice and mold any day, as long as the roof kept the snow off them.

  He stumbled again while she tried to open the door with one hand and keep him upright with the other, but Rosalie clenched her own jaw, managing to hold him up and soon had him through the door. The room was freezing, but there was a hearth with a few logs next to it. She briefly noticed the small table and two chairs as she moved Tom to the stained mattress in the corner.

  “You have to get out of these clothes.” She tried not to blush when she said it. He was exactly the type of man she’d always been attracted to, with his dark eyes and hair, and a scruffy beard which made him look a little wild around the edges. He was strong, well-formed, and tall enough that her above-average height still felt small. But even though she was attracted to him, she couldn’t waste time admiring him now. He needed to get warm.

  His hands went to his pants, but no matter how he tried, he couldn’t get his frozen fingers to undo the buttons.

  She gulped, before kneeling quickly in front of him. “Let me.”

  He pushed her hands and tried to turn away. “No.”

  “Yes. You need help.”

  “You’re a lady.”

  Her heart tugged a little that he’d worry about such a thing while half frozen. “I’m the only person here, and you need help getting your clothes off. Think of me as a nurse.”

  He pushed her hands away one more time, before finally giving in.

  He looked away while her stiff fingers undid his buttons. “You, uh, have anything on underneath?” She needed to know if she should prepare herself.

  “Yes.”

  Relief flooded her as she tugged down the frozen material, careful to leave the thin linen garment beneath in place. “Sit down.”

  He fell on the mattress instead of lowering himself, and she took off his boots and socks, before stripping his pants off the rest of the way. His shirt was only half wet, but it still needed to come off. “Lift up your arms.”

  Tom did as she commanded, and she quickly took off the material before he collapsed on his back onto the mattress. She grabbed a blanket from the foot of the bed, but knew he would need more than one thin covering. “Are there any more blankets?”

  Shaking uncontrollably, he managed to nod toward a box in the corner. “Check in there.”

  Rosalie shook out the covering and tucked it snug around him before looking in the box, where she found three more blankets, though one was heavily stained with something she didn’t want to contemplate. The remaining two appeared relatively clean, so she took them over and layered both on top of him. His teeth chattered so hard, she was worried they’d shatter, and his skin looked as pale as the snow they were currently hiding from.

  Moving to the small hearth, she bui
lt a fire quickly, blowing softly until the kindling ignited and caught the larger logs. She waited another moment to make sure the fire wouldn’t go out, and ignored the icy-cold pain in her right leg from the dunking it took in the water.

  With that task done, she moved on to the next. She had to keep going until everything was done. “I’m going to go take care of the horses. Do you need anything else?”

  “I’ll be fine.” He glanced her way, but pain glazed his eyes.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  She turned away before she lost her determination. The cabin was cold, but when she opened the door, the biting wind slapped the breath from her.

  She moved as quickly as she could to the lean-to and grabbed the embroidered tablecloth she’d planned to give to Cassie out of her saddlebag, then used it to wipe down the excess moisture from the horses. She berated herself for not packing an extra blanket, but promised herself she would in the future. Spying Tom’s saddlebags, she rummaged through until her hand landed on a blanket. She let out a relieved shout and quickly pulled it out and secured it around his horse.

  She jogged back into the cabin for the stained blanket, her movements awkward from her stiffening leg. After checking Tom’s breathing as he lay with his eyes closed, she grabbed the crusted material and braced herself once again as she exited the cabin.

  She made it back to the horses and threw the material over her own horse, silently apologizing for the disgusting covering. “You’ll be all right.” She patted her mount once more, before returning and taking shelter in the cabin.

  Her foot had begun throbbing, her leg was almost to the point of being useless, and she couldn’t contain a whimper from the pain as she passed through the door.

  Tom’s head whipped toward her. “What is it? Are you hurt?”