**READERS - as in the past with my stories, I would appreciate any feedback, especially if you see an error, please point it out to me. Thanks!

Montana, 1877

"You did what?"

Victoria Swanson's voice carried through the nearly empty house as she stood in front of her sister, staring at her in shock. Lydia sat on the parlor sofa, twisting her hands in her lap as she stared back at Victoria with wide eyes. Her sister appeared very determined, and Victoria knew the young woman was hardheaded, as well. They were only one year apart, but Victoria thought Lydia was prettier and more mature-looking.

"You do not need to raise your voice at me, Toria," Lydia said in a steady tone. "I did what I had to do, and signing up to be a mail-order bride will help everyone involved."

"How can you say that?" Victoria flipped her hands in the air. "This is an insane idea."

Lydia's steely eyes turned a darker blue. Victoria's sister was so pretty, she didn't know why she'd resort to marrying a stranger.

Lydia slowly stood from the couch, folding her arms in a stubborn stance. "The idea is not insane. Think about this, Toria. Your school teaching job is barely paying the bills, and I'm not making enough money as a Milliner to help with food. Most of the men in Woodville are working in Stumptown as loggers, and so it's not as if I can find a man to marry." Lydia sighed. "Toria, you have to see that by becoming a mail-order bride, this is the only way for me to help out our family."

The frustration building up in Victoria made her want to scream. Life wasn't turning out how she had wanted, thanks to their father, who had been drunk most of his daughters' lives, which eventually drove their mother insane until she was put into a hospital where she died. Victoria's father hadn't been around for several months, and she expected he was lying somewhere dead. Not that it mattered. He'd never been a parent to his daughters, even when he lived with them.

Being the oldest of four girls, Victoria had been their caregiver since she could remember. And, because of that ever-present parenting feeling, she didn't think Lydia was making the right decision. Yet, Victoria couldn't help but agree with her that they were at their wit's end.

Sighing, she rubbed her forehead, hoping that the pounding ache would subside. Victoria knew she was on her way to becoming a spinster anyway, and so she might as well take the role of her sister's guardian. Victoria had always thought she was the plain-looking sister. Red hair was definitely not the fashion. But Lydia, Patience, and Rachael, all had strawberry blonde hair with a touch of brown, and Victoria hoped they would be able to find a man and fall in love. Most men found Victoria too educated as well. However, she didn't care about marriage since she loved her job as a schoolteacher, but she did worry about her sisters. They should marry a man of their choosing, and signing up to be a mail-order bride went against all of that.

"Lydia, my dear, dear sister." Victoria grasped her sister's hands. "I hate feeling helpless, and we are indeed at our wit's end. But, I do want you to find the man who suits you perfectly, and being a mail-order bride won't give you courting time before marriage."

Shrugging, Lydia gave Victoria a sympathetic smile. "Toria, you don't have to be the only one in the family to make sacrifices. I can make some as well."

Victoria frowned as anger built up inside her. "And we have our lousy father to thank for that."

Lydia nodded. "Which is another reason why being a mail-order bride is the key to helping the family."

Victoria walked away from her sister and to the window. The snow from the storm a week ago was starting to melt. Spring was still a few months away, but she longed to see the flowers blooming and green leaves growing on the trees, as well as to hear the trickle of the nearby stream.

"So, who is this man you have been corresponding with?"

Lydia moved to the desk in the corner of the room and picked up a telegram. "I've actually been corresponding with Mrs. Hannah Easton from Stumptown. She has deemed herself the town's matchmaker."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "I hope she knows what she's doing."

"I'm certain she does." Lydia moved closer to Victoria. "The man's name is Alan Cartwright. He owns the boat shop in town, and during the winter, he's a trapper."

Victoria glanced over her shoulder. "Oh, really? Do you know that means he will rarely be home during the winter, right?"

"Maybe, maybe not." Lydia shrugged. "I'm hoping that Stumptown needs more Milliners, and then I'll be able to help put food on the table."

"I don't know." Victoria shook her head, moving away from the cold window. "Something doesn't sound right."

Lydia gasped. "Don't be silly, Toria. Mr. Cartwright sounds like an upstanding man in town, and because he has two jobs, that tells me he is a hard worker and will provide for his family." She shrugged. "Why can't you see that?"

"I just think—"

"Well, stop thinking," Lydia snapped. "This is my life, and I am going to marry this man no matter how much you argue with me."

Victoria folded her arms across her chest and pursed her lips. Although she had been closer to Lydia than her other sisters, Victoria and Lydia were too much alike... stubborn to a fault.

"Are your sisters invited to the wedding?"

"Of course." Lydia stepped closer and hugged Victoria. "I want you all there."

"When will this event be taking place?"

Lydia withdrew and smiled. "I have arranged to meet Mrs. Easton the first Monday of next month."

"That's in fourteen days."

"Yes, I know. But if it were up to me, I'd travel tomorrow to marry Alan Cartwright. I don't want to wait so long to start my new life."

Victoria's chest tightened. She shared her sister's pain and frustration. All the sisters were of age to marry, and none of them really wanted to become a spinster. Victoria was the only one who had already started making arrangements in her life to take on that title. Woodville had many beautiful women with bountiful dowries. The Swanson family had lovely daughters with no dowries. Needless to say, they were always overlooked in the marriage market.

A sigh of defeat escaped Victoria's throat. Although she didn't want her sister to enter a loveless marriage, she also wanted to see all of her sisters married and happy. "Let me know when you need help packing."

Lydia's smile grew, and she gave Victoria another big hug. "I will." She turned and hurried out of the parlor.

Alone with her thoughts now, Victoria blinked back tears. She knew the day would come when all the sisters went their separate ways and lived their own lives, but Victoria didn't want it to happen this soon. She'd gotten used to being their guardian, and it was difficult to let them go. They all needed to be happy, and she would move heaven and earth to make sure they found true love. Yet, when Lydia decided to marry a stranger, how could Victoria guarantee her sister would find love?

If only they knew the man from Stumptown. Owning a boat shop and working as a trapper didn't mean squat to Victoria. She wanted to get to know this man to see if he would treat her sister like a queen. Victoria wanted to make sure the man wasn't anything like their drunken absentee father.

It would be different if they lived in the same town as Alan Cartwright. Victoria could ask people in town about the man because they would know if he drank morning and night – and even more during the day. The townsfolk would know if he started fights at the saloons or cheated on his wife.

She'd love nothing more than to ask Alan Cartwright some personal questions to make sure he was perfect for Lydia. Not all men could handle a stubborn-headed woman.

Suddenly, an idea struck her, like lightning to the head but not as painfully numbing. Victoria could meet Alan Cartwright to discover if he was the man for her sister or not. Then, if Victoria realized the man wasn't suited, she could stop Lydia's wedding and save her sister from a lifetime of heartache.

Excitement slowly built inside her, and she paced the floor, wringing her hands against her waist. She had to be clever about this, or she'd scare the man away, and her sister would hate her forever. Her mind spun with several possibilities, and they all sounded plausible. But this wasn't something she could do on her own. She needed help.

Hurrying out of the room, one name came to mind. Her best friend, Savannah Kline. Mrs. Savannah Kline, since her friend was married six months ago. Savannah's husband worked for the railroad, and he was gone quite a bit, which meant that Victoria and her friend could plot out a way to corner Alan Cartwright so that they could get to know him before he married Lydia.

Victoria giggled with delight and grabbed her fur-lined cloak before leaving the house. They had one wagon to share amongst four women, but thankfully, nobody had to work today since it was the Lord's Day of Sabbath.

She placed a warm bonnet on her head and stuffed her hands into her gloves before hiking up her skirt to climb up to the driver's seat. The wagon had already been hooked to the horse since the sisters had gone to church this morning, and now Victoria was relieved she didn't have to take more time before heading to Savannah's house.

The roads were easier to travel on since the snow started melting. She rode through town and occasionally waved to people she knew. Being the town's schoolteacher, she knew most everyone who had a child. But she'd also lived in Woodville all her life, and she soon became a public fixture in town.

Savannah lived on the outskirts of town in a nice log cabin. Her husband made good money, which kept them living in the lap of luxury. But Victoria did feel bad that Savannah only saw her husband once or twice a week, and sometimes not even that much. It was a good thing Victoria was never going to get married. She'd always be her friend's support through thick and thin.

As she reached the edge of town, she didn't see anyone, and she probably wouldn't until she reached Savannah's house. But as she continued on the main road, she noticed a wagon that had slid off the road and was tilted to the side.

Victoria gasped, hoping the driver was all right. He would definitely need help getting the wagon to an upright position.

She slowed her horse as she approached the tipped wagon. A man wearing a sheep-skinned coat and a black cowboy hat, squatted beside his wagon as he scratched his unshaven face. He glanced up as she neared, and he stood. He was a tall man, certainly taller than six feet. And he was extremely handsome with brilliant blue eyes. He removed his hat and nodded to her. His wavy blond hair looked silky.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," he said. "I was hoping you would be able to assist me."

She stopped the horse. "I doubt I'll be any help at all. I'm not strong enough to help you lift the wagon."

"Oh, no, ma'am. I wasn't asking about that. I had hoped you could take me back into town to rustle up a couple of fellows who can help me. After my wagon tipped, my horse ran off, so I might need someone to help me find my horse."

Victoria wasn't the kind of woman who invited strange men into her vehicle, but she was the type of woman who helped people in need. It would only be ten minutes out of her way, and then she'd be at Savannah's house. The poor man did need someone to save him.

"I would be delighted." She smiled.

He placed the hat on his head, covering his glorious wavy locks. "I suppose I should introduce myself." He smiled, and his blue eyes brightened. "I'm Alan Cartwright from Stumptown."

The name shocked her, and she nearly fell off the seat. She grasped the railing tightly and hoped she didn't appear startled. Here was her chance to talk to him to see if he would be a good husband to her sister. She couldn't scare him away yet.

She swallowed hard. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Cartwright. I'm Victoria—" She stopped before saying her last name. He would recognize it from being the same name as his mail-order bride. "Victoria Lange." She used her mother's maiden name.

"Miss Lange, or are you married?"

"I'm not married."

"Well, I'm just very happy that you agreed to take me into town. Give me a moment to collect my saddlebag."

"Of course." She glanced around the wreckage and frowned. The man was obviously devastated, but could she carry on a conversation and get to know him in just a few short minutes while riding into town? Probably not. She needed more time. Yet, she couldn't be forward with him, either. However, she couldn't let him out of her sight until she was fully satisfied that he would make Lydia a good husband.

An idea popped in her head on how she could keep him contained for more than a few minutes. It might not be the best idea she'd ever had, but she was grasping for anything right now.

He'd bent to retrieve his saddlebag, and she quickly reached behind her and into the back of the wagon, picking up a piece of wood that was still in the vehicle from when she and her sisters gathered firewood the other day. She quickly hid it under her full skirt, keeping her hand clutched to the wood as she prepared to use it.

Mr. Cartwright came toward the wagon, tossed his saddlebag in the back, and then jumped up on the seat beside her. "Thank you again, Miss Lange. You don't know how much this means to me."

"Oh, don't mention it at all. I'm happy to help. And... you will be helping me, as well. You might not like it, but it must be done."

Confusion covered his face. She withdrew the piece of wood and swung it toward his head. His eyes widened, and he lifted his arms to block it, but he wasn't fast enough. The wood struck the side of his head, and he collapsed, falling against her.

She tried to steady him on the seat and keeping him next to her as much as she could. She quickly whipped the reins and urged her horse into motion. Getting to Savannah's house quickly was most important. She wouldn't know how to explain this if someone from town happened to drive by her.

But Savannah would help her. Victoria was sure of it.