THE PIPER
A young war widow. A secret confession from the soldier
bringing the news and her husband’s belongs and a forbidden kiss.
Genevieve Walters has spent the last decade delving into her matchmaking mission work to quell the unsettled emotions the solider stirred within her. But a new mission will take her on a journey to Noelle, Colorado, where the magic of the season and fate will challenge her to face the past in the form of a mysterious mountain man. When his identity is revealed will she consider him her perfect match?
Genevieve Walters has spent the last decade delving into her matchmaking mission work to quell the unsettled emotions the solider stirred within her. But a new mission will take her on a journey to Noelle, Colorado, where the magic of the season and fate will challenge her to face the past in the form of a mysterious mountain man. When his identity is revealed will she consider him her perfect match?
Making the promise to his Captain to return both his watch
and letters to his wife should the unthinkable happen, wasn’t supposed to
occur. Just like his midnight confession and the kiss he’d shared with the new
widow that fateful night ten years ago. Zeke Kinnsion has survived the worst
that life has thrown at him and has since found his peace as a fur trapper in
mountains of Noelle. But fate is about to rattle his life when a familiar matchmaker
breezes into town determined to marry off her twelve mail-order brides. Suddenly
facing down a four-hundred-pound bear pales in comparison of once again facing
the only woman he’s ever loved.
EXCERPT
Zeke wasn’t exactly interested in a shave as much as he was pure survival. Traditionally, women knew better not to enter a barber shop on principle alone. There was a good chance, however, that some silly rule wasn’t about to stop Genevieve.
Zeke wasn’t exactly interested in a shave as much as he was pure survival. Traditionally, women knew better not to enter a barber shop on principle alone. There was a good chance, however, that some silly rule wasn’t about to stop Genevieve.
“Good day, Mr. Wisdom. I, uh—just stopped
by to see how those pelts I gave you last spring are holding up as rugs?”
The man’s brow furrowed. He glanced over
Zeke’s shoulder. “Excuse me, son. But are you aware there’s a fetching-looking
woman peering in my shop window. Possible she’s looking for you?” Butch took a
second look and smiled. “I’m not sure I’d be running away, son.”
Zeke debated whether it was time he simply
face the music, as it were. Thing was, he didn’t know what to say to her.
Didn’t understand why after all this time just the sight of her put his head
into a tailspin. Worse, she wanted him to marry a stranger—a woman he’d never
held. Never kissed. Never dreamt for weeks about how sweet was the scent of her
skin. Genevieve Walters. What were the odds that the only woman he’d ever truly
loved was here in Noelle, Colorado?
“You have a back way out of here?” he
asked.
The man glanced at the window and back at
Zeke, throwing him a skeptical look. “You sure about that?”
Zeke blew out a sigh. “Not entirely. But
it’s the best option I’ve got at the moment.”
“Well, unless you got a tooth needing to
be tended to.” He nodded toward the back. “Through the bathing area. Door leads
out back.”
“Much appreciated.” Zeke strode into the
small room containing a fancy porcelain claw-foot tub, a small dresser, and one
of his bear pelts spread across the floor. He stood a moment assessing how to
get back to his horse and get out of town without running into the good
matchmaker. Slowly opening the back door, he peeked out and came face-to-face with
the beautiful green-eyed gaze of the woman he’d left out of his own guilt over
ten years ago.
“Mrs…Walters,” he sighed, averting his
eyes from her determined gaze.
The Piper is Day 11 in the Twelve Days of Christmas Mail-Order Brides series
ABOUT THE SERIES
Twelve
men. Twelve brides. Twelve days to save a town.
