Page 1 of A Forgotten Heart
Chapter 1
“Hey, McGraw!”
Nick McGraw glanced up at the shout as he guided his horse down the muddy, icy track that was Main Street in the tiny town of Calvin, Wyoming. His dog, Patch, circled the horse, careful to stay clear of its hooves.
Nick’s old school chum Ames Lancaster was on the boardwalk outside the leather-goods store, bundled in a coat and red scarf, his black wool derby tucked low over his head.
“What’re you doing in town? Don’t you know there’s a storm brewing?” Ames’s eyes drifted to the heavy clouds sinking closer to the tops of the buildings.
Not so different from the heaviness weighing on Nick’s chest.
“Business.” Nick patted his satchel, the strap looped across his chest, with a gloved hand.
An icy gust sliced through Nick’s coat, minuscule snowflakes stinging his cheeks beneath his hat.
Ames scoffed. “It couldn’t wait until this storm clears?”
Not when his family depended on him. “It didn’t look so bad when I left.”
Nick’s oldest brother, Drew, had insisted that the sale contract be finalized at the land office as soon as possible. WithChristmas only a little more than a couple weeks away, Nick imagined Drew didn’t want to worry about anything—or anyone—causing trouble with the simple transaction. Drew was big on legacy, on protecting and expanding the land their pa had left them.
Nick blinked away the snowflakes gathering on his lashes.
Another arctic blast blew over them, making him shiver. He urged Surrey on.
“Don’t get caught out in it!” Ames called out after him.
Ames wasn’t joking. Dense moisture thickened the air, promising a dump of snow. Nick would need to finish his errands and seek shelter. Soon.
Normally he looked forward to his trips to town. Seeing friends. Catching up on their lives. But today was different.
How long would it be before he saw town again?
After his business at the land office, he’d be stuck in a winter cabin on the side of a mountain for months. Isolated. With only cows for company.
Children’s laughter wafted from the schoolhouse as a few stragglers scurried home. Probably released early on account of the coming storm.
He tried not to look. He really did. But when he passed the white clapboard schoolhouse, his eyes devoured the snug little building.
He hadn’t been inside the new schoolhouse, built after the first had been destroyed by fire almost a year ago. That had been just before his cousin Merritt, the longtime schoolmarm, had gotten married and stepped down.
He’d heard the town had hired a new schoolteacher this past September, but he didn’t know who or whether they were filling the position well. All he knew was that the new teacher wasn’t him.
For so long he’d dreamed of being the one standing at the front of that classroom?—
Nick slammed the lid on those pointless thoughts and nudged his horse faster.
Piano music filtered out into the quiet street from the saloon. A familiar horse hitched outside snagged Nick’s attention.
He slowed to a stop.
There was no mistaking the blood bay Thoroughbred standing out like a king among its subjects. It belonged to Heath Quade, a neighbor to the McGraws and a constant thorn in their side. The man had poisoned their family’s well months ago, and weeks later, had attempted to reroute the river that flowed onto McGraw land, their only source of water.
Why was the man at the saloon instead of at his ranch with his daughter?
Nick’s stomach dropped. It didn’t bode well.
He nudged his horse forward, but his gaze stayed on the horse as he rode by.
