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front of him.
    Heaven help me, please. Now what?
    He dragged his hand down his face, then breathed a sigh of relief as Mrs. Darby stepped out of the mercantile. She bustled over to the distraught family, immediately taking charge.
    “Nate, is this the new bride?” She took the crying Julia-Rose out of his arms.
    “Yes.” He cleared his throat. “This is Angel. I mean Miss Angelina Hardwick.”
    “Oh, you poor dear.” She shifted the baby and caught Angel by the arm. “I’m Mrs. Darby. Come with me into the mercantile and we’ll get you all cleaned up.”
    Nate looked at the mess on the bottom of his pants and shoes. He shrugged and walked to the horse trough in front of the saloon, then tried his best to clean up with his handkerchief.
    The twins rolled on the ground, holding their throats, making gagging noises. Matt had gone after his brother, who headed in the direction of home. Well, that was a promising start.
    With the family scattered and his bride swept away, a quick beer was definitely in order.
    “Luke, you and your brother get off the ground.” He walked over to their rolling bodies and hauled John up by his collar. “You two go with Mrs. Darby.”
    Assured his sons were safe in the mercantile, he ducked into the saloon. Several men stood at the bar, scarred work boots resting on the metal railing that ran along the bottom. Nate nodded to the ones who turned in his direction and leaned on the bar, raising two fingers to the bartender.
    “What happened out there, Nate?” The bartender slapped a cold glass of foamy amber liquid in front of him.
    He gulped the beer and slid the glass over for a refill. “My new bride arrived.”
    “Good luck.” The bartender placed the refill on the counter, and walked away, whistling a nameless tune.
    Nate took the beer from the bar and wandered over to a table near the large window, with a good view of the street. Too late to have second thoughts. Angel looked a wreck, and there’d been clear terror in her eyes right before she let loose at his feet. Hopefully it was just nerves and there wasn’t something wrong with the woman. He sighed, and downed the rest of his drink. A glance at the dark clouds overhead told him a storm brewed. It was time to get everyone gathered up and back home.
    Angel followed Mrs. Darby through the front door of the mercantile and down the tight passageway, past shelves of food and clothes, and barrels of pickles, flour and sugar, directly to the back of the store.
    “Gertrude Stevenson, come on out here and help us.” The strength of the woman’s voice caused several customers in the store to stare in their direction.
    A short, thin woman, with spectacles perched on the edge of her nose, hurried out from behind a curtain. “What’s the matter, Mamie?” She took a deep breath and patted her heart. “You scared me to death.” Gertrude slid her spectacles back up on the bridge of her nose and peered at Mrs. Darby holding the howling baby in one arm and Angel following behind, wiping her face with a soggy handkerchief.
    “Help me get this poor woman cleaned up.” She led Angel through the curtain to the living area, and sat her in a chair.
    “Who is she? And what happened?” Gertrude moved to the sink and filled a pan with warm water from the reservoir.
    “She’s Nathan Hale’s new bride, just arrived a few minutes ago. The poor thing emptied her stomach out there on the street.”
    “Oh, dear. Not a good beginning, I’m afraid.” Gertrude gathered soap and a clean cloth from under the sink and washed the dirt off Angel’s face. “What’s your name, honey?”
    She stared at the woman, worked her mouth to say something, and then whispered, “Angel.” New tears fell from her swollen eyes.
    Gertrude looked questioningly at Mrs. Darby. “Her name’s Angel.” Mrs. Darby dipped the edge of a wet cloth in sugar and gave it to the baby, which she immediately began to suck on, her eyelashes clumped with tears.
    The store