Chapter One

The sound of the train racing down the track, along with the movement of the train had lulled many of the passengers to sleep. It would have done the same thing for Heath only the blonde haired cowboy was too busy looking at the beauty that was curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Her name was now Agniece Bonnaveture Barkley-a woman born and raised in France who had moved to California a few years before. Her hair was pitch black, her eyes brown and she stood a mere five feet three inches. He chuckled at the thought of what his family's reaction would be when he brought home a new wife when he'd left home to get a simple pump for one of their mines. As he pulled her closer, he closed his eyes and started dreaming of how they had met-and then married-in spite of knowing each other such short time.

Heath rode into Robinson's Ferry and dismounted his horse. He hadn't wanted to make this trip, but he was the only one available-as Nick and Jarrod both had prior commitments on top of their already heavy workload. He shook his head; the last pump should have lasted longer. He froze as he entered the livery stable. A red headed, wiry, man who had given him a bit of trouble not an hour ago was inside…only this time he had another man with him. The second man was much taller, and larger, than the first one and had dark hair.

"Well, well," the red headed man folded his arms. "We meet again. You going pay up on that gambling debt we talked about earlier."

Heath's eyes grew cold. "I told you before, mister. I've never seen you before in my life. I've never played cards with you, and I sure don't owe you any money." The whole time Heath kept his eyes on both men. If they attacked him, he knew he might be in trouble…due to the second man's size.

"You lie, mister!" The red headed man, whose name was Carl Bryant, yelled-even though he knew full well it was he who was lying. Truth was, after Heath had mentioned needing a pump, the man had assumed Heath was carrying the money for the item on him. He'd never stopped think that; maybe, Heath was going to have to go to the bank before going to buy the pump. That being the case, Mr. Bryant had enlisted help, saying Heath was refusing to pay what he owed Mr. Bryant.

"I do not lie." Heath watched for any movement from the two men only to find himself being pushed from behind…a third man-whom Heath had not seen had attacked him. A fight then broke loose. In a matter of minutes Heath lay unconscious on the livery stable floor with a knife wound to his shoulder. Whether that was due to being hit by one of the men or from the loss of blood-the the three men did not know, nor did they care.

"Get his wal.." Carl Bryant started to order his friends when all three heard the sound of a rifle's hammer being pulled.

" Arrêtez !" A female voice came from behind them. While none of them knew French, they pretty well knew they'd been ordered to cease what they were doing…which they had, as the French word meant STOP. However, hearing a woman's voice mattered little to Mr. Bryant or the man who had attacked Heath first-as they figured they could sweet talk her and then overpower her. However, both men were stunned when the second, large man, turned a bit pale and started muttering….and then practically flew out the door. It made Mr. Bryant and the remaining man wonder just who had just entered the building.

"He owes me money!" Mr. Bryant once more lied and started to bend over Heath only to have a bullet whiz past his head.

Mr. Bryant and his friend jumped backwards. "You lie! You in and out all week! This man, he get here today!" She said as she prepared to fire the rifle again. The eyes of the woman screamed 'I missed on purpose; I won't miss a second time'.

Mr. Bryant's help turned and gave him a glare of his own. "You told me you played poker with him two nights ago, here in the saloon!" However, Carl Bryant had no time to reply…as the sheriff, along with a few other men, stepped in the door. Their eyes widened, though none but the sheriff-who knew the young woman well, quickly moved to her side.

"Miss Agniece, you're the one who fired that shot I heard? What happened?"

Agniece nodded and, in her best English, explained what happened as she lowered her rifle. "You take them." She held the rifle-which was pointed downwards-in her left hand while she pointed towards Mr. Bryant and his friend. "He," she moved her hand, making it so she was pointing to Heath, "I help him. You take him to my office?" Okay, it wasn't exactly hers, but the town's doctor had been pulled out of town on an emergency. As his nurse, Agniece had full use of the small medical building.

"John, Paul!" The sheriff, who privately thought Agniece should have been the doctor, snapped at two thin, brown haired gentlemen in the group. "Get the stranger; Agniece will show you where to take him." He and his deputy then escorted Heath's attackers to the jail.

When the train came to stop a watering hole, Heath and Agniece got off to stretch their legs...and to check on Charger; the animal had been put in the area meant for transporting animals. Heath, who could tell something was bothering his new wife, stopped walking. He turned to face her while keeping a hold of her hand. "What is wrong? You're not sorry you married me, are you?"

"Oh non!" She exclaimed. "I mean, no. I very happy."

"Then what is bothering you?" Heath asked with even more concern in his voice.

"Your family…" she lowered her eyes. "They accept me? We not know each other…long."

Heath smiled and, taking a hold of her chin, he lifted her head back up. "They will love you as much as I do." He would have kissed her right then and there only the train whistle sounded, and the train conductor started yelling for all those who had gotten off the train to get back on.

"Think he borrowed his timing from Nick," Heath, who had told Agniece all about his brothers and sister, muttered. It only served to make his new wife laugh. Soon the train was moving; Agniece was resting her head on Heath's shoulder again, and Heath was back to thinking about the time the two of them had together and his decision to ask her to marry him.