Northern Territories, February 1915

Nathan Grant peered up at the sky with a frown. Dark clouds blanketed it, clouds heavy with snow. The wind was already whipping around them. The small band of Mounties shivered as they packed up their camp. Their scouting mission was finally at an end. The information they could bring back to the main camp would hopefully turn the tide of the war.

Nathan hadn't wanted to join the conflict in the Northern Territories. That had been his brother's dream. Joshua had a fire in his eyes anytime he spoke of defending their country from the mayhem in the north. He was all about fighting the good fight. He'd asked Nathan time and again to join him, but Nathan had firmly held to his belief that his calling was in the small and everyday rather than the grand and glorious. The latter was for people like his twin, not him. Unfortunately, the fight hadn't ended in glory for Joshua.

A pang of grief hit him. Pushing the memories away, Nathan sighed and hefted his bedroll onto Newton, his faithful horse.

"A storm's moving in."

The quiet observation from Nathan's right made his eyes lift. His unit's commander, Jack Thornton, stood eying the sky with a pensive expression. Despite the tension over the weather, Nathan found a smile. From their very first meeting, Jack reminded him of Joshua. The two men possessed the same spirit, the same fire to fight the good fight, the same boldness and passion for being Mounties. Nathan had quickly found a friend in Constable Thornton. Over the past year, they had become as close as brothers. Nathan trusted Jack with his life, and he knew the feeling was mutual.

"Should we try to find shelter instead of going straight to camp?" Nathan asked, matching Jack's low tone.

Jack looked torn. He glanced around at their fellow brothers-in-arms. Not counting Nathan, Jack had ten other souls under his command. He felt the responsibility for their safety keenly. Nathan waited quietly as Jack pondered the question. Finally, he let out a breath, looking up at the sky once more. "Let's see how far we can get before the snow starts. If it's bad, we'll take shelter. If not, then we get our information to headquarters that much faster."

Nathan nodded, accepting the decision. He wasn't sure what he would decide in Jack's position, but it seemed like the logical answer. The men continued their preparations, and within the hour were ready to ride back to the main camp. The journey would take two hours at a walk. With the coming snow, Jack ordered them to set out at a brisk trot.

The first hour of their journey passed uneventfully, but then snow began falling heavily. Within minutes, the wind picked up, diminishing their visibility. A blizzard formed. Nathan felt the tension inside increase as the group of Mounties picked their way through the storm blindly.

"I think I see shelter!"

Nathan turned to see Gabriel Kinslow, his childhood friend, pull up beside Jack, shouting to be heard above the wind. Gabe pointed to a rocky cliff barely visible in the driving snow.

Jack's decision was instant. "Take cover!" he hollered. "Follow Kinslow to the cliffs!"

The Mounties formed a line, one after another, making their way through the wind and snow to shelter.

Gabe's find proved better than they could have imagined. A large opening in a wall of rock led them into an enormous cave. There was plenty of room for all twelve of the men and their horses, with room to spare. At Jack's command, they began unpacking wood for a large fire.

The storm lasted all day. By nightfall, Jack told the men to unbundle their bedrolls. They would spend the night in the cave.

Jack, Nathan, and Gabe sat off a little ways from the other men. The three of them had formed a tight bond during the intense months of fighting. Though Gabe and Nathan were already close, they had easily accepted Jack into their friendship. Each of them had saved the other's life on more than one occasion. They had become well acquainted with each other, sharing their stories throughout the long, lonely days of fighting the good fight. So close they'd become, their fellow Mounties called them The Three Musketeers.

Gabe leaned back, resting his head in his hands with his eyes closed. "So, Nathan, you still planning on getting out as soon as this Northern fight is over?"

Nathan nodded firmly, no hesitation in mind. "Absolutely."

Jack eyed him curiously. "I know you only joined the Mounties because you wanted to support your family, but you're an excellent lawman, Nathan. Are you sure that is the path you want to take? You could have a long and promising career as a Mountie."

"It's not for me, Jack," Nathan said. "I joined the force when Joshua did in part to care for my mother and sister and in part to save some money for my future. This was always meant to be temporary." Temporary had quietly become a decade. Nathan was ready to start the next chapter in his life. "My mother is taken care of with the money she received from Joshua's pension. Colleen has Dylan. There's nothing tying me to the Mounties anymore. I've got the money saved up, so I can finally open my own woodworking shop. That has always been my dream."

"Are you saying wood is more interesting than your pals on the force?" Gabe asked without opening his eyes, though a grin spread over his face.

Nathan shoved his friend's shoulder, rocking Gabe to the side. "Yeah, pretty much," he teased.

Jack laughed as Gabe tried to reorient himself. "We'll be sorry to lose you, Nathan."

"Speak for yourself," Gabe said good-naturedly. "This guy only ever talks about opening his own business, making the finest furniture Canada has ever seen. It'll be a blessed relief to see him finally put it into practice." He settled his arms comfortably over his chest. "Where are you planning on settling down?"

Nathan shrugged. "I don't know. Probably a small town somewhere, but close enough to a bigger city in case I need to sell more furniture and carvings to support myself. There are lots of options out there. I figure I'll find the right place at the right time."

Jack studied him for a moment, a light in his eyes. "You know, my hometown is growing," he said slowly. Excitement began to build on his face. "We have a sawmill and everything. You would have access to the lumber you'll need to make your furniture, and I'd be willing to bet my friend Lee would help you start up your shop. He knows all about lumber and would be happy to partner with you." He chuckled. "It'll help his business as well, and he loves being successful." Jack clapped Nathan on the shoulder. "Why don't you settle in Hope Valley? It's a beautiful town and ripe for new business. I think you could do really well there."

Leaning back, Nathan mulled it over. Jack had told them so much about Hope Valley, Nathan almost felt like he knew the place. It did indeed sound wonderful, with a community of people who truly cared about each other. "You know, I might consider that," he said reflectively.

"Hey!" Gabe protested. "What about me? We can't be the three musketeers if you two are the only ones together!" He looked at Jack with a raised brow. "I don't suppose your town needs another constable at the ready?"

Laughing, Jack nudged Gabe's shoulder. "I'm afraid Hope Valley isn't large enough to warrant two Mounties. But if anything were to happen to me, you'd be the one I'd want to see taking care of my town and its people."

The comment, which was spoken in a lighthearted manner, had the unnerving effect of sobering all three men. Reality struck that any of them, at any moment, could have his life snuffed out. They watched countless comrades fall over the past year, victims of violence and hatred.

None of them knew when their own time might come.

Jack recovered first, intentionally turning the subject to safer territory. "So, which of you are going to be the first to follow me into matrimony?" he asked with a grin. "You're both handsome, available young men. The ladies must be crowding in left and right wanting you to court them."

Gabe smirked. "If the Mounties wanted us to have a wife…"

"...they would have issued us one," Nathan finished, laughing.

Jack rolled his eyes. "I never should have told you boys about that."

Gabe chuckled, but his face soon became serious. "The life of a Mountie is hard on a woman, Jack. You know that." He tilted his head. "How do you think your being up here is affecting your fiancée back in Hope Valley?"

Jack was quiet for several long moments. "It's hard on her," he admitted. "I know that. But Elizabeth knew what she was getting into when we began courting. She knew the risks, and she told me it didn't matter. We just wanted a life together." He leaned forward. "Life is better with someone you love by your side. I hope you two find that someday."

Nathan didn't say anything. He knew Jack meant well. But Nathan's track record with women – which wasn't impressive to begin with – was generally bumpy and short-lived. He had only met one woman he could see himself settling down with. That had ended in painful, heart-wrenching disaster.

"Not everyone is as fortunate as you, my friend," he said quietly. "Your Elizabeth sounds like a strong, uncommon woman."

Jack smiled, his eyes taking on a look that said he was thinking about his beautiful bride-to-be. "She is," he said simply. When he refocused his attention on his friends, his smile widened. "I hope you're both able to come to the wedding. I'd love for you to meet Elizabeth."

"We'll do our best to make it happen," Nathan said. Gabe nodded his agreement.

"Thornton!"

Their heads swiveled in the direction of the cave's entrance. Constable Everly stood there, looking at Jack. "The snow has stopped."

Jack peered out of the cave. "So it has," he said. Looking around, he raised his voice. "We leave at first light!"

"Yes sir!" came the responding chorus.

Jack turned to Nathan and Gabe, a look of relief on his face. "We should be back at camp by breakfast tomorrow morning."

"Excellent," Gabe replied, stretching out on the ground. "It will be nice to be back."

Nathan wholeheartedly agreed.

The next morning was clear and sunny. The snow shone brilliantly in the light, the fresh blanket whitening the ground. Jack called everyone to move out. With no threat of a storm, they let their horses travel at a walk over the snowy ground.

After they had traveled for a while, Jack pulled Sergeant into line with Newton. "We've got less than fifteen minutes until we reach camp," he said, looking pleased.

Nathan nodded, but a sudden sense of unease made him sit tall in the saddle and look around. Jack was instantly on alert. "What is it?"

There was nothing to confirm the feeling of dread in Nathan's gut, but his instincts were usually good. "I don't know," he said grimly. "Something's off. I can feel it."

Jack surveyed the surrounding terrain. "Did you see something?"

Nathan shook his head. "No. Nothing seems out of place." He frowned. "I can't explain it, Jack. I just have a very bad feeling right now."

The two men rode in silence for another ten minutes. Nothing happened. Nathan still couldn't relax, but he began to wonder if his instincts were simply on overdrive after the long scouting expedition their unit had been on. The camp came into sight, and relief flooded him.

He had never been more grateful to be wrong.

Jack visibly relaxed as well. "Looks like everything is going to be just fine," he said.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than gunshots rang out in rapid succession. Time slowed down. Nathan watched in horror as two men were shot from their horses. Two became four, and four became six. Half of their unit fell before anyone could locate the gunmen.

"There!" Gabe yelled, pulling out his rifle and taking aim. Nathan looked to see eight men high above them, half-hidden in a series of alcoves on a narrow ridge. Gabe's shot was deadly. One of the gunmen fell from the alcove, crashing onto the ground from thirty feet up. The remaining seven continued their assault, killing three more men before Jack and Nathan could draw their weapons. Gabe quickly shot two more ruffians, then turned to Nathan and Jack with an intense stare.

"Get out of here!" he hollered. "Now!"

A moan from the ground caught Nathan's attention. One member of their unit had not been killed by the sniper's bullet. The youngest of the group, Sheldon Haverts, grimaced in pain, blood pouring from his chest.

Jack vaulted from his horse, rushing to the kid and pressing a hand against the wound. Nathan's blood ran cold as he saw a gunman take aim at his friend. Quickly, he lifted his weapon and fired rapidly three times. His gun found its mark. The gunmen aiming at Jack fell, as did two of his comrades.

Only two more remained. Nathan felt his adrenaline pumping. Maybe they could still get out of this alive.

Gabe let out a cry as another shot rang out. He fell from his horse, clutching his shoulder as he hit the ground. Nathan turned, seeing a third man on the opposite side of the ridge. He lifted his gun and felled the man, anger burning inside.

This was a planned ambush. He didn't know how these agitators knew the band of Mounties would be passing through, but it was clear they were prepared.

Nathan jumped from Newton, hurrying toward Gabe. He fell down at his friend's side, their horses providing a barrier from the last two gunmen. "You alright, Kinslow?"

Gabe grimaced in pain. "I'll live," he said wryly. His face fell. "Unlike most of our unit."

Nathan surveyed the battlefield, his heart sinking. Most of their unit was dead. He heard Jack's groan of dismay as the life slipped from Sheldon's body. Grief flooded Nathan. He tried to shove it to the side for now. There was still work to do.

Carefully, he stood, peering over Newton's back. The remaining rebels were no longer in sight. Nathan ducked down again. "Gabe, see if you can crawl to cover," he said. "Jack and I will take care of the rest of the enemy."

Gabe snorted. "I am not leaving you two on your own," he said, wincing as he pushed himself up. "I can shoot with one arm." He nestled the gun into the crook of his uninjured arm. "Besides, three against two is better odds than two on two."

Jack crept up beside them, his hands shaking. Tears wet his cheeks, though a steely determination filled his eyes. "We need to take them out," he said, his teeth grit. "For the sake of our fallen brothers."

Nathan nodded. Together, the three of them formed a tight circle, back to back, their eyes scanning the surrounding area for their hidden enemy.

A battle cry sounded from the camp. The three men turned to see a cavalry on its way. Relief lifted their tired bodies. Help was coming.

At the same time, another, more guttural cry came from the opposite direction. A band of rebels emerged from the walls of the canyon. The two gunmen reappeared. Nathan saw them aim at Jack again, as if they knew he was the leader of the group.

"Jack, look out!" Nathan yelled, pushing his friend out of the way. Jack stumbled to the side, and the bullet meant for him found Nathan instead. Agony filled him as he dropped to his knees. Another bullet seared his flesh. As he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, he saw Jack charge the oncoming rebels with a vicious yell. The cavalry was hot on his heels, clashing instantly with the band of rebels. Gabe remained with Nathan, bracing him as best he could and dragging him to safety behind a large rock.

"Stay with me, Grant," Gabe said firmly. "You are not allowed to depart this life. You have too many things to accomplish yet, like opening that shop of yours."

Nathan's head felt woozy. Gabe's voice sounded a million miles away. "Don't…know…" he said weakly, clinging to wakefulness by a thread.

A sharp gasp made him look up. Gabe's eyes were fixed on the battle before them, his eyes horrified. "No!"

With every ounce of strength remaining within, Nathan turned his eyes in the direction Gabe was looking. His blood ran cold.

Jack Thornton was swaying on his feet, crimson staining his red serge. He had been hit by three bullets from close range. As Nathan looked on, unable to do anything but watch in utter horror, the man who had become a brother to him fell to the ground with vacant eyes.

Grief enveloped Nathan, sapping his energy. Succumbing to his blood loss and pain, his eyes rolled back and everything faded to black.