Cade Lawson stood on the train platform jostling two squalling babes in each arm. The train pulled to a stop in front of him, and when the conductor blew the whistle, the babies cried that much louder. “About damn time,” he said.

He stepped forward as people descended from the train looking for the woman who would become his wife and mother to his twin sons. God knew they all needed her. He just hoped she’d be strong enough to endure the load he was about to place on her shoulders.

There wasn’t a woman in Peak’s Corners that would marry him with two babies to care for. It didn’t matter how handsome he was or that he was the town Marshall. None of the young ladies wanted to be saddled with a ready-made family with two small babies.

It had taken him two years to get over Sara’s death. Two years of hell, two years of loneliness that only a woman could fulfill. He wanted a woman, who could cook, clean, take care of the children, and keep him warm in bed at night. He was sick and tired of living alone. Between his job and running home every chance he could to check on the babies and old Mrs. Wilson who cared for them, he never had a moment’s peace.

The babies’ cries intensified, and Cade felt both his palms grow wet. Just what he needed, he thought when a young woman stepped down from the train holding a satchel. She wasn’t as young as he expected, but she was beautiful, and her red hair fell in curls down past her shoulders. Her vivid green eyes locked on his, and she moved toward him. His mouth went dry as cotton on a hot summer day.

“Mr. Lawson?”

Cade tried to wet his lips, but to no avail. He tried to clear his throat, but couldn’t. Damnation, she was beautiful!

“Mr. Lawson?”

Cade held the babes closer. “Miss O’Malley?”

“Yes, and call me Maggie. I’ve finally made it, and from the looks of it, none too soon either. Here, give me one of the babies and you take my satchel. Poor little ones must be near to freezing and wet too from the looks of it. Take me home immediately so I can tend to them.”

Cade gladly handed over Jason. He was the wiggly one, and Cade always worried he’d drop him, although he never had. “This is Jason, and this one is Justin.”

“We’ll make introductions as soon as we get them back home.”

“This way, it isn’t far. I have a small house behind the jail. I hope it is to your liking.”

“I’m sure it will be.”

Cade watched how she held the baby against her chest like it was the most natural thing in the world. He knew from her letters that she was the oldest of ten children, which amazed him. He couldn’t handle two, let alone ten. How had her mother done it? He supposed that as they grew, the oldest ones helped with the youngest ones.

As they walked to his house, he saw many of the townsfolk glancing their way. They knew Maggie was coming. He hadn’t kept it secret that he sent for a mail order bride. Pastor Marks would marry them in a few hours. He didn’t want any rumors about his future wife.