When the brothers arrived in the city of Great Falls, there were a number of people milling about on the muddy streets. It was hard to put a foot down and not be covered in filth. Even the boardwalks were slick with mud. Such was spring in this part of the country.

There wasn't much of a line at the Land Office, so after just a ten-minute wait, Jacob stood in front of the clerk.

“You were in a couple weeks ago asking about that property near Triple Range, weren't you?”

For some reason, Jacob didn't like the way the man asked him that. “Uh, yeah. Don't tell me it's been bought? You had it up for sale for months!”

“Um, that was an error, I'm afraid. It was actually bought over a year ago. I don't know what happened. I'm really sorry about that.”

Jacob's heart sank. All his plans for the future drained away along with the blood from his face.

“There must be something else around that's good,” Carl said encouragingly. “What have you got?”

The clerk looked over the board for them. “Depends what you're using it for. I've got a bit over Diamond Valley, but that won't last long.”

“Is there running water nearby?” Carl asked for his brother, who was having a hard time even standing.

“Uh, nope. But there is on this property by the township of Gordon. What do you think of that?”

Jacob blanched even whiter. “That's double what I've saved,” he whispered. “There's no way I can afford that, not even with a loan.”

They stood there for a full minute. Then Carl had another question.

“Can you tell us who bought the land?”

“Um, yeah. It's Cole Reynolds and Alex Rochester. They purchased it together. Seems like they have plans to raise horses.”

Jacob frowned. “I knew they were buying land, but no one said where, did they? If they did, I must not have heard.”

Cole and Alex were working on Triple Range Ranch, the former engaged to the owner's daughter and the latter courting the sister-in-law of the ranch's horse trainer, Thomas Wells.

“How could we not have put the pieces together sooner?” Carl murmured. “I'm sure Luke told me that at some point.”

“But I was just there last week and there's nothing built yet. I mean, I didn't see anything. You said they bought it a year ago?”

The clerk pulled out a form. “Hmm, well, Cole put a down payment on the land a year ago, and Alex paid the rest about a month ago. They've started building on the eastern part of the property, two houses about a mile or so apart.”

Now Jacob couldn't feel his legs anymore and collapsed in a nearby chair. “Well, that's it. I guess it's God's plan to keep me at your house until I die,” he mumbled, his voice laced with bitterness. If that was God's plan, so be it. Who was he to argue? But in his mind, he was furious.

“I've got an idea,” Carl said. “Let's pay the men a visit and see what their plans are. As you said, there isn't too much going on there. The houses must be a fair bit back from where you've been looking. Maybe they'll be willing to sell you a small parcel.”

His hopes had been crushed at the news that the land was no longer available, so Jacob was having a hard time hearing what his brother was suggesting.

“I don't know,” he mumbled. “They probably want it all.”

“Well, you don't know if you don't ask, right? Let's go now.”

Even though his heart wasn't in it, Jacob went along with his brother and arrived at the main house of Triple Range Ranch midafternoon. Luke Winston came out of the house to greet them.

“Hi there. Nothing wrong, I hope?”

They were co-owners but ran their ranches separately and didn't meet spontaneously unless there was a problem.

“Uh, not exactly. But we came to talk to Cole and Alex about the property they bought near Falls Creek. Are they around?”

Luke pulled out his pocket-watch and frowned at it. “I don't expect them for another hour or so. Why don't you two come in for some coffee? Maybe I can answer your questions.”

Once they'd settled down at the kitchen table and each had a mug in hand, Carl started with some small talk.

“So, I didn't really expect to see you at home today. Nice to be the boss, isn't it? Just take a day off whenever you like?” he teased. “Or are you just giving the young guys all the hard work?”

Luke laughed. “I could ask you the same.”

“Well, we've already been to town and back, picked up some supplies along the way too. So, we haven't been completely idle.”

Giving a slight nod, Luke twirled his cup around, saying nothing. Finally, Marge, Luke's aunt-in-law aunt, broke in.

“Luke's been feeling poorly, truth be told. Something has been going around.”

Jacob looked at the older man in alarm. He wasn't even fifty, but easily looked ten years younger.

“What's the matter?” he asked, forgetting momentarily about his own problems. Luke had been like a second father to him when he first came, giving him advice and encouragement.

“Ah, it's nothing. Just a touch of a cough, but Kate and Marge won't let me out of the house.” He grinned, and Jacob fervently hoped that was the case. “I'll be fine in a day or two. Now, tell me more about what brought you over here.”

Quickly, Jacob explained his plans regarding the land and was surprised to see Luke's face light up.

“Well, if this isn't an answer to prayer, I don't know what is. The three of us were just talking yesterday about what they want to do. You see, Cole and Alex have gone through much of their resources buying the land and building the houses. They still have to put up a barn, buy equipment and livestock. What would you think about going in with them, becoming a partner? I couldn't think of a better man for them to do it with.”

Jacob felt a little stunned by the proposal.

“Uh, well, what is it they want to raise? I was thinking horses for the Army.”

Luke's brow furrowed slightly. “Well, I think they feel more comfortable with cattle since that's where their experience is, but I don't want to answer for them. Tell you what, how about you stay for dinner and talk to them tonight?”

“Ah, we've been gone all day. I don't want to worry Amanda, so I'd better get back,” Carl answered. “But you can stay, Jacob. What do you think?”

He wasn't sure if he was ready to throw over his whole idea just yet.

“Uh, how about I give it some thought and then get back to you? Let Cole and Alex know I came by. I don't mind if you tell them why, but I need some time.”

“Sure, I understand. Take all the time you need.”

On the ride back to their house, Carl and Jacob talked it over.

“I know it's not exactly what you want, but it could be a start. Once you've made some money, you can think about taking some horses on.”

Jacob knew it was reasonable, but he had a hard time convincing himself. “I don't know. I have to think. Thanks for helping me out today.”

“Yeah, of course. That's what brothers are for.”

Later that night, Jacob found that sleep eluded him. He didn’t know what he was supposed to do with his life now. It seemed clear when he saw the ad for the land in the office last month. Why was it still there if he was just going to be disappointed? Annoyance crept in.

“What was the point?” he grumbled, unsure if he was talking to God or himself. “I shouldn't have even thought about it. I'm going to be here, living with my brother, for the rest of my life. I just have to accept that and be happy.”

He had a roof over his head, food in his stomach, and people who cared about him. Why wasn't that enough?

The trip across the ocean had been amazing. Rosa had endured the motion of the ship without any discomfort and was in a position to help out others who did not fare so well. By the time they reached New York, she had made many friends with whom she promised to keep in contact.

“Don't forget me,” a girl named Lucy begged. “Are you sure you can't stay in New York? I have a nice uncle.”

“No, I am so sorry, my young friend,” Rosa replied in precise English. “I have a dear sister who needs me, but maybe one day I will visit you.” She knew that was highly unlikely, but it made Lucy smile now. The girl would forget about her in a week or so.

Being in perfect health and speaking good English, Rosa easily passed through immigration. The official gave her a warm smile and welcomed her to America. She nodded politely and gave him a demure smile in return, but she did not want to encourage any special attention. Her brother had warned her to be as modest as possible. American men already had certain ideas about Italian women being passionate, and he wanted her to break those stereotypes.

And so, she covered her hair with a dull green scarf and wore her loosest clothing to conceal her figure. She thought she looked plain and even older than her twenty-eight years.

At the train station, she purchased her ticket to Great Falls and carried her two suitcases to the platform to wait. To anyone looking at her, she appeared to be a serene woman carrying on with her business in a peaceful manner, but inside her chest, her heart beat wildly at her boldness in crossing the Atlantic by herself. Now she was about to board a train that would take nearly a week to reach her sister.

She only hoped that no one could see her fears.