A freshly divorced man… In 1879, Missouri, Jack Dryden's heart is broken and not because his gently bred wife left him for life back east. Their divorce was a long time coming, just like their adopting three Orphan Train riders was. The children arrive before he can send word back to the orphanage, and he goes to meet the children. He expected love at first sight for the orphans because they’re wonderful children, but falling for their lovely adoption agent surprised him. Now all Jack needs to do is convince her how plenty of men raise children on their own, and so can he. A responsible young woman… Alice McCarthy takes her responsibilities to the orphans' home seriously. In charge of the Jack Hays children's adoption, the rules for her are clear. She can’t let a single man adopt her orphans even if he seems kind and especially not just because he's attractive in mind and body. Alice must stick to the rules no matter how tempted she is to give in to Jack’s request for a family. A trio of wonderful children… Jack never expected to find another love, and Alice had a direction for her life. Except now, adults and children alike bonded at first sight. Now they must find a way to break the rules to become a real family.

When Harry Donovan became an adoption agent for the Orphan Train children, he'd been more accustomed to prosecuting criminals. The orphans depended on him, and he took his new duties seriously. But when his wife died in a flu outbreak, he ignored everything except work, until his irresponsibility stared him in the face. Two children Harry had placed with a couple were in the dry goods store without their parents, and shamefully, he didn't know why. The two seemed to be happy and well-fed, and their lovely guardian appeared to care for them. Mollie Nelson had been helping the adopted children keep a terrible secret about their new parents, the Robinsons. Like Harry, she'd lost her spouse to illness. Caring for the two youngsters orphaned a second time kept her too busy to grieve. Her farm and the children's needed her attention night and day. She wanted to confide in the handsome adoption agent, but his stern demeanor scared the children when they imagined the new home he might find for them. Now that the adoption agent is asking questions of the children and their secret guardian, will they be able to continue living with Mollie, or will Harry place them in an unknown new home? Can either guardian or agent ignore the blossoming love between them and do what's best for the children?

Quincy Easton was a young man on a mission. He'd grown up as an orphan and now had an opportunity to help other children find the families he'd never had. His job as an adoption agent would be to travel with the group of children, making sure each arrived at their depot safely. But first, if he could deliver his two charges, Jake and Mike to their new parents in Oregon, he'd be accepted as an official agent for his orphanage. Only, something Quincy never counted on was how attached the boys would become to another passenger. Josie Simmons looked forward to her adventure as a mail-order bride. Nothing remained behind for her in New York after her mother's death, so, she found a groom in a catalog and boarded the train west. When a gentleman slightly older than her needs help with two young orphans, she can't help but assist with the children. As the four's train rolls closer to Oregon, Josie finds she cares more for Quincy than an unmet man. After her groom is a no show and the boys beg Josie and Quincy to stay in Oregon City, can they? Together?

A spinster schoolteacher with a secret crush… Dorothy McLean went to gather the school’s mail, as usual, hoping to see the handsome station master, Eldon Lukeson. But, seeing the crowd of crying children on the depot platform stopped her cold. The orphans’ elderly guardian had passed away, and Eldon struggled to lead the children. In an instant, she jumped at the chance to help him wrangle the orphans into an orderly group. A man too shy to declare his love… With no adoption agent and neither Eldon nor Dorothy having living quarters large enough for all of the children, they invent a plan. They, adults and children, would all live in the depot until a new escort arrives. As Eldon shares his house and stationkeeping duties with Dorothy, he finds leading a family is more enjoyable with her lovely smile and sunny nature. Once the children continue to their new homes, can either of the adults move on as well?

Clay Winslow is a Pony Express rider on a mission beyond his usual Sacramento to Carson City mail run. When he decides to deliver a stack of lost letters to their original sender, Clay never expects to lose his heart along the way. Abigail Sterling began a pen pal relationship with a gold miner looking for a mail order bride. An unexpected letter arrives telling her of her long-distance romance’s death. Before Abigail can respond to the kindhearted sender, she’s even more surprised to find the deliverer of bad news on her doorstep a few days later. Can the written word begin a relationship? Or are Clay and Abigail merely reading what their heart desires?

As a Pony Express rider, John Williamson is used to riding fast, avoiding danger, and betting high. He's one of several young men responsible for getting the mail further down the line on time no matter the personal cost. When her brother signed up to be a Pony Express rider, Fiona O'Brien became an express stop employee. The young men she cooked and cleaned for had her kindness but not her heart. Until John walks in and both see their futures in each other's eyes. Can Fiona love a hard-living man? Can John change his life for the woman he adores?

Anne Galway and Dmitri Romanov started their romance with a betrayal. Caught up in a fast affair, Dmitri is devoted to his new love. Until, he sees his first mate sail off with his ship and runs across the gangplank to recapture the outbound vessel. Angered at being abandoned, Anne follows him onboard. As they leave Portland and everything else behind, neither Anne nor Dmitri are sure whom to trust on Igor’s Folly. Everyone with them is suspect and alliances soon form. While the ship sails west to Dmitri’s Russian home, Anne can’t help but wonder if his love for her is stronger than the lure of the open seas.

A woman wanting a fresh start… After the tragic years of the Civil War, Rachel Stewart and her brother Isaac decide to leave Missouri for new opportunities. Their family farm is gone, and both agree a new life in the trading town of Santa Fe is what they need. Only, when a Union officer comes into her work for a quick alteration of his Sunday clothes, she wants to learn more about him. A war-weary soldier… Captain Patrick Sinclair is leaving with his soldiers for Fort Dodge, Kansas. But when he meets Rachel, he is smitten. He tries to imagine ways to come back to Missouri and see her as he leads the men on to their new assignment. Can Captain Sinclair convince Rachel to change her life for him? Will she decide Santa Fe is where her future lies?