Wanted: A Husband Sophie Tanner gave up hoping for Nathan O'Malley's approval—and love—long ago. Getting married is the only way to protect her younger brother and keep her family's Smoky Mountain farm. As much as she'd like Nathan to be the groom, he can't seem to get past their friendship…or their differences. Since they were children, Nathan has known Sophie was too impulsive, too headstrong. She's forever rushing into situations without thinking them through, like this scheme to snare a husband in under a month. Nathan always thought he'd fall in love with someone like himself—sensible, cautious, levelheaded. Sophie is his polar opposite. So why can't he picture anyone else at his side? Smoky Mountain Matches: Dreams of home and family come true in the Smoky Mountains Karen Kirst was born and raised in East Tennessee near the Great Smoky Mountains. In the fall of 2010, she got the happy news that Harlequin Love Inspired Historical wanted to publish her manuscript-a true blessing from God. When that line closed, she switched to Love Inspired Suspense. Now she divides her time between being a wife, homeschooling mom, and romance writer. Gatlinburg, Tennessee August 1881 She was trapped. Stuck high above the ground in her place of refuge—a sugar maple with a trunk too wide to get her arms around and century-deep roots—cornered by a skunk, of all things. The varmint had sauntered up and planted itself at the tree's base and showed no intentions of leaving. Gripping the branch above her head, Sophie leaned forward and commenced trying to reason with him. "Yoo-hoo! How about you move along? I'm sure there are tastier earthworms along the stream bank. You might even catch yourself a frog." His frantic digging continued. How long was she going to have to wait? "You're keeping me from my chores, you know." She blew a stray hair out of her eyes. "Will and Granddad will be wanting their supper soon." Beans, fried potatoes and corn bread again. Her specialty. The snap of a twig brought her and the skunk's head up simultaneously. Her gaze landed on a face as familiar to her as her own, clashing with silver eyes that seemed to perpetually taunt or condemn her. She swallowed a sigh. She'd long ago given up hoping for approval from Nathan O'Malley. "Hello, Nathan." One dusky eyebrow quirked. "I see you've made a new friend." She peered down. The animal's focus had shifted to Nathan, and it was now stamping the ground in warning. "Yeah, well, my friend doesn't seem to like you very much." He eyed the skunk with caution. Sunlight shifting through the trees glinted in his light brown hair, cut short so he wouldn't have to fool with it, and bathed his classic features in golden light. Features that were branded into her brain. A straight, proud nose flanked by prominent cheekbones. Square jaw. The crease beside his full lips that flashed every time he smiled. And who could forget those quicksilver eyes? They dominated her daydreams, hovered at the edge of her consciousness as she drifted off to sleep at night. It was downright irritating. "I really need to get down," she informed him, scooting closer to the trunk. That jittery feeling was back. If she didn't eat soon, she chanced tumbling out of this tree in a dead faint. Wouldn't that impress him. "Could you try to lure him away?" He tore his gaze from the irate skunk to stare up at her. "And how do you propose I do that?" "I don't know." She cast around the forest floor for inspiration. When none came, she suggested, "If you move away, maybe he'll follow. Toss a stick in the direction of the stream. Maybe he'll get distracted and realize there's more to eat there." "He's not a dog." Frowning, he edged sideways. The skunk hissed. Followed. "It's working!" Sophie swung her body around and stretched her foot down to the knotted branch below. "Sophie, stop," Nathan ordered. "Wait until he's gone." She chose to ignore his warning. Unfortunately, her boot slipped. Her grip on the trunk slackened. Scrambling for purchase, she whipped her head around in time to see Nathan surge forward as if to catch her. The skunk reacted as expected. Tail aloft, he sprayed. Sophie gasped. Nathan attempted to shield his face with his arms, to sidestep, but he was too slow. Because his focus was on rescuing her. Groaning, she shimmied down the trunk and hopped to the ground as the offended animal scampered in the opposite direction. "Oh, Nathan, I'm so sorry!" She advanced toward him, only to halt in her tracks as noxious fumes assaulted her nose. He smelled like rotten eggs and garlic. Ugh. Wrinkling her nose, she covered the bottom half of her face with one hand. "Did it get in your eyes?" His lids blinked open, revealing twin chips of forged steel. Uh-oh. "No." Wearing a disgusted expression, he carefully wiped the moisture from his face with his shirtsleeves. He looked down and grimaced. "These were my most comfortable trousers." He didn't have to sa