He offered her protection. She stole his heart.
She's hunted by the law. He's haunted by his past. Neither wants to fall in love.
It is 1878 and Henrietta Beedy is on the run, pursued by the Pinkerton Agency. In a bid to elude capture, she heads West, posing as a mail-order bride.
Duke Gildownie is a lonely widower with a single passion in his life—building an Appaloosa horse ranch from the harsh and unforgiving land in New Mexico. Harboring a fugitive was never part of the plan.
When Duke's overbearing mother turns up on his doorstep demanding he remarry, he finds his salvation in the alluring Henrietta.
It’s supposed to be temporary. Practical. Safe. Until fake vows turn to real desire.
When the violence of the Lincoln County War intrudes, secrets are exposed, and the law closes in, Duke must decide how much he's willing to risk for a woman who was never meant to stay.
Tropes:
- Runaway Bride
- Marriage of Convenience
- Outlaw Romance
- Wild West Passion
