Hannah Barnes, wife of the austere preacher Caleb Barnes, is as dutiful and eager to please as she can be, considering the big difference in their ages. Texas Ranger Jeb Welles, on his way to the New Mexico territory, stops at the Barnes place to tend to his horse. There, he finds Hannah alone on the remote Texas property with no family or neighbors nearby, seemingly in shock, with blood on her clothes and her dead husband's body in the cabin. Something tells him she's no murderer, but he can't be sure. He also can't leave the stunned widow alone out there. They bury the body and he offers to escort her to the nearest fort to seek help. Unaware that three murderers could be hot on their trail, the pair set out together. Jeb has no idea how deeply this shy woman will work her way into his heart. Hannah's mission to avenge her husband's death turns into a passion neither of them could have foreseen. This courageous woman and rugged ex-lawman discover tenderness and love under the wide Texas sky. "Action packed and poignant. ..builds tension from the very beginning and will keep you turning pages until the very end. Ms. Tanner's straightforward style never allows for a dull moment." --Linda Sandifer, author of "Susan Tanner captures the fierce independence and adventurous spirit that marked the developing West. A heart-touching read." --Elizabeth Leigh, author of