Raised by a father who had no use for a daughter, Nettie Carpenter had a difficult life. She lived on hope and dreamed of running away, of being free. When circumstances suddenly changed in her favor, she ran for her life. With no skills or education, her only goal was to escape and pray her life would improve. It did for a while, although Nettie had to beat off marriage and other unsavory proposals with a shotgun. She didn't want to remarry. She didn't want anything to do with men because they were all untrustworthy. All she wanted to was to be left alone.
Jesse Forrester was a man who'd spent half of his adult life in the service of the military and the other half as a Territorial Marshal. Deciding he needed a change, he spent a year apprenticing in a blacksmith shop before making his way to the small mining town of Pony. Opening a blacksmith shop, he tried to ignore his past. Even with plenty of work coming his way, Jesse was aware that Pony was a corrupt town. He didn't mind taking down a thief or a bushwacker, using his skills as a lawman occasionally. The problem he faced was the men who ran the town of Pony were corrupt.
When the townsmen turned on a pretty little woman who only wanted to be left alone, he had to step in. Marriage wasn't his plan, and it certainly wasn't Nettie's, but he couldn't think of anything else to save her. Will it be a big mistake or will it become one of his best decisions?
Publisher's Note: This historical western romance is intended for adults only. It contains elements of suspense, mystery, danger, sensual scenes and a happily ever after.
