"January Billings is starting over after bringing her husband's murderer to justice when a stranger shows up at her ranch door. The sheriff, weaseling out of his duties, has sent Eli Pasco to enlist January's help in recovering a horse that's been stolen from him by a young girl. Eli hadn't expected the deputy to be a woman, and he's none too pleased with having to deal with her. Even so, they set out to find the girl and his horse. It isn't long...

"Shay Billings was pleasantly surprised at discovering a new bridge over the river, as it cut several miles from his trip into town. After being ambushed and left for dead, he has even more cause to be grateful when the bridge-builder saves his life. Shay's savior turns out to be a mysterious young woman with extraordinary skills. More importantly, she's a strong ally when he and a few other men are forced to defend themselves and their ranches against...

"It's hard to deny friends asking for help -- even when it means stepping headlong into danger. As a sort of left-over deputy from a previous adventure, January Billings is compelled to answer the call when a valuable gun is stolen from the local mercantile, and the storekeeper viciously assaulted. The town marshal is out of action and the sheriff is an ineffectual fool. What else can she do but step up? Besides, the stolen gun links Eli Pasco to...

Ketta Noonan, her mother's child by rape, has been kidnapped by the twelve-year-old's father. Big Joe Noonan, her mother's husband, is glad she's gone. He's always detested the child as evidence of her mother's violation, and kept her hidden away. But Yester Noonan, four years older than Ketta, is fond of his half-sister, even if she is part Chinese, and when his mother begs him to rescue her, he rides out on this quest. Accompanied by his Metis friend,...