A terrifying encounter with a band of desperados left Laura Shafton a fearful widow and a scarred beauty. So when a tall, dark stranger came knocking on her door, she greeted him with a rifle--cocked and loaded.

Every instinct told her to turn Caleb McCurdy away--except she needed a man's help. Soon Laura discovered his hard body hid a warm heart that melted all her fears away. But the dark places in Caleb's past would divide them, unless Laura could learn a tough lesson about forgiveness.