Austin felt like the luckiest man alive on the western frontier when he married a beautiful temptress, until his wedded bliss abruptly ended just hours later. Humiliated, he refuses to ever trust another woman, especially with his heart. Romance was behind him forever.

After being sold, traded, or used for gambling debts more times than she could count, Fern had lost all hope. While witnessing a murder at a high-stakes poker game—one where she was the prize—she gets a chance to run…but to where? She has no money, friends, or family, and trusts no one.

When Austin finds her hiding and scared, she begs to die rather than have a man hurt her again. He can’t help but wonder if the beautiful woman is really distraught, or if she is trying to cheat him somehow.

Can Fern trust him to help her? Or is he just like those she’s run away from? Out to use her.