Married in haste…
…to a complete stranger!
When Rowena McKenzie is accused of murder, she’s relieved to find an unlikely ally in Deputy US Marshal Dale Hunter. Having proved her innocence, she only has one thing of value with which to repay this handsome yet scarred and enigmatic man -- the Wyoming ranch she inherited from her father two years ago. But Dale will only accept it if Rowena agrees to be his wife!
Good story. I've been looking forward to this one since I read The Outlaw and the Runaway, where Dale was a good friend to Roy. I wanted to know what happened after he received his pardon. This book takes place three years later. Dale has spent that time as a Deputy US Marshal and is burned out. All he wants is to take his savings and buy a ranch where he can live in peace. Before his boss will accept his resignation, he is given one more task. Go to a small town in Arizona and find out the truth about a young woman accused of murder. Rowena has been living in Pinares for two years, ever since she walked away from an unwelcome marriage proposal. She was accused of killing a conman who swindled money from some of the townspeople. But there is more to the story than anyone knows and she was simply waiting for the right time to speak up.
I enjoyed the first meeting between Dale and Rowena. After hearing the details of what had happened, Dale had a pretty good idea of the truth of the matter, but Rowena was nothing like he expected. He was frustrated by her lack of cooperation when he questioned her, but also drawn to her in a way that disturbed him. The way she reminded him of his murdered sister made him want to help her. Rowena was also drawn to Dale, his air of power and danger reminding her of the help she would need if she ever wanted to reclaim her home. It was interesting to see the give-and-take between them over the next few days, as they waited for the judge's arrival. Dale continued his attempts to question her, and Rowena continued to hold out for her expected proof. The information that she waited for arrived just in the nick of time, but did not have the effect she expected. I ached for her as the reality of her situation sank in, and she had to face the consequences of her actions. She did not expect the way that Dale came to her rescue. The only way she had to repay him was to give him the ranch she inherited from her father.
The pragmatic agreement between Dale and Rowena was realistic for the time. As a woman alone, Rowena needed Dale for safety and security. In order to cement his claim to Rowena's ranch, Dale needed her as his wife. Underneath the practicality, there were also sparks of attraction between them. There were also some deep-seated insecurities that made each of them wary of risking their hearts. Rowena had been engaged before, to a man who rejected her when he discovered that her father's ranch wasn't what he expected. He did it in a cruel and public manner that has damaged her belief in herself. Dale has not told Rowena about his outlaw past and feared her reaction once he does. He is also badly scarred and doesn't want to see pity in her eyes. I liked how they were able to talk about their expectations for living and working together on the ranch. During their journey from Arizona to Wyoming, I liked seeing Dale's growing protectiveness toward Rowena, as well as his appreciation for her strength and courage. I loved the scene in the hotel where he found a way to deal with the women who were disrespectful to Rowena. I also liked how Rowena helped Dale deal with his nightmares, and how their growing closeness helped relieve some of the darkness he felt inside.
I enjoyed seeing Dale and Rowena settle into married life. It wasn't all smooth-sailing as both were strong-willed personalities. There was one instance where Rowena's stubbornness collided with Dale's sense of justice, creating a rift between them. I liked the way that Dale found a way to deal with it, and that it ultimately brought them closer together. That closeness was threatened when part of Rowena's past made an appearance. It started out well, as Dale found a perfect way to support her. Unfortunately, Dale still hadn't found the courage to tell Rowena all about his past, and that decision came back to haunt him. I ached for Dale as his fears about her reaction seemed to come true and drove a wedge between them. It took an unexpected threat to Rowena's life to open her eyes to the truth. There was an unexpected twist to that threat that also had a huge impact on Rowena. I was on the edge of my seat until it was all over.
There was also a theme of family running through the book. Different views on family are what began the feud between neighboring ranchers and ultimately caused the death of Rowena's father. The death of Rowena's mother had a profound effect on her that lasted into adulthood. The circumstances of Dale's sister's death haunted him for many years, setting him on the path that ultimately made him an outlaw. It also strained the relationship between Dale and his mother. The scene of their reconciliation was both amusing and heartwarming. I also loved the scene where Rowena and Dale's mother met. There were a couple of fun twists in the epilogue, one involving Dale's mom, and the other giving her a sweet surprise.
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