Even the most intelligent and talented men have feelings of
inadequacy, jealousy or doubt and Brandon Dumont is no
exception. Although he seems to have a brilliant and
successful future both in his career as a surgeon and in his
impending marriage to Caroline Benet he lacks confidence
around his brother Jake. Their relationship has been
strained for many years and the death of their father only
added to that angst. Now together for the reading of his
will it seems the years apart haven't lessened their
problems. Now there is a new element in this mix, Caroline,
who quite innocently put herself between the brothers.
Jake's cold, demeaning assessment of her motive for becoming
engaged to Brandon angers and hurts Caroline but doesn't
even begin to forewarn her of events to follow. A simple
target shooting contest sets in motion a series of events
that none of them could ever guess and forever changes all
of their lives. We fast forward to Brandon's survival from
almost certain demise as a prisoner of war. The war left him
both physically and emotionally scarred not to mention
nightmares that have taken over his life. Certain he will
never fully recover, his future beyond bleak, he is
surprised and dismayed when Caroline arrives unexpectedly in
Texas where he and Jake settled. But Caroline has a secret
to share with no one but Brandon. She has never stopped
loving him and upon learning that he survived the war would
go to any lengths to be with him again. She wants and needs
him but the question is does he need or want her. Brandon
will do and say anything to get Caroline to go back home but
he isn't prepared for how independent and resourceful she
has grown to be. He seeks to protect her as much from the
harsh elements of postwar Texas as from his declining
sanity. They passionately love each other but a relationship
needs more, it needs trust to survive. So now Brandon is
facing still another test of survival. He can't decide which
is more frightening, life with or without Caroline and the
child she is carrying. Caroline took someone hostage at
gunpoint to get to her Brandon and nothing is going to stand
in her way. Love is a powerful weapon. It's her most
powerful weapon to get her man.
Interesting and sometimes harsh look at wars consequence on
soldiers and medics especially in the early 1800's --
survival at what cost. The cost was great for all the
characters in this story -- each didn't come through it
unscathed. And that's what Albright wants you to understand.
But at the same time she gives her characters hope for the
future so what starts out sunny and becomes cloudy and murky
can still have a ray of sunshine at the end. It's what
dreams are made of. Happy endings.
Caroline Benét enjoyed one night in her fiancé's arms
before he left to fight for freedom in the Texas
territory. The day news reaches her of the Alamo slaughter
is the day she learns she is carrying his child. He may
have survived, but Brandon Dumont can't return to the the
woman he loves-not as a cripple and a man battling his own
personal demons. When Caroline shows up in Texas, he is
determined to send her packing. But Caroline wants more
than Brandon's name for their baby. She soon realizes it
will take a love as big as Texas to win him back.
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