A widow with no future in Chicago, Jessie Barton bundles up
her three young daughters and leaves for Texas. Jessie's in-
laws blame her for their son's demise. They despise her and
threaten to take her children from her. Jessie's only
recourse is an uncertain welcome from Texan Teagen
McMurray. For years, Jessie has been corresponding with the
rancher. Through his letters, Jessie has come to love this
man. Her one problem is Teagen believes the author of the
letters is Eli, Jessie's husband. Eli owned the bookstore
where Teagen ordered his books and initiated writing
thoughtful letters about his beliefs and life. Eli never
paid attention to the letters, but they became Jessie's
escape from her cold, harsh reality.
After the death of his parents, Teagen McMurray raised his
siblings and kept the ranch going from the tender young age
of 12. A big man with a gruff demeanor, Teagen does not
make friends. The one exception is the correspondence he's
kept with Eli Barton. Now Eli's widow arrives with a note
begging Teagen to care for his family. Teagen, never
comfortable around people, cannot believe that one small
woman and three small girls are going to temporarily stay
with him.
Teagen's world turns upside down. Quiet solitude disappears
as Jessie and her three little girls melt his heart.
Before, Teagen believed that the land defined him, but now
the possibilities of having his own family could become
reality. Only there's a growing suspicion that Jessie is
keeping something hidden. Jessie knows when Teagen
discovers the depth of her lies, their relationship could
be destroyed.
Ms. Thomas excels at drawing readers into her characters'
lives. She looks deeply into their hearts making readers
see the best and the worst as they struggle against the
harsh Texas landscape. The anticipation builds for the next
Whispering Mountain novel. (Hopefully, the next story will
feature the fascinating Sage and intriguing Roak.)
Teagen McMurray would ride to hell and back to protect his
land. He’d certainly never felt that way about a woman. Not,
at least, until Jessie Barton showed up with her three
little girls, desperate for a place to stay. Suddenly he
found himself proposing marriage, telling himself it was
only to protect her and her children.
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