Caleb Conners came back from the war with a little less of himself than when he left. Not only did he lose his foot, he also lost his will to draw. Feeling like less of a man, he tries to prove to everyone he's still a good ranch hand. When the unthinkable happens and his good leg is broken, he's sent to the big house to mend and be cared for by the beautiful, yet skittish, Amanda Myers.

Amanda has been at the Lynch Ranch for months, but she still longs for the opium she'd been addicted to that helped her cope with the past. When the chicken pox epidemic hits and the housekeeper has to take care of her daughter, Amanda is left in charge of the big house, which makes her feel useful and needed. Even though she's watched Caleb from a distance, she's reluctant to care for him. She now has to face her fears.

Being together makes Caleb and Amanda feel safe, but they soon realize they have deeper feelings for each other. When Caleb proves his interest with a kiss, Amanda doesn't react the way he thought she would. Taking her hint, he stays away. Realizing what she's done, Amanda tries to be wherever he is. When that doesn't work, she follows him to town, revealing her true feelings and making him admit his.

Wow! What a great addition to this series. The Lynch Ranch family is such a great group of characters, you can't help being excited when a new story is completed. Like all the other books in this series, you'll get a good chuckle and shed a few tears.