They call Asa Grainger like it's a warning?gunfighter, drifter, trouble with a pulse. He's trying to out-ride his past, trying to be something other than the violence his name is known for.

Then he meets Callie Morgan?a red-haired girl being forced to marry Jared Greene as payment for her father's debts. Greene doesn't court. He takes. When Callie runs, Asa should keep going.

Instead, he rides with her.

With Greene hunting and a town too afraid to help, Asa and Callie are pushed close?one fire, one bedroll, one choice after another that turns protection into something sharper, riskier... real.

Out here, love can save you.

Or it can be the thing that finally gets you killed.

And Asa Grainger may be the last one left to pay for his name.

Growing up in Houston, Texas, I developed a deep fascination with the Wild West. During my junior high years, I couldn't resist sneaking away every lunchtime to lose myself in Louis L'Amour's novels at the library, completely captivated by the rugged tales of frontier life. When I was finally discovered, I negotiated an arrangement to organize books during lunch, enabling me to continue my reading while also assisting with the library's upkeep.

Inspired by the strong, resilient women in my community, I set out to portray them authentically in my writing. In my stories, they aren't passive bystanders but powerful forces, standing shoulder to shoulder with their partners, confronting the challenges of the untamed West head-on.

Through my writing, I pay tribute to the often-overlooked heroines of the frontier. Their unwavering strength and determination shaped history, serving as the backbone of their families and silent pillars of support who, alongside their partners, played a crucial role in civilizing the wild and building a better future on the rugged frontier.