Malachi Hawkins left his home to move west as soon as he was old enough. Running from a family secret that he can never escape, he takes a job on the ranch of an old family friend, Lee Rose.<br><br>The first night he's there, he meets Christian Rose, Lee's foster daughter, a young woman of mixed Comanche blood. They call her a savage and treat her like the family slave, but Mal doesn't see a savage at all. He sees a woman of unbelievable strength -- and a kindred spirit.<br><br>But his secret is bound to catch up with him, and when it does, it could destroy both of them forever ...

Maybe I'm Amazed

“You have to finish the calves this morning.”


Mal shook his head. “I don’t care. I’ll spend the day here with you, and if I can’t do that, then I’ll be right outside the kitchen door.”


Mal tried to smile, but he couldn’t. His mouth wasn’t cooperating, and he didn’t feel like he had anything to smile about. His blood still thundered in his ears, and his heart pounded against his ribs. He wanted to find J.R. and pound him into the ground—on principle. For thinking he had the right to hurt Christian, or anybody smaller than he was. He wanted to do the same to Cy. But he didn’t want to scare Christian, or do anything rash, so he fought that impulse, pushing it farther and farther down.


Chapter 18