After protesting abuses at the Montana Indian Boarding School, Essie is dismissed from her teaching job. But before she can depart, she's kidnapped by Cade Newcastle--the half-breed uncle of her missing student.Shot during the escape and now dogged by a hanging posse, Cade's desperate search becomes a race against time, and Essie--instead of abandoning him--saves his life.Trading favor for favor, Cade and Essie continue searching for Cade's nephew. The lines between captor and captive turn into mutual respect, then flare into passion. But the hanging posse will never allow a half-breed to be the ruination of Essie Sparks.WILD WESTERN ROGUES, in series orderThe Lady Takes A GunslingerThe Ruination of Essie SparksABOUT BARBARA ANKRUM:Bestselling author Barbara Ankrum was a successful commercial actress until her love of romance novels led to a publishing contract. Many books and two wonderful children later, she still believes in happy endings and feels very lucky to do what she loves, with her husband, two cats and one scruffy, unrepentant dog at her side.