Ah, here we have Dawson Rutherford, age 36 [whee! a man with immense problems for his age] Angry, bitter, distrustful and need I mention jealous?

He is using the beauteous redheaded widow, Leslie Holton and his desire to purchase her property that lies between his ranch and Powell Long's ranch, to lure Barrie back to the home ranch in Sheridan.

You have to hurt for them as you become aware of their torment.
Five years earlier, Dawson the cynical cad took Barrie in a fit of passion. Whoa! you won't believe the emotional trauma that esculates and nearly destroys these two people.

Barrie, now 26, avoids Dawson like the plague and flirts with men by the dozens and Dawson avoids women and has become the "man of ice". Rumors abound about his not likeing women.

Dawson talks Barrie into excepting an emerald "engagement" ring to give the appearance of impending marriage to the widow, Holton.

I really enjoyed Leslie's insight into the facade. Again I don't want to give away the whole gist of the story but the story is heart rending and will keep you reading it in one sitting. It is power-packed with emotion and hard to put down.

Again HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --?? prove it to yourself [even the cover guy SD 1000 looks right for the story]