Desire swept through the Colorado hills like wildfire, determined to claim both a woman’s land—and her heart—in this unforgettable western romance from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard, author of A Lady of the West.

For five years after her father’s death, Dee Swann has fiercely protected her Angel Creek homestead and her independence. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the high country, she vowed that no one would ever take her land…or her freedom.

But drought has left the valley desperate, and when Lucas Cochran returns to Colorado, he has his sights set on Angel Creek. The water running through Dee’s property is the key to turning his Double C Ranch into the cattle empire he dreams of. Ruthless in ambition and determined to succeed, Lucas is ready to battle the stubborn, black-haired, green-eyed woman who stands in his way.

Yet the passion that sparks when Dee and Lucas meet is as fierce as any fight over land. Drawn together by desire and divided by pride, they must face a dangerous path—where dreams could be destroyed, lives could be lost, or love could blaze as wild and untamed as the Colorado frontier itself.