I've been a Conard County fan for a long time but missed out on the earliest books in the series, and I am now trying to remedy that situation. One of the things I love about these early books is getting to know the stories of the men and women who have become integral to life in Conard County. One of these couples is the team of Gideon and Sara Ironheart.

Written almost thirty years ago, there are terms and themes in the book that wouldn't be used today. The words Indian, injun, and redskin are commonly utilized but, taken in context, did not distract from the story. Discussion of prejudice is not shied away from nor the ramifications of interracial marriage. There is also some referencing of attitudes about Native religions and their suppression. Overall, I feel the story has held up well over the years.

The book opens as Gideon arrives in Conard County. He is a former steel walker, one of the men who build skyscrapers. After the tragic death of his partner, Gideon has felt lost. He came to Conard County on a quest to find a man named Micah Parrish, though we don't find out why until later in the book. Gideon's first stop is a local bar where he hopes to get dinner before finding a place to stay. Unfortunately, as soon as he walks in, he is faced with those who look down on him and told to get out. Gideon, who is a big man, simply turns his back on the haters. The loudest one immediately attacks Gideon, and the brawl is on. As the bartender calls the cops, the fight moves outside, and Gideon takes on all comers. He's on his third one when Deputy Sara Yates arrives to break it up. Sara has a lot of attitude for a small woman, and pretty soon, it's just her and Gideon left. I liked her no-nonsense attitude and willingness to help Gideon.

Sara became a deputy to help pay the bills to keep the family ranch going. She built up her tough outer shell after being left at the altar by her fiancé, who blamed her publicly for his unwillingness to marry her. It devastated her self-esteem; she hadn't been able to trust a man since then. She shares the ranch with her grandfather Zeke and her younger brother Joey. Joey has been in constant trouble for a couple of years, and Sara is at her wit's end dealing with him.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Sara and Gideon. The attraction is immediate, but they initially try to fight it. Sara has sworn off men and knows Gideon doesn't plan to stay long. Gideon has avoided getting involved with white women since a manipulative woman burned him as a young man. But when Gideon takes a job on Sara's ranch, working with her grandfather and living in the bunkhouse, that attraction grows stronger. Gideon is a man with excellent observation skills, and he quickly understands that Sara doesn't see her own appeal. I loved watching him bring Sara out of her shell. Gideon is surprised by his growing feelings for Sara and unsure of what to do about them.

Away from her work as a deputy, Sara loses some of the tough girl façade. Her love for her family is evident, and her worry over Joey is never far from her mind. She is also more sensitive and empathetic than she realizes. I loved seeing her get to know Gideon and help him through his feelings over his friend's death. I also liked how she opened up about her jilting and its effect on her. Seeing how Gideon's attention helped change how she saw herself was sweet. Their building attraction puts a strain on their self-control, especially Gideon's. When they finally gave in, it changed them both.

Two mysteries are running through the book. The first is Gideon's interest in Micah. We see Gideon observing him from a distance at first, then closer as Micah's deputy duties bring him in contact with Gideon. Gideon is torn over whether to reveal his secret or keep it to himself. It was interesting that Zeke finally pushed Gideon to take action. In an unexpected twist, Micah was already aware of the issue, and I liked his honest explanation. There was some angst between Gideon and Sara because of it, but it was overcome relatively quickly.

The second mystery involved Joey and what was causing his bad behavior. There were unexplained attacks on Zeke and Gideon and Gideon's suspicion that it had something to do with Joey. I liked the interactions between Joey and Gideon, who saw much of himself in Joey. There are some tense moments at the end when Joey goes missing, and I was on the edge of my seat until Gideon and Sara found him.

I loved the ending and seeing Gideon and Sara overcome their pasts to find a life together. ( )

Having read some of the Conard County series, this is pretty much a similar story of a stranger in town, looking for answers about his childhood, and believing he has a long lost brother living in CC. He stays and works at a ranch owned by Sara and her grandfather and his grandson, while trying to work out his past and falling for Sara.
Despite the same old story, I still liked it a lot. ( )