Scott Landry rolled to a stop and threw his pickup into park.  He leaned across the seat to crank the passenger window down. 

The woman shuffling down the dirt road stopped and turned her head.  He peered at her.  The thing he noticed first were her emerald-colored eyes.  Second, he noted her disheveled appearance.  Her face was pretty, but smudged with dirt, and her long ebony hair was tangled.  She wore sweat pants and a fitted T-shirt, ripped along the shoulder.  She didn’t carry a purse or a backpack.  Not even a bottle of water.

“Hello,” he called.  “Can I help you?”

The woman stared at him with a blank expression.  It was apparent she needed assistance.  He pushed open the squeaky door and stepped out.  As he sauntered around the front of the truck, the woman’s eyes grew wide and she took off in a sprint down the road.

“Wait!” Scott hollered, running after her.  He punched down his cowboy hat to keep it from flying off.

She hadn’t gone a hundred feet when she collapsed to the ground like a rag doll.  Scott rushed to her, knelt, and found her unconscious.  His touch was gentle when he patted her cheek.  “Come on, ma’am.  Wake up.”  He laced his fingers around her neck and raised her into his lap.  As she lay limp, he saw an angry purple bruise splotching the inside of her arm.  When he brushed the waterfall of hair out of her eyes, he spied a lump on her forehead as big as a goose egg.

When she came to, her eyes grew enormous.  With a whimper, she struggled to break free from his hold.

“Hang on, lady.  I’m not gonna hurt you.”  Scott released her and she attempted to stand, but fell back, obviously too weak.  “Take it easy,” he drawled.  “Let me help.  You just fainted.   You might pass out again.”  He offered his hand.

She searched his face for a moment.  He could see she was as scared and jittery as a caged animal.  With a wary look in her eye, she finally placed her small hand in his palm and let him pull her off the ground.

 

This author has a unique way of presenting her story in a fast-paced, page-turning way that I love.  The sensual tension was evident but was handled skillfully. There was suspense woven throughout the storyline. I literally couldn’t quit reading. I loved this book, including the shocking ending. - Brenda Talley, The Romance Studio

High Lonesome is a sweet love story put together so skillfully, the reader doesn't want to put the book down. - Camellia, Long and Short Reviews

High Lonesome is a sweet western contemporary romance and probably the best I've read, ever. - Candace Morehouse, Reading New Mexico