Adventurer, Eben St. Claire has big plans for his future... plans that do not include romantic entanglements. Yet, the lure of gold is a powerful motivator, so when a dying old man begs a simple favor, Eben can hardly refuse. He soon discovers it's a devil's deal he's entered into... a thousand dollars in gold to escort the old Frenchman's sweet and dutiful daughter to the East and see her settled... and since he is headed East anyway, how hard can it be? Winner of the Best First Western Historical Romance Award from Romantic Times.
I enjoy stories about long, adventurous journeys where two unlikely characters come to love each other along the way. However, this trip was too long for me.
This story is about a match between a spoiled brat and a much older, commitment-phobic man. Although each had a history that shaped their dispositions, their behavior was over the top. The brat's rude, argumentative, and foolish behavior kept landing her in dangerous situations. The hero kept telling her he wasn't the man for her, but in the next scene made advances toward her! I kept thinking, "You're a grown man! Make up your mind! " I got so tired of all the arguing and emotional turmoil they put themselves through, I almost didn't finish the book.