Sometimes a journey of the heart is the most dangerous journey of all.

Sally Wheeler learned the hard way that men aren’t always what they seem. Now she will stop at nothing to track down the bigamist husband who stole her son and abandoned her and their daughter on their failing Kansas farm. She’ll do anything to have her family back together, even if it means traveling down the Old Chisholm Trail to Texas with an old mule skinner and a handsome maverick who could change her mind about men.

Free after spending seven years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Rob Truman aims to balance the scales of justice on the man who sent him there-Luke Wheeler. His quest doesn’t include falling for the one woman who will lead him to his quarry, but Sally’s courage in the face of her fear touches his soul.

Through dangerous days and nights on the trail, neither Sally nor Rob can ignore their growing feelings for each other. Yet both are haunted by the poor judgment that, in the past, led them down the wrong road. Love-and trust-are luxuries neither of them can afford. But as the bullets start flying, love may be all that saves them-and Sally’s son.

Warning: This title contains ornery mules and ornery men.
Get ready to see how the West was really won – one relationship at a time!

I don’t read very many historical romances, but this one is old west and I couldn’t resist.

Sally’s husband Jake has taken their son and left for Texas. She is determined to get her son back and to accomplish that goal she seeks the aid of Ozzie Moss, the man who led her family to Kansas to begin with. She really doesn’t give him a choice and packs up her daughter Caroline and herself for the journey.

Rob Truman is searching for Jake to get revenge for having spent five years of his life in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He’s following Sally and Ozzie to reach his goal. At least that was the plan until Sally breaks the axel on the wagon.

With Ozzie scouting ahead, Rob comes to Sally’s aid, although he couldn’t do anything about the axel he was able to get her started with repacking things to take along.

The weather takes a turn for the worse and Caroline falls ill.

This is a favorite scene.

The tree he was leaning against felt cold and hard, and all his muscles ached from sleeping in that position. He looked down at Sally as she slept. Her head still rested on his shoulder. His elbow seemed to have lost all feeling.

Carolyn snuggled into her blankets with only her nose peeking out. Sally sighed in her sleep.

The gentler sex, the ones men were raised to protect.

In sleep Sally bore the same innocence as her child.

So this must be how it feels to have a family. Waking to this every morning. Feeling a responsibility to care for them.

The strange feeling in his throat made him swallow.

It was enough to choke a man. And all from watching them sleep. Appearances were deceiving.

He thought back to the night he’d asked May Belle to marry him. He’d wanted to spend the rest of his life caring for her. Not a mistake he would make again.

He needed to get up. He moved his arm and Sally relaxed, sinking deeper into his shoulder. He cleared his throat.

Sally slept on.

“Sally?”

She leaned into him, but still she didn’t wake. Uncomfortably warm and aroused, he shifted his leg to ease the pressure.

Moss was awake and must have noticed his discomfort. He shook Sally.

“Ye goin’ to sleep all day?”

He frowned at Rob. Rob stared back. A man couldn’t help his reaction, could he? It wasn’t as if he wanted to be attracted to her. His body wasn’t listening. And as for his heart, he would never allow it to be hurt the way May Belle had wounded him.

Sally stretched, and then opened her eyes to look into Rob’s. Overwhelmed by his nearness, she sat up with a gasp. Her heart pounded an erratic rhythm, and she was aware of warm arousal throughout her body. A tumble of confused thoughts and feelings assailed her.

She watched Rob in confusion. How wonderful it felt waking up next to him. Long ago she’d missed waking to the warmth of Luke’s body, before she learned what a harsh man he was.

Sally clenched her fists.

All those nights together, the things he’d done and they hadn’t even been married.
Debra Parmley. Gone to Texas A Desperate Journey – Debra Parmley (Kindle Location 1438-1457). Kindle Edition. Kindle Edition.

Illness, Indians, high flowing rivers, all contribute to this harrowing journey, but the presence of Rob also lends comfort as she fights her growing attraction. This attraction is mutual since Rob knows she really isn’t married to Luke.

Plenty of tense situations, some action and some heat in this fast paced book you won’t be able to put down.

5 Contented Purrs for Debra!

  Debra Parmley

Debra Parmley writes military romantic suspense, contemporary romance, western historical romance, holiday romance, fairy tale romance, and 1920s romance. She has 28 romance books out. As Debra Bishop, she writes fantasy, young adult, children’s books, and nonfiction. A Gemini, she thrives on writing in more than one genre.

She lives in a motor home full-time with her husband as they travel the U.S. and shares her adventures on her Beautiful Day Traveler blog. Debra has sold travel, walked the plank of a pirate ship off the coast of Grand Cayman, swum with dolphins in Moorea, and set foot in over 13 countries. Debra is the founder of Shimmy Mob Memphis which raises funds for the local domestic abuse shelter. She was the host of Book Lights on Blog Talk Radio and interviewed cover models on Cover Model Corner. Debra believes that “Every day we are alive is a beautiful day. “