***Willa Cather Literary Award finalist***A young woman faces unimaginable tragedy and a broken, guilt-ridden gunfighter is driven to help her in this harsh and powerful page-turner that explores the darkness in the human heart.Gabriella Devere grows up quickly after a gang of outlaws attacks her family. When the law won't help her, she takes matters into her own hands. Jess McLowry left his war-torn Southern home to head West, where he hired out his gun. When he learns what Gabriella plans, he knows a young woman like her will have no chance against the outlaws, and vows to save her the way he couldn't save his own family.But the price of vengeance is high and Gabriella's willingness to sacrifice everything ultimately leads to the book's deadly and startling conclusion.From readers: "Compelling, thrilling, entertaining""The story is about horrible acts against human beings, secrets that will hurt no matter what path the guy takes but he's determined to do the right thing. It costs him.""Captures your heart and your mind.""What a great book!!! I couldn't put it down!!!""Never has a setting more captivated me than it did in this book. I could see it all, the desert, the wild towns."