"After years of military service, cowboy Ken Jensen is ready to return to where he belongs--saddling broncs. But a two-day rodeo in the Utah desert turns into a crazier ride than he anticipated when he meets a private investigator, Dallas Welch. Dallas is familiar with Ken's work as a military investigator and needs his help; there has been a major rash of cattle theft on local ranches, and Dallas needs a right-hand man to assist in his investigation....

Detective Royce Fleming has dealt with the worst of the worst in his small Utah town. But even after years of dealing with criminals, he's shaken when a battered young woman enters his office. The victim of domestic abuse, Ellerie Pearson finally has the courage to share her painful secret with the kind officer. For Royce, this information is just another piece in the puzzle he's working to solve -- because unbeknownst to Ellerie, her husband's body...