His teenage son is on the run—from a murder charge. Widowed rancher Cole Strong might not win any father-of-the-year awards, but he knows his boy. His son's only crime is caring too much about people and the world. Something Cole has forsaken. Now, a corrupt food supplier will do anything to protect its secrets and lies—including killing the kid who knows too much. The only person who can help is the dedicated teacher who'd been reaching out to his child: Jill Pruitt. A beautiful woman who reminds Cole of the man he used to be.


Across a dusty, dangerous landscape, Cole and Jill must find the boy they both love—before someone very dangerous does.