
The sudden death of the town Marshall leaves Blue River, Texas, without a lawmanand twenty–five–year–old Dara Rose Nolan without a husband.
As winter approaches and her meagre seamstress income dwindles, she is left with three options. Except Dara Rose won't give up her two young daughters, refuses to join the fallen women of the Bitter Gulch Saloon and can't fathom condemning herself to another loveless marriage. Unfortunately, she must decide, and soon because there's a new Marshall in town, and she's living under his roof!
With the heart of a cowboy, Clay McKettrick plans to start a ranch and finally settle down. He isn't interested in uprooting Dara Rose and her children, but he is interested in giving her protection, friendship...and passion.
When they say 'I do' to a marriage of convenience, the temporary lawman's Christmas wish is to make Dara Rose his permanent wife