A bounty hunter haunted by his past. A southern belle desperate to escape hardship. And a marriage that gives them a chance to start over. Sadie thought marrying a stranger was the hardest decision she’d ever make. But when her new husband is determined to hunt down a dangerous outlaw, their union is tested by a chase that puts their lives—and their fragile trust—in jeopardy. Elijah, a solitary man with a history as a soldier, never intended to settle down. But to secure a claim on his estate, he takes a bride by proxy. His new wife, Sadie, isn't what he expected but something about her intrigues him. Together, they must navigate the scars of their pasts to survive a harrowing journey that will either drive them apart or bind them. As danger looms, Elijah and Sadie find themselves fighting not just for survival, but for the hope of a future. Can they turn a marriage of convenience into a love worth fighting for? This short faith-based, standalone novella is part of the Confederate Widows, Spinsters, and Proxy Brides Series by a variety of authors, but it can be read and enjoyed on its own.