Rae Fox wants nothing more than to run from her past—only she can't run far, considering she's on trial for killing an intruder who tried to murder her. She escapes to the small town of King Creek at her cousin's urging, where she has some anonymity in between traveling to and from Lake Havasu City to stand trial. Bear McLeod is a country vet, spending his time caring for King Creek's livestock and pets, and his own menagerie on his ranch. He meets the beautiful Rae when she brings in a dog that had been hit by a car. Later, he runs into Rae at the bar she's tending in town and is determined to get to know her. When the trial is over, and she walks away a free woman, Rae plans to run to Albuquerque where she can start life far from any place where she can be recognized. She won't let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. But Rae has stolen Bear's heart, and he'll do anything to keep the woman he loves.