Shelby Amelia Bruneau is as headstrong as she is beautiful. At seventeen, she's been in more scrapes than her family can tolerate. Her father has decided only marriage will settle her down, and he's even chosen a husband for her: Justus Calhoun. But Shelby vows never to submit to such a man. It's not until after her wedding night that Shelby sees the ad. This is her chance for freedom! With a new name and without her wedding ring, she escapes to California. When Shelby arrives, nothing is as she expected. The picturesque mountain town is merely a giant mud hole; the only culture, an on-going poker game. Then there's Eli Bullock. A ruggedly handsome young man, his will is as strong as Shelby's, and she finds herself intensely attracted to him. But Shelby came to California to get away from a man, not to find one! Can she suppress the desire in her heart before it destroys her future?