IN 1870 CALIFORNIA, THE GOLD RUSH LOSERS HAVE authorised THEIR destiny - OR HAVE THEY?

Five years after the yank Civil conflict ended, chinese language girls are imported and bought as slaves at the streets of San Francisco. Too many Californios, the native-born citizens of Spanish-Mexican descent, struggle for felony possession in their ancestral estate in a prejudicial international of land politics and cheating attorneys.

Kit Lee by no means had the knack of controlling her future. Her combined American-Chinese parentage ambitions her for enslavement, and her gender makes her a laughingstock for bold to paintings her family's gold mine. She has only one week to satisfy Papa at Kit's Mine, so if bartering her wisdom of Gold kingdom trails for a obdurate Californio’s reluctant security on their trip is her in simple terms selection, she’ll seize it.

Michael Rivers holds a grudge opposed to women and his personal problems claiming inherited acreage, but stocks Kit’s dream of justice for all. He won't wish her aid, yet he wishes it. He wishes her. And for as soon as in Kit’s unorthodox existence, she has an opportunity to overcome the percentages, and dares to alter their future.

EXCERPT:

Freeing his foot from the stirrup, Michael gripped her forearm and set her in entrance of him. With a mild faucet of heels, he guided middle of the night right into a rolling canter southbound, clear of San Francisco.

Kit’s straw hat fell askew, bathing her hair in solar. should still he easily depart her, an open invitation to a different assault, or safeguard her and wish she knew the trails?

With a resigned sigh, he tugged on his gloves. “Kit, i'm really sorry that occurred to you. But…how does that turn out you recognize the path to your house, not to mention mine?”

“Are you counting on instructions of a few sort?”

“Of path. I’m no longer wandering round to stake a claim—it used to be my father’s.”

“If you get us to the outskirts of Gold nation, I promise i will be able to lead us the remainder of the trek. I memorized Papa’s sketch.” She seemed him over her shoulder, her reddened eyes gleaming as brightly as Mother’s emerald ring. “Mama and that i promised to satisfy Papa at Kit’s Mine subsequent week for my celebration. do you need a advisor on your estate or not?”

Respect and a tinge of awe swept via him. similar to him, fireplace ran in her blood. She carved her person path—even as a lady, overcoming her chinese language history, along with. She had no warrantly her father could meet her. Michael wouldn’t relaxation effortless till he guaranteed her protection, and the most obvious recommendations of sanctuary in Chinatown or at a undertaking have been most unlikely. He prayed her father hadn’t met with catastrophe already. California politicians and lawmen utilized extra strain on chinese language than Californios.

“On one situation, Kit.”

Jubilation brightened her face. “What’s that?”

“We get you an honest pony and garments to put on. hour of darkness can’t hold us either for the lengthy trek, and how you look...” He clicked his enamel together with his tongue. “Strangers will suppose you’re both my slave or my—what did you name it?—fancy woman. I won’t stand for both recognition in my new home.”

Big boasts, but the place may he receive the mount she wanted? package without doubt possessed scarcely a buck to her identify. His paltry cash represented all he had on the planet. And returning to his youth ranch begging for an additional horse from Diego was once chancy. no matter if Diego have been in an excellent temper, groveling to him caught in Michael’s craw. along with, what rate may possibly Diego distinct for publicly flouting his will final week? No, there has to be a greater approach.

She held out her hand. “You’ve acquired your self a companion, Michael Rivers.”

He swallowed with hassle. What had he gotten himself into with this woman?