Kidnapped! An enigmatic stranger had claimed Patience O'Hara as his woman, protecting her from the gang that had taken her hostage. Now she had to pretend to be his lover, or face harm at the hands of a group of lawless drifters. But something about her rescuer made him different from the rest – he just didn't act like an outlaw. Abducting Patience hadn't been part of secret agent Matthew Winter Sky's mission, but she'd gotten herself into trouble, and he couldn't just let her suffer. But now he had to choose: Would he complete his dangerous mission, or escape with the beautiful woman he'd sworn to defend with his life?