Rough and Tender — S.K. McClafferty

Adventurer, Eben St. Claire has big plans for his future… plans that do not include romantic entanglements. Yet, the lure of gold is a powerful motivator, so when a dying old man begs a simple favor, Eben can hardly refuse. He soon discovers it's a devil's deal he's entered into… a thousand dollars in gold to escort the old Frenchman's sweet and dutiful daughter to the East and see her settled… and since he is headed East anyway, how hard can it be? Winner of the Best First Western Historical Romance Award from Romantic Times.