Desperate — Millie Criswell

He was desperate for revenge
With a heart of stone, former Texas Ranger Rafe Bodine set out across an unforgiving land to hunt the outlaw who murdered his family. Tortured by grief and guilt, he vowed there would be no jail cell for the killer, no second chances -- for he alone would be the judge, jury, and executioner...

She offered him forgiveness
The last thing Rafe expected to stumble across was Emmaline St. Joseph stranded in the middle of nowhere with a group of orphans. A beautiful Eastern heiress, Emmaline was naive concerning the ways of the wilderness, but her determination to save the children at any cost touched Rafe's hardened heart. Now, as fierce storms and trigger-happy outlaws threaten their survival, Rafe must choose between the vendetta consuming his soul and the high-spirited young woman bringing new joy to his life. And Emmaline must decide if she has the will -- and the strength -- to heal a heart-sick man.