Fallen Child — Kathleen Morris

"There's some people just deserve killing'."

Josie Fallon takes her future into her own hands when she finds she's been sold to a brothel by Angel's Refuge, the orphanage in which she grew up, escaping into the desert with two fellow refugees. In the wide-open Arizona Territory of the 1880s, they're taken in by a compassionate former outlaw, who teaches Josie the survival skills she sorely needs. Josie's an apt pupil, especially with a gun. When she finds out the syndicate that runs Angel's Refuge also owns more orphanages, Josie leads her companions, including a fascinating but dangerous young man, on a vendetta ride to shut them all down. It's not simply revenge, now it's about justice for the vulnerable and Josie vows to give them a chance at a life they will never find on their own. Their journey takes them down dark and dangerous roads and once the wanted posters go up, Josie realizes she and her friends may not have much of a future themselves, only steps ahead of those who would stop them with a noose or a bullet.