The Hawk — Peggy L. Henderson

People have always underestimated Keaton Barlow. As a boy, his small stature made him an easy target for ridicule. Even as a grown man, his quiet and calm nature portrays only one side of his character. Wandering for years as a hired gunman was his only way to ease the pain of losing the woman to whom he gave his heart. Callie Peale has no one she can trust except herself. All her life, people have betrayed her in the worst possible ways. Having been sold into prostitution by her parents, her last hope to escape the horrors had been a young boy's pledge to return to her. After many years, she knows she has been forgotten and left behind. Hardening her heart is the only way to protect herself from more pain. After years of thinking Callie is dead, Keaton is stunned to learn she is, in fact, alive. When he finds her again, Callie is less than receptive that he's come back into her life. She must wade through the lies, pain, and disloyalty before she can move forward. When danger lurks for both of them, can Keaton help her overcome her emotional scars while being the protector he promised so they can finally have a second chance at love?