True North — Stacey Coverstone

Book 3 of The Spirited Western Women Series (Books 1 and 2: Trail of Golden Dreams and Sabra's Wild West Adventure are available at Amazon) This can be read as a stand-alone book. Cheerful and independent Piper McAllister is one of the first women newspaper editors in Colorado. She is about to turn 21 and has every reason to believe that her sweetheart of nearly six years will propose on her birthday. But after she is humiliated in front of their families, Piper questions Rusty's commitment and worries that she is destined to become the town spinster. After Rusty Paladin was reunited with his brother following many years apart, living with Grey's family and helping work his cattle ranch made his dreams a reality. Six years later, he finds himself restless and itching to see the world. The trouble is everyone in Gumption expects him to pop the long overdue question to Piper and settle down. When Buffalo Bill Cody comes to town recruiting for his Wild West Show, Rusty sees it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He can earn good money, work alongside famous people, and cure the wanderlust that runs through his blood. But what will Piper think of his plan? After she sees him with another woman and learns the show will be overseas for almost a year, she accepts an offer that will set her and Rusty on an adventure together, ultimately forcing him into deciding his life's true course.