Clara and the Cowboy (Brides of the West Book 1)

Clara Bainbridge, a rancher's daughter, has long harbored feelings for Alec McConnell, her father's foreman and a reformed outlaw. After returning from finishing school in Boston, she finds Alec determined to keep his distance from her. When a handsome stranger helps Clara during a stagecoach robbery and reveals himself as her new neighbor, she considers whether accepting his courtship might be preferable to waiting for Alec. Alec has worked to overcome his criminal past and earn Colonel Bainbridge's trust. When cattle begin disappearing from the Cross B Ranch, his history makes him a suspect. He must find the real rustlers to clear his name, but his deepening feelings for Clara threaten everything he has built. His presence in her life could damage her reputation. When Clara faces danger from cattle rustlers, Alec must confront both the threat to her safety and his own internal struggle. The story explores whether he can release his past and trust in God for the future.