Josephine Stilesa unbridled tongue estranged her from her wealthy father. Sent alone to the Territory of New Mexico, after rejecting his fifth (societyas best?) choice of a husband, she repents but abhors surrender. Operating an inherited store, the lumber, canvas, and sod abode horrifies and is never called ahome.a Unsavory characters irk, tinny music irritates, and determination rises ato get away from that awful saloon!a Outspoken suffragette, contempt of men and ridicule of their ways also estranged her from love. Shead never even felt love, no reaction, no butterflies, no nothing. Fatheras decree (only a husband inherits) never slows her success near the goldfields. To adopt three orphans, a bashful and in-love rancher shares her spaciously built home in name only. Since maternal love comes natural, sheas complete, until his nephew discovers love when only fourteen. Smothering propriety, sheas obsessively driven to discern why romantic love eludes her.