Free-spirited Allie Hudson knew there might be consequences to her behavior, but frequently chose to ignore them leaving childhood sweetheart Beck Williams to take the blame. Because he loved her, it was an arrangement that suited them both.

Until someone died and Allie disappeared.

Now, twelve years, Allie is a child advocate running for her life with one of the children in her care. Fleeing from unknown pursuers, and with no place else to go, she runs to Beck, the only person she can trust. She’d made some powerful enemies when she began calling for public oversight on police corruption, so heeding threats and warnings, and after escaping an assault she goes into hiding.

Beck, a reclusive wildlife biologist and nature photographer living on the family ranch in Southwest Colorado, couldn’t remember a day he hadn’t thought of Allie since she left without a word. When she shows up at his door-with someone else’s child-he promises to do the right thing, but very soon isn’t sure what the right thing is.