Crystal Clark arrives in Colorado's Yampa Valley amid the splendor of a high country June in 1892. After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt Kate's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land--even if a certain handsome foreman doubts her abilities. Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes the ranch. Crystal will have to tap all of her resolve to save the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated? Book one in the Heart of the West series, No Place for a Lady is full of adventure, romance, and the indomitable human spirit. Readers will fall in love with the Colorado setting and the spunky Southern belle who wants to claim it as her own. Nothing in her past had prepared her for a Colorado cattle drive--or Luke Weber. Longing for a new start, Crystal Clark arrives amid the splendor of the high country in June 1892. After the death of her father, Crystal is relieved to be leaving the troubles of her Georgia life behind to visit her aunt's cattle ranch. Despite being raised as a proper Southern belle, Crystal is determined to hold her own in this wild land--even if a certain handsome foreman named Luke doubts her abilities. Just when she thinks she's getting a handle on the constant male attention from the cowhands and the catty barbs from some of the local young women, tragedy strikes. And saving the ranch from a greedy neighboring landowner means taking charge of a cattle drive, ready or not. Can she rise to the challenge? Or will she head back to Georgia defeated? "Grab your hat and hold on to the reins for an exciting ride! An exciting historical novel by a rising new author."--DiAnn Mills, author of When the Nile Runs Red , Beyond the Memories , Awaken My Heart , and Lightning and Lace "This gentle romance set amongst the rugged beauty of the Colorado foothills will warm a reader's heart."--Kim Vogel Sawyer, bestselling author of My Heart Remembers and the Sommerfeld Trilogy Maggie Brendan is the CBA bestselling author of the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series, as well as The Trouble with Patience and A Sweet Misfortune . Her books have received the Book Buyers Best Award from the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America and the Laurel Wreath Award. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers, and Author's Guild, Maggie lives in Georgia. Maggie Brendan is the CBA bestselling author of the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series, as well as The Trouble with Patience and A Sweet Misfortune . Her books have received the Book Buyers Best Award from the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America and the Laurel Wreath Award. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, Georgia Romance Writers, and Author's Guild, Maggie lives in Georgia. No Place for a Lady By Maggie Brendan Baker Publishing Group Copyright © 2009 Maggie Brendan All right reserved. ISBN: 978-0-8007-3335-3 Chapter One June 1892 The Yampa Valley, Colorado Crystal Clark gripped the side of the bouncing buckboard to keep from tumbling onto the rocky roadbed below. From the first moment she'd left home she'd been wondering if she'd done the right thing by coming to Colorado. Maybe she should have remained in Georgia. At least there she knew what to expect. Out here the only person she knew was her aunt. Crystal had once thought her life was almost perfect, but in an instant, her father's death had changed everything that she thought secure. Rusty, her aunt's driver, had been waiting in Steamboat Springs when she stepped off the stage. Now he pulled hard on the reins and stopped the horses on a rise that overlooked the Yampa valley. "Thought you might want to take a minute, enjoy the view up here." Crystal gazed at the unfolding vista resplendent with flaming Indian paintbrush and chickweed. Mountains loomed ahead. "What a breathtaking sight," she said, coughing as dust filled her throat and nostrils. Sweat ran in tiny rivulets down her back beneath her fitted corset and slithered its way down her clinging stockings into her snug-fitting heels. Despite these momentary inconveniences, crystal could only think about her heartache. "It's mighty pretty from up on this here rise." He grinned. "I knew the minute Kate sent me to fetch you that you were gonna like it here, ma'am." Like it here? she thought. Still, crystal felt her lips turn up at the edges. Despite everything she'd been through, rusty seemed to have the ability to make her smile. "Kate said you're coming