1877. Texas Ranger JAKE FONTAINE has one obsession, revenge for his brother’s murder. He trails the killer, outlaw GRIZZLY DUVALL, to Kansas. Ambushed, Jake’s a dead man until the shotgun-slinging runaway KAT COLLINS appears and saves his hide. In return, Jake doesn’t count on escorting her to Missouri, or promising her the reward for the outlaw. Jake finds Duvall, but the outlaw escapes aboard a steamboat. Hours later, its boilers explode. The bodies are unidentifiable, and the sheriff concludes Duvall has perished. While the outcome doesn’t bring Jake the peace he sought, it reinforces his longing to return home. First, he’ll escort Kat to Kansas City, where she’ll continue to a new life in Missouri. But on the trail again, her controlling kinfolk catch up with them. Forced into matrimony, Kat slips away at first light—but not before the trail-tough ranger leaves an impression on her heart. Meanwhile, Duvall survives his burns from the steamboat. Ugly scars cover his body, and the damage from Kat’s buckshot will forever maim his leg. He heads to Texas, vowing to kill the ranger. …show more content…
Louis, albeit now Jake wants a divorce and lives on a ranch with his grandfather LUCKY “CHANCE” DAVENPORT. Chance insists Jake court ANGELA MCALLISTER, his brother’s former sweetheart. With Jake’s money and status, she’s more than willing to overlook the stigma from a divorce. Convinced Kat is a distant memory, Jake enlists his grandfather to travel to Missouri with the divorce papers. After meeting her, Chance sees an opportunity to manipulate Jake into Angela’s eager arms. He sends Jake a telegram saying the woman isn’t Kat. Too late, Chance learns he has a great-granddaughter. Before he can atone for the lie and reveal his identity, he becomes ill. He makes a hasty will, leaving Kat his ranch to provide a home for his