Salvation, Texas

When a deputy’s job opened up in the Sanderson County sheriff’s office, career cop Rusty Joplin returned to his West Texas hometown of Salvation. The last thing he expected to encounter in his new job was a nest of deceit and fraud controlled by wealthy rancher/oilman, Randall Ryder. The multi-millionaire’s influence peddling was no surprise to Rusty. He had already had a taste of his deviousness fifteen years back when he had been forced out of town over his heated relationship with Ryder’s youngest daughter, Elena.

Mere months after he takes office, Elena’s sister, Ryder’s middle daughter, is found dead in her arena, strangled in what looks like a runaway horse accident. But Rusty’s years of experience with both horses and murder investigations, lead him to believe something more sinister. His relentless probe into Carla Ryder’s death not only reveals Salvation’s secrets, but throws him back into Elena’s arms.

Elena Ryder has longed for fifteen years for Rusty’s return. She has refused to marry any of the men her father chose to be her husband. She has never stopped believing that she and Rusty Joplin are destined to spend their lives together. ... Her sister’s tragic end brings her into contact with Rusty again and only reminds her how much she still loves him. But when Rusty uncovers the culprit, will the truth break them apart forever?