A teacher's determination to retrace the steps her pioneer ancestors took thrusts her into romance and danger. All teacher Chera James wants from rugged, independent Kade Morgan is permission to set foot on his private forestland. As the only female in a male household, she refuses to be treated like a hothouse flower, especially by a man who symbolizes everything the word masculine embodies. She has the map of the trail her ancestors took during their trek west and is prepared to take her own journey, alone. Inner flames fuel the passion between Chera James and Kade Morgan, but their romance and lives might not survive the human danger lurking in the summer-dry forest.