At fourteen, Hector “Heck” Martin loses everything. Orphaned and restless, he sets out west to carve his own destiny in the untamed frontier. The journey transforms him—bareknuckle fighter, mountain man, Indian scout—each mile forging him into someone tougher, sharper, and more determined than before.
Along the way, he falls for Hope Mullen, bold and beautiful, but too far beyond his reach. Poor and too young to marry, Heck pushes on, vowing to earn a future worth having. Three years later, a letter changes everything: Hope’s family has set out on the Oregon Trail, facing dangers that could destroy them.
Now, Heck must intercept the wagon train and fight for the woman he loves. The frontier is brutal—but so is his resolve.
