Prologue:

He saw the sun rising up from behind the mountains as he urged his horse forward along the dusty trail of Colorado. The air around him was hot, thick with humidity from the rain the night before.
Denver seemed a long way away now...
But he had needed to move on.
To head into the next town to show off his talents folks, knowing they would never catch on until he was gone.
Wallace Jones smiled, his lips curling.
Learning all those years ago how to lie, cheat, and steal had finally paid off. He was loner, a man who knew what he wanted, and who got what he wanted.
He was known to be a dangerous man. A man who would pull out his gun and put a bullet between your eyes before you could blink. A man who hated the world.
Wallace was as mean as a grizzly bear and as cunning as a mountain lion.
He had everything going for him.
Except for the one thing he could not control.
Wallace brought his horse up short as a fit of coughing over-took his already ragged lungs, and he leaned over the saddle until the phlegm hit the ground and he was able to breathe once again.
Yanking the bandana out from his back pocket, Wallace wiped at his face and took several deep breaths, before giving his horse a kick and trudging on again.
Wallace grimaced as his chest gave a shuddering gasp for air.
Hell if he knew what had been ailing him for some time now.
All Wallace knew was that he needed to breathe before he conducted his scheme.
He knew what he needed to do.
The next town he came too, Wallace would tie up his horse and the find the doctor to fix him up quick so he could get on with his diabolical way of life. And Wallace always got what he wanted…

Chapter 1

Michaela Quinn took a step back and observed her husband, Sully, as he paraded around in a new, beautifully woven blanket that Cloud Dancing had brought an hour ago.
"You look handsome," she said with approval and smiled when he glanced at her, his own lips curving into a smile.
"You are so beautiful."
Michaela blushed and then suddenly found herself in his arms and his lips on hers, aching and hot, a deep growl in his throat. She pulled away laughing.
"Sully, I am not the one modeling here. Cloud Dancing did an excellent job and he would have liked to give it to you himself but he needed to get back to the reservation."
"I was taking Brian to 's store to-"
"I know that. He's not angry. He just wants to know what you think of it."
Sully smiled," Well, I love it."
"Don't tell me, tell him," Michaela said chuckling.
He swung her up in his arms and twirled her around, his laughter echoing around them, and bouncing off the trees.
"Sully!"
His lips were on hers again and Michaela found herself moaning, her back arching, her arms wrapping around his neck. The kiss deepened into heated passion and Sully began moving towards the door.
"No...We can't. I have to go to the clinic…"
"Yes, we can."
Michaela tried to protest again but found their lips locked once more.
"Ahem."
Michaela raised her head startled and noticed Sully do the same as a clearing throat jolted them apart and they turned their heads to see the cause of their interruption.
"Pardon me sir, ma'am," the man said with a deep bow and a tip of his hat.
Michaela straightened her blouse as Sully set her on her feet and she stared up at the man on the horse. His eyes were a dark brown, his skin tight and leathery from being in the sun and his lips thinned as grinned. His nose looked like it had been broken several times and his chest heaved violently each time he breathed.
"Good Morning. What can I do for you?" Michaela asked pleasantly.
"Well ma'am, is there a town not far from here? I need to tie up my horse and see the doc about something that's been troubling me for some time."
"Oh, well then, you have come to the right place. I'm the doctor here."
"I beg your pardon?"
Michaela smiled," I am the doctor here. I'll just go get my bag."
The man on the horse frowned at that and a shadowed look suddenly flashed in his eyes.
"No ma'am, I'll just get into town and see the doctor there."
"Sir, I am the doctor there. This is my home. My clinic is in town."
He took a deep breath and smiled, although Michaela sensed that it was forced.
"I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'll just go have a shot of whiskey and maybe see the barber. Thanks ma'am, sir."
Michaela stiffened and spoke up in protest.
"Wait! I can help you."
"I'm sorry ma'am and I don't mean to be rude but I don't want a female working on me. Much obliged for your time." He nudged his horse and started off but Michaela hurried after him, Sully following slowly behind her, his sharp gaze on the man atop the horse.
"Excuse me! But I-"
"Ma'am, is that your husband? Are you her husband?"
Sully regarded the man in silence. The man made him uneasy.
Sully forced a neutral tone and said curtly, "Yes."
"Well then, I would like to think that you could keep her in line."
"What?"
"She's running her mouth. Too much for her own good in my opinion. Now, like I said, I am heading into town to see the barber and to get a whiskey. I don't need a blasted female, one with a tongue like this one to-"
"That's enough. Get off of my land," Sully said, his tone laced with sudden fury. He reached for his tomahawk threateningly.
The man's eyes narrowed but instead of replying, he simply nodded, and turned his horse, riding away.
They watched until he had rounded the corner out of their sight.
Sully glanced over at Michaela.
"Stay away from him."
Michaela looked up at him in surprise.
"I don't want you talking to him."
"What do you mean?"
"Just a feeling I got about him. If he ends up seeing you in the clinic, make sure I am there."
"I admit he was a little-"Michaela began but Sully cut her off with a stern look. "Promise me." She too had felt something was out of place with that man and the look in Sully's eyes was beginning to scare her. But she trusted him. Michaela nodded.
Still if that man turned around and needed her help, she wouldn't turn him away.
"I promise."
"Good."
He looked over at her and then grinned.
"Now, where were we?"
And before Michaela could protest, she was swept up in Sully's arms and laughing as they headed inside the homestead.