Sacrificing her reputation so that she could provide a home for her two orphaned nephews, Miranda Kilpatrick took over the saloon she inherited from her uncle. Miranda had decided long ago that marriage was not for her, so she didn't care if Tobias Johnston, the handsome new schoolmaster, believed the townsfolk's lies about her being a "scarlet" woman. But when Miranda saw kindness, humor, and something thrilling in Tobias's gray eyes, she found her vow never to trust her heart to love quickly weakening.