To Love A Gambler

With nothing left but a broken down claim, one moldy potato, and a soul that has been weathered and beaten by hardship, it is clear to 19th century woman, Cora Sullivan, where she must turn for help. Having faced starvation the year before only to learn the ways of gambling from her childhood love and dearest friend, she is not na+ve to her predicament. She survived once on her winnings and having come from a cruel winter that claimed her father, she has only one hope. Either she returns to gambling or she will face starvation. As she is collecting her initial winnings, a nicely dressed gentleman asks to join the next game and takes the seat next to Cora. She is attracted to his handsome dark looks as well as the mystery of his cautious gaze and distant behavior. Silently, she wonders if he stays awake at night fretting over his demons as she does hers. The stranger is not to be put off so easily and before Cora knows it, she has lost another game. With nothing left but a few coins, she bets the last thing of any value she owns to stay in the next game . . .her father's claim. The game ends, to Cora's horror, with the stranger taking the pot and her claim as the prize. Numb from her loses, Cora leaves the gaming hall to face an unknown future. Jared Matthews is on the run from a murder charge . . .a murder he did not commit. He is charged with murdering his mistress and after a year of running, he stops in Montana Territory. He has spent all of his money and is left only to gamble in the hopes of winning enough to continue with his travels before he is caught and murdered. Seeing the woman bet the last thing she has, her home, releases a sense of protectiveness from some mysterious part of Jared, and he does his best to save her from ruin. Unfortunately, he fails. He came to the gaming hall to win money and leaves with the last thing he ever wanted . . .the woman's claim. Though he has vowed to never remain in one place long enough to get to know anyone, Jared is intrigued by the power of the emotions this woman causes him to feel. It isn't long before he convinces himself that staying for a few days wouldn't harm anything. He convinces Cora to stay with him at the claim for a small salary. Cora and Jared's attraction builds, making even the most unintentional touch excruciating. And finally, they have their first passionate kiss. A kiss that leaves them both feeling as though they have found where they belong. A kiss that they both vow, should never happen again.