Marcella McGovern always knew there was a deep, perhaps even dark, secret about her parentage since she was raised at a boarding school under the guardianship of a law firm. But she has received the very best education in the finer points of being a lady so when she finds out that she has been bequeath a brothel by a mother she never knew, she faces the news, as she has been taught, with equanimity. Upon her arrival in the town of Onion Creek, she also faces the curiosity of the townsfolk with the same kind of composure, except for one of the inhabitants, a handsome, if somewhat inebriated gentleman by the name of Jean Luc Desloge, who it turns out had been employed by her mother as a sort of majordomo.

Jean Luc has never seen a lady such as Marcella and he is quite frankly thunderstruck. And though she might be Sophie’s daughter, Jean Luc knows he’s addressing a lady finer than he would ever be worthy of. Running from demons of failure—failure to protect Sophie, or his former boss, or his former boss’ son while on cattle drive—Jean Luc is ready to pack it in—in the fatal sense of that sentiment. That is until he sees Marcella and realizes she needs help. Only Jean Luc knows he’s not fit to help—for reasons of those demons.

Marcella has also inherited a herd of cattle but no land to keep them on so the only alternative is to drive them up to market and Jean Luc must help since he is the most knowledgeable about cattle drives. Marcella can’t understand his resistance since it’s clear he’s attracted to her. But if he won’t come along, she’ll find someone who can help her.

Only it isn’t as easy as that. No cowboys can be found that are willing to take the drive with her so she enlists the only employees she has, the ladies who inhabit the brothel. Eager to shed the shackles of prostitution, these ladies leap at the chance. And Jean Luc decides that the least he can do is teach them a thing or two and find them the one cowboy he knows will help them, a former slave. When this rag tag group of ladies and gent hit the road, anything can happen and that’s just what Jean Luc is afraid of.

Thus begins an adventure up the trail that may turn into a journey of a very different kind, for everyone involved.

Barbara Scott has written an very entertaining tale, peopled with delightful and interesting characters from the prostitutes, to the former slave turned cowboy, to the town sheriff, to Marcella’s ex-fiancé  and, of course, Jean Luc. They all have a story to tell and a past to overcome. Readers will enjoy the adventures and romance as well as the information about trail driving that is woven into this story as love conquerors all.