Winna

Since age seventeen, Winna Tiernay Sheehan held her marriage vows sacred and did her best to support her husband, Foley—even when in his “bad tempers,” he hurt her. But the night he goes after their oldest child freezes her willingness to make excuses for her abusive husband’s problem with alcohol. Instead, she flees with her two children to Foley’s cousin, Kai, for protection.

Kai Sheehan has loved Winna since they attended the same one-room schoolhouse. He detests the way Foley spends more time and attention on his attire than he does on his family. Finally, his heart can take no more, and he makes plans to travel to Kanesville, Iowa, and join a westward wagon train. He deserves happiness and that can’t be found anywhere near Winna. Until she arrives on his doorstep with her children in tow, asking for help, stating “I think I killed him.” A bruise blooms on her cheek and her son cradles an injured arm. The next day, they learn Foley died in a barroom shootout.

Kai agrees to a marriage of convenience to transport the three to central California where another Sheehan family farms. Is Kai strong enough to let them go at journey’s end? When faced with a crucial choice toward the end of the trail, can Winna believe that Kai is as trustworthy as he seems and follow his lead in a different direction?