Newly released from prison, the last thing Colin Cooke expected to see in Clear Creek was an angel. But there she was, just getting off the stage, and was of course everything an angel ought to be. Beautiful, of exquisite form, and with honey gold curls that bounced when she walked. Unfortunately, she walked straight into the arms of Mrs. Irene Dunnigan! The one person everyone avoided as best they could. At least until they needed something from the mercantile, then they had no choice. The self-righteous, cantankerous woman owned it! How was he going to get acquainted with the exquisite creature while Mrs. Dunnigan roamed about guarding her like some fire-breathing dragon? Perhaps with a little help from his brothers, he'd manage it. But the sort of help he got wasn't exactly the kind he had in mind.

Belle Dunnigan hadn't expected Clear Creek to be so remote. It was a far cry from Boston society and she soon learned how hard life out on the Oregon prairie could be. But it wasn't prairie life that was hard. It was living with her Aunt Irene! The woman ruled with an iron fist and hated everyone. Especially the Cooke family. And unfortunately for Belle, the only decent men of the marrying kind within a hundred miles were the Cookes! With spinsterhood starring her in the face, what was she to do? Even worse, she was terribly attracted to Colin Cooke, the one man her aunt hated most of all.

Will love find a way? Or will it be no match for Mrs. Dunnigan? The bane of Clear Creek!