Passionate Hideaway — Debbie Deering

Deborah Daring, a fiery tempered, voluptuous redhead, and her four sisters have taken over the running of their father's ranch since his health has started to deteriorate in the last few years. Deb, as she is called by those close to her, has taken over the reins in several different areas of running the ranch. Even though June, Teresa, Mona, and Toni are helping as much as they can, sometimes Deb is left with almost too much on her plate. The bloody Civil War has taken its toll on everyone and good ranch hands are hard to find and even harder to pay. Fearing that his daughters will never marry and will remain hardheaded spinsters, thus denying him grandchildren to spoil and teach to ride and rope, Deb's dad, fondly called Pops, sends word to two of his most trusted friends. Pops claims they need help in rounding up his cattle to prepare for the cattle drive that will occur later in the year. Secretly, Pops hopes one of the two young, virile men will catch the heart of his headstrong oldest daughter, Deb. Blessed with five daughters, or as some would say cursed, he is determined one of his daughters will provide him with at least one grandson. Though Deb is attracted to one of the men, she resents his overbearing, arrogant bossy male attitude. Undeniably, she is still drawn to the lean, handsome rogue named Rex. Due to a secret horror that she was forced to endure in her past, she feels unclean and afraid of any man's touch. In order for Rex to win Deb's heart and soul he must overcome her fear, resentment, and despair; as well as her temper and stubbornness. Unbeknownst to anyone, Rex and Richard (the other trusted friend) are secret agents for the government. The two handsome men are searching for a polecat that stole a boxcar full of gold, leaving a trail of blood and death during the end of the Civil War; and evidence points to the neighboring rancher. Later Rex and Rich hear disturbing rumors of how he acquired his ranch. Richard finds himself attracted to the second oldest daughter, June. And learns he must change his way of thinking in order to win her love. It seems at every turn he angers or hurts her; and her only course of action is to run away to her mother's ranch in Canada. Can Rex and Deb work things out?