Lacey Bright has just finished the best barrel racing season of her life only to find her world falling apart. The man she thought she loved is now engaged, her horse has just turned up lame and an old family secret comes out, leaving her reeling. With nowhere else to turn, Lacey throws herself into her new job, training horses for the local Humane Society farm. After a terrifying bout with cancer, Jonas Marshall is hesitant to jump back into the dating ranks, or slide back into a roping saddle. His priorities have changed and his scars have caused him to avoid women in general. He's content spending his days as head trainer at the Humane Society farm and living life on the sidelines until he sees something in Lacey he's not found before--hope, compassion and potential. A similar goal bring these two together. Yet change is never easy and difficult challenges await right around the next corner. They have to face their fears or lose a chance at love. After all, life isn't easy, and a woman has to be cowgirl strong to get what she desires.