Series:
Conard County (Book 4)
DREAM WARRIOR...
Sara Jane Yates was a black satin sheets woman hidden in
the guise of a pistol-packin' peace officer. Gideon Ironheart could tell that
just from the sound of her voice. No other woman had ever made him want to quit
his wandering ways before. But then, no other woman had ever rescued him at
gunpoint from a barroom brawl, either.
Tall, powerful--and ready to take on the whole town
Gideon Ironheart was "an Indian with an attitude," all right. Deputy
Sheriff Sara Yates was sure of it. But there was something else about
him--something hidden, sensual. Something that made her want to tell him her
darkest fears. And her deepest desires ...
I've been a Conard County fan for a long time but missed
out on the earliest books in the series, and I am now trying to remedy that
situation. One of the things I love about these early books is getting to know
the stories of the men and women who have become integral to life in Conard
County. One of these couples is the team of Gideon and Sara Ironheart.
Written almost thirty years ago, there are terms and
themes in the book that wouldn't be used today. The words Indian, injun, and
redskin are commonly utilized but, taken in context, did not distract from the
story. Discussion of prejudice is not shied away from nor the ramifications of
interracial marriage. There is also some referencing of attitudes about Native
religions and their suppression. Overall, I feel the story has held up well
over the years.
The book opens as Gideon arrives in Conard County. He is
a former steel walker, one of the men who build skyscrapers. After the tragic
death of his partner, Gideon has felt lost. He came to Conard County on a quest
to find a man named Micah Parrish, though we don't find out why until later in
the book. Gideon's first stop is a local bar where he hopes to get dinner
before finding a place to stay. Unfortunately, as soon as he walks in, he is
faced with those who look down on him and told to get out. Gideon, who is a big
man, simply turns his back on the haters. The loudest one immediately attacks
Gideon, and the brawl is on. As the bartender calls the cops, the fight moves
outside, and Gideon takes on all comers. He's on his third one when Deputy Sara
Yates arrives to break it up. Sara has a lot of attitude for a small woman, and
pretty soon, it's just her and Gideon left. I liked her no-nonsense attitude
and willingness to help Gideon.
Sara became a deputy to help pay the bills to keep the
family ranch going. She built up her tough outer shell after being left at the
altar by her fiancé, who blamed her publicly for his unwillingness to marry
her. It devastated her self-esteem; she hadn't been able to trust a man since
then. She shares the ranch with her grandfather Zeke and her younger brother
Joey. Joey has been in constant trouble for a couple of years, and Sara is at
her wit's end dealing with him.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Sara
and Gideon. The attraction is immediate, but they initially try to fight it.
Sara has sworn off men and knows Gideon doesn't plan to stay long. Gideon has
avoided getting involved with white women since a manipulative woman burned him
as a young man. But when Gideon takes a job on Sara's ranch, working with her
grandfather and living in the bunkhouse, that attraction grows stronger. Gideon
is a man with excellent observation skills, and he quickly understands that
Sara doesn't see her own appeal. I loved watching him bring Sara out of her
shell. Gideon is surprised by his growing feelings for Sara and unsure of what
to do about them.
Away from her work as a deputy, Sara loses some of the
tough girl façade. Her love for her family is evident, and her worry over Joey
is never far from her mind. She is also more sensitive and empathetic than she
realizes. I loved seeing her get to know Gideon and help him through his
feelings over his friend's death. I also liked how she opened up about her
jilting and its effect on her. Seeing how Gideon's attention helped change how
she saw herself was sweet. Their building attraction puts a strain on their
self-control, especially Gideon's. When they finally gave in, it changed them
both.
Two mysteries are running through the book. The first is
Gideon's interest in Micah. We see Gideon observing him from a distance at
first, then closer as Micah's deputy duties bring him in contact with Gideon.
Gideon is torn over whether to reveal his secret or keep it to himself. It was
interesting that Zeke finally pushed Gideon to take action. In an unexpected twist,
Micah was already aware of the issue, and I liked his honest explanation. There
was some angst between Gideon and Sara because of it, but it was overcome relatively
quickly.
The second mystery involved Joey and what was causing his
bad behavior. There were unexplained attacks on Zeke and Gideon and Gideon's suspicion
that it had something to do with Joey. I liked the interactions between Joey
and Gideon, who saw much of himself in Joey. There are some tense moments at
the end when Joey goes missing, and I was on the edge of my seat until Gideon
and Sara found him.
I loved the ending and seeing Gideon and Sara overcome
their pasts to find a life together.
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