1880 Bighorn Mountains

Willa Hammer had narrowly escaped the lynch mob that unjustly hanged her foster father. She had nothing left but her dog and her faith in herself. Forced by circumstance to join a strange, secretive family heading west, Willa ended up on a run-down, intrigue-ridden ranch in the Bighorn Mountains. There she had to depend on the protection of a hardened cowboy with a haunted past who wanted nothing to do with her. He could infuriate her, hurt her, and...love her, if both dared to take the risk.

Stew

Stew was a staple in the Old West. There was no set recipe for it. It was made with squirrel, rabbit, pheasant, beef or venison. It included potatoes, onions, peppers, cabbage, corn, turnips, beans and carrots. At times it was made in a 20 gallon black iron pot hung over an outdoor fire to feed a roundup crew or a platoon of soldiers.

1. Coat meat in flour and brown in hot fat.
2. Remove meat and place in large kettle.
3. Add several spoonfuls of flour to the fat, brown, then add water to make a thin gravy.
4. Pour this over the meat in the kettle, add more water, salt and pepper.
5. Cook until meat is almost tender.
6. Add whatever vegetables are available and cook for several hours.