The Lone Texan-Jodi Thomas

The Lone Texan
Jodi Thomas
Berkley, Oct 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425230626

In 1859 near Galveston, Texas, Drummond Roak misses Sage McMurray who left Whispering Mountain Ranch three years ago to attend medical school in Boston. Sage is a widow who plans to open a medical practice in Texas. In Galveston, Sage saves a dog only to have Drum save her and the dog from a wagon. He yells at her and realizes with her look she still sees him as the worthless son of an outlaw and his hooker. Though she is three years older, he reminds himself of his vow that she will be his woman.

Sage mourns the loss of her spouse Baret who was a mentor not a husband to her. He told her as he was dying he married her because he admired her courage and feared dying alone. They never slept together. Baret’s slimy brother Shelley pays his respects to the widow, who is uncomfortable with the wastrel.

Drum travels with the Texas Rangers; his assignment to kill the leaders of a raider group attacking an English family. He completes his mission and takes the dying mother and her two young children to town for Sage to provide medical help; their father is dead. The woman says they were not raiders, but a killer who wants the family dead; her sons are not safe. Sage vows to keep the children safe while Drum vows to keep her safe.

The super relationship between the lead couple is refreshing and unique while a secondary romance is also terrific. Although Sage’s denial of her feelings towards Drummond turns repetitive, fans will enjoy the fourth Whispering Mountain (see TALL DARK AND TEXAN , TEXAS PRINCESS and TEXAS RAIN).

Harriet Klausner