Marietta Stone had big dreams - to sing opera, to be famous, to see the world. And if her rich gentleman benefactor was a tad overprotective, well, it was a small price to pay. She had a glorious future ahead. But it did not include being kidnapped by Cole Heflin, who seemed to be the only man on Earth she couldn't wrap around her delicate finger. He was a ruthless, conniving scoundrel who'd literally been unstrung from the gallows and paid to bring her back to the one place she'd vowed never to set foot again - home.