Her Pa had literally sold her to a stranger, for food on the table for his large family. Beth Sawyer was the oldest of twelve children, and because of the drought the crops were barely covering the price of the next crop. Beth's mother tried to comfort her daughter by telling her to follow her heart. Luke Horton was a gambler andthe minute he laid eyes on Beth an idea struck him. He'd heard how a pretty woman sitting next to you at the gambling tables could bring him luck, and right now Luke needed some luck. Beth was his answer, but would he have to marry her to get her to go along with his ideas?