Out of Eden

Claire Butler was one of California's first women lawyers, carving out her place in the small mining town of Bodie. Johnny Christmas was her first client-a firefighter accused of brutalizing a local woman. Despite Johnny's reputation as a brawler and a carouser, Claire fiercely believed that he was innocent. And she would risk her career and her life to prove it. Torn between her honor and an angry lynch mob, the law-abiding counselor surprised even herself-when she helped her client excape to the mountains. Johnny and Claire rode into the wilderness, their desires fueled by the excitement of danger. In the cool darkness, they thrived on the fruit of the woods and streams-and the warmth of each other. There they were safe to live and love, in their own private Eden . . .