A schoolteacher finds love, loss, and happiness in West Texas. Val Verde County, Texas, 1916 Weary of her family's relentless pursuit of a suitable husband for her, twenty-two-year-old Ester Hammon responds to an advertisement seeking a teacher for Twelve Mile School, a small county school far away from her overprotective Dallas family. But nothing prepared her for what she faced when stepping off the train in the small, dusty town of Del Rio, Texas. Living with a ranching family three miles from the school, Ester learned how to shoot in case of a raid by Pancho Villa, a skill that quickly proved useful, causing Ester to question whether she was meant for such a wild place. Rancher Grant McKey had no time for love. As a single parent, the schoolteacher living on his ranch was just there for his six-year-old daughter, but adversity has a way of bonding disparate hearts. Attacked by the Villistas, Ester's bravery saves Grant, but a shocking proposal will forever change their future. Publisher's Note: Readers who enjoy heartful tales of life, faith, and romance will not want to miss this endearing series set in West Texas, highlighting the struggles and delights of life in the early 1900s. Hearts of Texas Series The Widow Jane Parker The River Rider The Twelve Mile School