They say love can save you. But it's also been known to kill. It's a simple enough dream: Capture the heart of the prettiest girl in Cow Creek, Texas and spend the rest of your life raising kids, training good horses and loving Donna Jean. Maybe Mama does say it's crazy to think it will work, but Mama's had her own issues with love and she doesn't understand the power of the real thing, what it can do. When Mama turns out to be right, no amount of running will ease the pain or wash away the blood. "I faced the shadows of the hills miles out toward the half-town of Utopia. Faced out there beneath a billion stars and stayed there until Mike got up and circled me and cocked his head and sat again. Faced out there until the colt's heaving stopped and he stamped a foot and nudged me with his nose and shuffled restless. Faced out there until there was nothing to do but go back...."