A holiday rescue at Thunder Horse ranch  En route to investigate an illegal crossing, Border Patrol agent Dante Thunder Horse's helicopter goes down in a fiery blaze. He makes it out of the wreckage—just barely—and tackles his assailant to the ground. Paleontologist Emma Jennings is no killer—but she's now in the crosshairs of one. Sworn to protect the woman who saved him, Dante needs to find out who shot him down and why.  When Emma accompanies Dante back to his Badlands ranch, where a vengeful enemy threatens his family and their proud heritage, she's in even more danger…of falling for the brave Lakota pilot. But can there be a future with a man haunted by the past?