Audio Book Description:
When her older sister runs awayto marrya rodeo cowboy, Alice Winston is left to bear the brunt of her family`s troubles-a depressed, bed ridden mother,a reticent, overworked father, and a rundown horse ranch. Asthe hottest summer in fifteen years unfolds and bills pile up, Alice is torn betweendreams of escaping the loneliness of her duty filled life and a longing to help her father mend their family and theranch. To make ends meet, theWinstons board the pampered horses of rich neighbors, and forthe first time Alice confrontsthe power and security that class and wealth provide. As herfamily and their well being become intertwined with the lives of their clients, Alice id drawn into an adult world of secrets and hard truths, andsoon discovers that people-including herself-can be cruel, can lie and cheat,and every once in a while, can do something heartbreaking and selfless.Ultimately, Alice and her family must weather a devastating betrayal and a shocking, violent series of events that will test their love and prove the powerof forgiveness.