Branded by Fire

Hadley Mae Carson has spent her life surviving-on the outside, a capable ranch girl; on the inside, breaking under the weight of her father's violence. When one final night pushes her past the edge, she flees the only home she's ever known, driving through the darkness toward a place she's only heard in whispers: Yellowstone.

She doesn't expect kindness. She doesn't expect safety. She definitely doesn't expect to stay. But the Yellowstone Ranch isn't just a place-it's a test of strength, loyalty, and belonging. And when John Dutton offers her a chance to prove herself, Hadley grabs it with both hands. She knows cattle, she knows horses, and soon enough, she earns the wary respect of the ranch hands she works beside.

But it's Rip Wheeler-the quiet, guarded enforcer of the Duttons-who sees past her toughness. As Hadley rebuilds her life one early morning and bruised knuckle at a time, Rip becomes the one man who doesn't flinch at her past. And in a place where survival is earned and love is a dangerous luxury, Hadley just might find something she never dared to dream of: a future.