The Earl of Kenloch is the king's Black Dragon, his fiercest, most loyal knight. When Kenloch is ordered to marry the daughter of a baron, he seethes, but is forced to obey. However, he chooses the baron's beautiful older daughter Johanna instead of the vain, selfish golden Juliana. It is a love match from the beginning, but they constantly fight the king's demands that Kenloch leave his growing family and return to court -- to play and dance attendance on the spoiled king. It is a constant battle of wills between their wishes and the king's demands. The king threatens to take back Kenloch's...

Fleeing a despised pending marriage, Maryan finds herself on the high plains, evading a painted warrior bent on rape and murder. Rescued, she is taken to a secret valley, safe. The bearded mountain man and his Indian companions grow in her affections until she opens her heart to her big blue-eyed rescuer. Danger and adventure surround them but the most frightening threat is from her one-time fiance and his obsession with Maryan.

Their visit East to buy horses turned into adventure and peril for John and Maryan. Her obsessing former fiance loomed frighteningly for Maryan, but he was not the only hazard their trip uncovered Add in the spice of steeplechasing