The Marshal's Mission

The Marshal's Mission - Anna Zogg 4 stars

Whelp, since the Harlequin Love Inspired Historical line is on the chopping block, I have been trying to read as many of them as I can. I love the cover for The Marshal’s Mission, so this was bumped up on the TBR pile. I love the time period and the Western setting, so it was no brainer that I would read this.

Lenora is a widow, trying to raise her young son, Toby, and work her ranch. Her late husband was a gambler, a cheat, and an outlaw. She found him one night, dying of gun shot wounds, a bag of stolen money in his hands. After burying the money, and her late husband, Lenora is determined to do what’s best for Toby and herself.


Lenora’s neighbor Jeb was her husband’s friend, as well as the leader of the outlaw gang. He wants the money that Lenora has hidden, and he’ll do anything to get it. He’s convinced that Lenora, despite her claims of ignorance, knows exactly where it is. He bullies Lenora, causing mishaps at her ranch, and Lenora is terrified of him. I would have been, too. She’s out in there in the middle of nowhere with only a dog and her 10 year old boy to help protect the land and the family. That would have been terrifying.

US Marshal Jesse Cole is searching for the missing money, too. Two men were murdered during the bank robbery in Cheyenne, and he’s determined to bring the outlaws to justice. When he stumbles upon Lenora’s ranch, he isn’t made welcome. Not until Jeb shows up to intimidate Lenora, and make her feel helpless. With a lame mare, Cole is suddenly welcome to stay as long as he likes.

Keeping his identity as a lawman secret, Cole is slowly caught up in the life of Lenora and Toby. That is what I liked best about this story. It has a slice of life feeling, as the three of them go about their business on the ranch. Cooking, tending to the animals, mending fences. The chores never seem to end, but by working together, Cole and Lenora start to find comfort in a common goal. When a scary episode with Jeb leaves Lenora injured and terrified, she offers him a marriage of convenience. She’ll give him half of the ranch to raise his horses, if he’ll help her with the cattle. And keep her safe from Jeb.

Both Lenora and Cole are keeping big secrets from each other, and I started to worry that they would not be able to overcome this emotional obstacle. Lenora knows about the robbery, and even though she had no part in it, she still feels guilty. Since the nearest town is run by Jeb and his father, it’s not like there’s anyone she can tell her secrets to. She doesn’t quite trust Cole enough to confide about the money to him, and she’s afraid he’ll leave if he discovers that her late husband was a criminal. Cole feels guilty for keeping his identity a secret, and he’s afraid of Lenora’s reaction once she finds out that he was on her husband’s trail.

The writing is engaging, and the protagonists are likable. Jeb is villain you love to hate, and his comeuppance is long over due. The final resolution is satisfying, and the HEA believable.