Calder Pride

Fifteen years after Calder Born, Calder Bred, the last novel in her popular family saga, and two years after her well-publicized legal battle with Nora Roberts, who successfully sued her for plagiarism (Dailey's stressful domestic situation was generally accepted as the cause), Dailey has written a tale as clearly branded with her imprimatur as the herd on the Triple C Ranch is branded with the Calders' ""C""s. Under the big sky of Blue Moon, Mont., Chase Calder still strides the land as a giant, despite the limp left by the plane crash that claimed his beloved wife, Maggie. His daughter, Cat, now a slender green-eyed brunette of 20, is his match in will if not in size. Thirsting for tough justice after her fianc , Repp Taylor, is killed by a drunk driver, she helps ensure that culprit Rollie Anderson gets jail time, cold-shouldering his parents' plea for mercy and earning their vengeful hatred. Frankly lusting for a man to relieve her of the virginity Repp had insisted on honoring, she tumbles into bed with smoke-eyed treasury agent Logan Echohawk one torrid night in Fort Worth, Tex. Names aren't exchanged, but bodily fluids are. Cat becomes pregnant with a son she names Quint Benteen Calder and raises on her own in Calder country. Just before Quint's fifth birthday, Echohawk trades in his treasury job for the position of sheriff of Blue Moon, and the tease begins. Of course Logan wants Cat and she wants him. Of course he loves their son, and their son fairly worships him. And of course Cat stubbornly refuses to do what her body and spirit are urging her to do; her Calder pride is the deterrent. Meanwhile, Rollie Anderson is out of prison, and he and his brother plot revenge. By turns an old-fashioned western, complete with cattle rustling, and a thoroughly modern romance, this update on the Calder family shows Dailey gamely back on the horse and riding well. Simultaneous Harper audio, 9-city author tour. (Sept.)