Beth looked at Rivers and scolded, "You ought to be ashamed of yourself, getting in a fight and getting your pretty self all messed up. I declare, you need a keeper to look out for you!" Without taking a deep breath, she hurried on. "Your shirt is ruined-and it's my favorite one too. Shame on you. Is this any way to celebrate my birthday?"' Rivers rubbed his chin, which was smarting a-plenty. "You know, Beth, I really didn't start this ruckus. It's really all your fault, you know." "My fault!" she fired back. "My fault! And just how do you figure that?" Rivers was having trouble concealing his humor as he teased his wife. "Well now, it's getting harder and harder to bring you to town. Just like down in Texas, it seems you always cause quite a stir among the young scalawags, and then I end up having to do battle for you." "Well I declare!" She was quite flustered over Rivers' accusations. "I-" "If you'd just thought ahead and worn some of those ill-fitting clothes like you used to, and not that frilly dress that so strongly declares you all female ... Well, those two wouldn't have given you a second look and I wouldn't be nursing all this hurt my body is beginning to really tell me about," Rivers declared. "I'm in a poorly shape because of that." In this sequel to THE CHRISTMAS STAR set in the valley of the beautiful Bitterroot Mountains near Tarkio, Montana, the Lord continues to ride as if a close companion to Rivers. Still striving to be the cowboy he always longed to be, Rivers now has a young wife, a ranch with herds of horses and cattle to look out for, as well as a ready-made family that came at his own invitation when he married his Beth. As a young husband, Rivers has his hands full dealing with being a first-time father and being a hero to Beth's younger brother, while proving he's trustworthy to his jealous wife. Contempt rears its demonic head as Rivers' father makes an unexpected visit to the Double R Ranch with ugly intentions on his mind. To top it all off, Rivers' life is laid on the line when a rogue lion appears and Rivers' Manchester is called on to make a two-fold play in a desperate situation.
