In the crucible of war, courage and conviction are forged like steel.

Colonel Nelson Pickett has spent his career carrying the scars of choices made and battles lost. Marked by the massacre at Wounded Knee and burdened by the weight of command, he believes a soldier's duty leaves no room for attachments. But as the Spanish-American War looms, his unwavering focus is tested by a spirited young journalist whose courage matches his own.

Marty McGuire is determined to prove herself in a world ruled by men. When she embeds with Pickett's Lightning Cavalry, she becomes an eyewitness to history-and a challenge to the hardened officer's rigid beliefs. As the horrors of war unfold, Nelson must face battles both on and off the field: the ruthless enemy ahead and the feelings he's tried to bury deep within.

When Marty is captured behind enemy lines, Nelson is forced to confront the cost of his decisions and the meaning of honor. In a world where survival demands sacrifice, can he reconcile duty with the stirrings of his heart?