An important person is missing in Violet Tippon's life: her father. Raised by her mother in St. Louis, Violet grew up hearing carefully crafted stories about the l)1an she never knew. Then, after learning her father has taken ill in a small Texas town, Violet becomes determined to find out why he left when she was a young child - and why he stayed away. Violet travels to Wood River, Texas, a coarse town full of rough 'n' tumble cowboys, hard-working common folk, and unforeseen dangers. But she never wavers from her search for the truth. Among those who help is Lance Tridel, the tall, dark-haired nephew of her father's friends. Together, they uncover the real story about her father. In the process, Violet discovers the other missing person in her life. And Lance finds his true love, his Texas wildflower