What could a devil-may-care riverboat gambler and a widowed Christian horse rancher have in common? As soon as Evangeline Gentry locks eyes with the rogue Black Jack Brannigan, he tells her she's beautiful and insults her in the same breath. In spite of his insult, she can't help the attraction she feels for him. Jack soon lands in jail in Independence, Missouri. When he discovers his gambling winnings are gone from his saddlebags, he can't pay his fine. To be released from jail, he must agree to thirty days of community service on Evangeline's ranch. For almost a month, Jack and Evangeline argue, take care of two orphaned children, and fall in love despite everything. After regaining his gambling winnings, will Jack decide to pursue his dreams in California, or stay and take the gamble on love?