Rebel's Treasure (Zebra Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

In 1863, 13 yr old Tess Montgomery, saves 2 confederate soldiers hiding in her barn unbeknownst to her domineering mother who hates "rebels". Jed, an older man, becomes like an uncle to Tess and stays in touch with during the war. Zachary McClain, the young southern charmer, not only doesn't stay in touch with her but believes she betrayed their hiding place and is responsible for the years he spent in a union prison. Years later, when Tess is about 20, Jed leaves his worldly possessions, a broken down ranch and a silver mine, jointly to Tess and Zachary. They have to come to terms with Jed's will, Jed's murder, and their love-hate relationship. Tess is such a loyal, sweet young woman that Zach finds it difficult to keep his hate for her alive but there is no other answer to his betrayal.And why was Jed killed? There are lots of bad guys, lots of angst and a very likeable hero and heroine. It very nicely makes the point that what we sometimes think is a failure can in fact be a real act of courage. A cute story. Not a keeper but a an enjoyable read.

Rebel's Treasure is a first rate western romance that unites two protagonists determined to start their lives anew. The heroine is the driving force of this novel and she is both strong and vulnerable.

During the Civil War in southern Pennsylvania two rebel soldiers are running from a Union scouting party. They are discovered by Tess Montgomery, only thirteen at the time. She hides them in her barn not telling her mother who despises the southern army. Tess is friendly to both soldiers; Jed is older with a kind heart and young Zack is handsome. The rebels are discovered though and Tess believes she will never see them again.

Years later after the war, Tess arrives in Arizona for the reading of a will; Jed the Rebel soldier has left Tess his land and his home however she doesn't own it all herself. Zack is also a co-owner and Tess is amazed at the rage he has toward her from their first meeting in Arizona.

Zack is indeed furious with Tess; he is certain she is the one who betrayed them to the Union soldiers all those years ago. Jed managed to escape but he was a prisoner of war and suffers still from his horrible experience in a northern p.o.w. camp. When Tess tries to tell him she would never had betrayed them he does not believe her at all since she was presumably the only one to know of their hiding place.

The two must make the most of the situation and agree to both live on the ranch. They have a mighty attraction for each other and Zack is very uncertain of his feelings. Tess is generous, kind and resourceful and Zack finds it hard to reconcile his feelings of righteous anger toward this "new" Tess.

The two make a multitude of discoveries about each other, Zack shares his haunting memories of the prisoner of war camp and Tess is empathetic to his very real anxieties. Jed not only left these two his ranch, but also a map to a treasure and the couple must cooperate to find it. This leads them into danger but also tests their relationship too. This novel has some imperfections (Zack is way too bitter) but overall it is a very entertaining story about unconditional love and forgiveness.