The bank in Rockford Falls, Montana is held up by a glib talking killer and his cohorts, who methodically execute any possible witnesses. However, due to clumsiness on the part of a female client, unknown to the outlaws, one person survives the massacre. Knowing he needs some insiderÆs thinking, the U.S. Marshal Daniel Ryan enlists an unconscious Cole Clayborne to help him catch the bloody cutthroats. Cole has been known to stretch the law and although he and his new partner do not seem to get on well together, they travel to the site of the latest robbery-killings. Back-up also arrives in town.

In Rockford Falls, a search of the records leads to the conclusion that a female witnessed the dastardly crime. However, there are three possible candidates. Each one eventually bewitches a different marshal. Still the outlaws have learned that someone can identify them. They too are not sure which female is the witness so they plan to eliminate all three unless their law enforcement lovers can intercede and stop the gang from a final cowardly deed.

The five novels that make up the ôRoseö series are considered some of the best books written in the nineties. Julie GarwoodÆs latest offspring from that tremendous collection, COME THE SPRING, is as good, if not better, than the previous novels. The ôgood guysö are all charming even as they suffer from flaws and the villains, especially the leader, are cold bloodedly efficient and exciting. However, the story line with its tremendous prose and building suspense, turns this book into the rare confines beyond that of a keeper to that of a long term literary classic.