Expecting high adventure, a widow naively moves to Colorado and marries a widower, owner of Poco Reino, a small ranch in the mountain-clad San Luis Valley. Both have young children: she, a 13-year-old son; he, a 6-year-old son and an 8-year-old daughter. From day one -- with no prior experience -- the author turns into a stepmother and ranch hand. The results: often disastrous, other times quite funny. Close encounters with animals she's only seen or driven by before leave her screaming in terror, or feigning bravery beyond the call of duty. "Me, touch a chicken?" "There's a snake on my windshield!" The livestock sale barn, learning to ride a horse, raising a brood of 65 fancy-breed chickens provide surprising awakenings. And she never expected to be tramping in the mountains with a husband who is first, a biologist, and second (she discovers), a part-time rancher. The children share the adventure. Their fun, and not-so-much fun, activities are described thoughout. "Women are still pioneering -- and still venturing West.