Susannah Mobley, expecting her slave lover's baby, submits to an arranged marriage to Hezekiah James, who is headed to Texas to claim a land grant.
Caught in a series of lies about her pregnancy, as well as the beautiful ring woven from her red hair, Susannah embarks on the harsh trip to Texas, grieving for her lost love and determined to control her destiny.
On the wagon train journey, Hezekiah's beliefs and strength are tested by Native Americans and the strange Madstone. Soon, Susannah will have to decide if she can live with the consequences of her lies and open herself to the man who shows every form of contrition, or if she will allow longing for the child to destroy her life.
"Readers will be drawn in by McILvain's characters, who are richly developed with powerful voices. The tension crafted between Susannah's past and present is palpable throughout, and McILvain skillfully depicts her warring emotions" -BookLife Review-