"The year is 1929. and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton travel from Boston to the North Carolina mountains to create a timber empire. George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, but Serena is new to the mountains. She soon proves herself the equal of any man, overseeing crews, hunting rattlesnakes, even saving her husband's life. The ruthless lord and lady kill or vanquish all who fall out of favor. And when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she set out to murder George's son."-Book Jacket.