Young Pilar Santee felt nothing but resentment for Trace, her late husband's son from his first marraige. Although the rugged Mississippi barge pilot seemed to have little in common with his urbane father. Trace's youth and virility only accentuated her aching loss.

But when business brought Trace back to Natchez two years later, Pilar couldn't ignore the passionate challenge in his dark eyes. At first she felt disloyal to her husband's memory...but soon she was to know that he had left her with life's most precious gift -- the freedom to love again.