North Carolina 1882 - The whole scheme had sounded so simple when the Reverend Dunwoody had suggest it. Kathleen Stevens needed a home and protection, and Rogan needed someone to keep an eye on his wayward stepmother while he was at sea. Their marriage had seemed the perfect solution. But somehow Kathleen had quietly turned the tables on him. The solitary freedom of his livelihood had lost some of its luster, and he couldn't seem to come with a day's sail of Hatteras without making some excuse to stop by and check on the new Mrs Rawson. If he didn't watch himself, he was liable to wind up on dry land for good!