A village plundered; lives torn apart. Richard Dudley will never forget the night Indians raided the small village of Cochecho, New Hampshire. In the five years since, not a day has gone by that he has not missed his brother and mourned the fate of his missing sweetheart. But when a redemption party returns from Canada with Sarah among them, he discovers changes in her he hadn't imagined. Sarah Minton, weary and heartsore, enters the village with trepidation. After years of not knowing the fate of family and friends, her sorrow intensifies as she learns the truth. But surely, if Richard is still alive, life will be bearable. After all, the memory of his affection made captivity bearable. Will Sarah's fear and the deep changes within her keep her from learning to love? Can Richard overcome bitterness and prejudice to claim his bride?