The Girl — Catherine Cookson

Her name was Hannah Boyle, but to the people of the village she would always be "The Girl"--Matthew Thornton's bastard. -- Savagely treated by Matthew's wife Anne, she fled for protection to the devil-may-care horse-dealer, Ned Ridley, who had earlier befriended her. But, as the waif grew to beautiful womanhood, she became an object of desire to the local young men, even to her half-brother.

Married off to a gross, sensual man, Hannah kept on fighting for the man she wanted: Ned Ridley, who adored her and taught her the meaning of love and passion...