Indentured Love

Rescued by the crew of the Desiree and assumed to be trying to escape indenture, the water-soaked, dripping-wet man stood shivering on the auction block. His pleading cornflower blue eyes met those of Maureen Maguire's pure green ones as he declared he had lost his memory in a fall from the ship. But it was Shamus O'Toole, shipmate and heir to her neighboring tobacco plantation that identified the man on the block as an Irish criminal by the name of Bryant Taylor. Maureen's father Patrick purchased Bryant's indenture, but it was Shamus who asked for permission to court Maureen. Patrick quickly assigned Bryant the job of overseer on his plantation and became friends with him. Maureen was soon enamored with Bryant, but was aware that Shamus was socially acceptable for her future. Could Maureen come to love Shamus, or would Bryant's gentle, romantic wooing always keep her from finding happiness?