Book excerpt: When the young heiress Edilean Talbot turns up at her uncle's castle in Scotland, she may easily win over the members of the local clans with her great beauty and charm, but Laird Angus McTern is not so easily impressed. However, when Edilean's inheritance is stolen from her, Angus swallows his pride and sets off to recapture the pilfered gold. What he doesn't realise is that one of the trunks on the wagon actually contains Edilean, and he finds himself accused of kidnapping and theft. To avoid prosecution, the two of them board a ship to America and, during the course of the voyage, fall in love. But when they do arrive in the new country, Edilean is forced to return home by her fortune-hunting fiancé and the two lovers must endure a long separation. In the end, Edilean and Angus overcome every obstacle standing in their way, and they can finally begin their life together.