Lieutenant Trace Reardon is a man torn. Determined to prove his worth at the academy, he is thwarted at every turn by a rival instructor. And life at home is little better; with the faithless mother of his four rambunctious children gone, Trace needs a wife. But before he can even think of courting, he must hire a governess - a task that should be easy. But pretty, spirited Susannah Partridge will prove him wrong. Susannah has no way of knowing that her fresh charm is a balm to the spirit of this war-hardened officer, and that her sunny nature has tempted Trace to open his wary heart once more. Yet Susannah has secrets of her own - secrets that might make her handsome employer wonder whether he can trust her. Them, when Susannah's life is threatened, she realizes that Trace will stop at nothing to protect her - and to make her his won...