Young Marianna Madison is feeling the weight of her responsibilities. She has no money with which to support her young brother and her aging, old nurse, and she has virtually nowhere to live. Unexpectedly, in a stroke of good fortune, a distant uncle bequeaths upon her a small estate that is almost a mansion! Marianna and her small family immediately take possession of the estate, only to find it hasn't been lived in for years and is in need of a great number of repairs. Marianna's good fortune quickly turns when her new home is invaded by a stranger who claims he's the true owner!
Major Rick Beauleigh only wants a quiet place to live, where he can recover from his harrowing experiences of war and allow his wounded body to heal. Instead, he finds the estate he purchased is already occupied by a headstrong young woman who refuses to leave. With military precision, Rick is prepared to wage battle with Marianna for his right to claim ownership of the estate. But very soon, Rick realizes that neither of them have anywhere else to go . . . and even if he did, he couldn't leave Marianna. Not after she's worked so hard to make the old place a comfortable home for her family and for him. A home where he can picture spending the rest of his life . . . with Marianna.
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