EAST IS EAST AND WEST IS WEST, TOUCH ME LORD THAT I KNOW BEST--How could one year make such a difference in the life of Miss Laura Martin? That one year holds the secret of the paternity of her three month old son that cannot be revealed to the community. However, it has been revealed to the reader in the first book (Faith at the Dismal River) of this seven book series. She admits that she is a woman of passion, but her desire for a husband must coincide with the need that she find a father for her son. He must be father that will give the young man his name, as well as removing the stigma of being an unwed mother which has been cast upon the boy's mother. The options to Laura's plan are limited. After all, in the small community of 1200 inhabitants, there are only so many single men, and in the group; four men possibly meet her criteria. There is Ken Holliday, the local banker; recently widowed, he is somewhat older with two children. Laura had been in the home caring for his wife Stella, during her terminal illness. Laura had been in the home caring for his wife Stella, during her terminal illness. Prior to her death, she had put her blessing on their wedding if Laura and Ken chose to marry. David Riggs, was deemed as the 'most eligible bachelor in town, ' and editor of the town newspaper, The Sentinel. The handsome Tag Taggat owned one of the larger ranches in the county as well as being brash and flirtatious. We know very little about the man of mystery, Chase Adams, as their paths had only crossed twice in the past year. After each meeting, he would write a few lines of poetry in his journal to record his thoughts about Laura. Be assured, Laura does marry soon