The book start at the end of the Civil War and our heroine learns her husband won't be coming back from the war. She has a suitor who is very persistent enough to almost beat her to death to keep her. So in desperation she runs and keeps running to South America. Along the way she enlist some help and finds a man to love. There is still a problem, she is still being followed and he won't give up. During her escape she helps a Mayan Chieftain's son and wins an ally. She continues on to her lover's hacienda and they are still being hunted.