Carolina Gamble

Born into crushing poverty, Samuel Elwyn Biggs fights back. He now owns an undeveloped parcel of land in North Carolina. He leaves his home in Petersburg, Virginia, to begin his new life. Upon arriving, he is confronted by his neighbor, a plantation owner who is not only mentally ill, but an alcoholic, as well. Hesper Griffen has long claimed the land as his own. He challenges the recently arrived Samuel Biggs, using the same tyranny which has held his other neighbors at bay. Griffen finds the newly arrived interloper has no fear of him and is surprised at the man's willingness to counter with extremely violent retaliations of his own. Thus, a war has begun-and neighbors must decide with whom to join sides. Emmet is Sam's neighbor to the south. He despises Griffen and with a self-serving agenda, he becomes Sam's mentor. With Emmet lives a mysterious and beautiful young lady. Rose is not Emmet's wife, nor is she his daughter. Who is this woman? Sam wonders. Rose and Sam fall in love and wish to marry. But Rose continually forestalls the wedding. There are things Sam must be told. Secrets that can cost lives-secrets which hint at incest and sexual aberrations. And there are many wrongs which must be righted.