Ewell Station, Eastern Cape Province, Africa – April 1827 When a freshly butchered carcass is found on the edge of their land, Richard and Sarah Turner suspect native encroachment. Uneasy and alert, they question why Jonathan Turner would send their young nephew, William, into the volatile frontier of Grahamstown. As Sarah fears she may never leave Africa alive, Richard struggles to understand his brother's urgent need to be rid of the boy. Guildford, Surrey, England Seven-year-old William, rejected by his cold and distant father, seeks solace in older friends—Levi and Archie—only to find himself manipulated and betrayed. Jonathan Turner, aware that his secret plan to send William away could fracture the family, arranges for a trusted escort to accompany the boy to South Africa, hoping the journey will forge the strength he lacks. Meanwhile, Ethel Nibley, the family's housekeeper, longs to end her entanglement with Benjamin Petherton with dignity. But Benjamin refuses to let go—and a jealous observer, bent on revenge, sees an opportunity to disgrace them both and tarnish the Turner name. In a story of fear, betrayal, loyalty, and quiet strength, the Turner family grapples with secrets and survival. As dangers rise, young William must find the courage to endure. The third novel in James Seymour's Turner series.