Just before daybreak

the long version

Born on the wrong side of a prosperous Lake Michigan lumber town, Claire Sorenson works as a maid for handsome lumber baron Cole Garrett, and daydreams about his charmed life. With his fine home and beautiful family, he seems to lead a fairy tale existence-that is, until tragedy strikes and Cole is accused of murdering his wife. Claire knows in her heart that Cole is a kind, decent man and comes to his defense. Though Cole's entire household has deserted him, she agrees to stay on to care for his baby daughter, secretly determined to prove his innocence. Cole is haunted by the scandalous secrets that surround his marriage and knows that time is running out to clear his name. In Claire, he finds a trusted friend and an exquisite temptation-but cannot bring himself to burden this tender, noble woman with the stigma and heartache of loving a man whose future is so uncertain. Yet despite his selfless motives to protect Claire from what may be inevitable tragedy, he is powerless to stop her reckless pursuit of the truth, fueled by an unbreakable will of a woman's fierce love.