An evocative and compelling saga, spanning the late 1930s and 1940s Taken in by her grandparents to ease the pressure on her poverty-stricken family, Katie Benfield knows shes one of the lucky ones. Even so, she dreams of a better life and of pursuing a nursing career. Despite many hardships, Katie achieves her goal, but tragedy strikes Winton Colliery and both her grandfa An evocative and compelling saga, spanning the late 1930s and 1940s Taken in by her grandparents to ease the pressure on her poverty-stricken family, Katie Benfield knows shes one of the lucky ones. Even so, she dreams of a better life and of pursuing a nursing career. Despite many hardships, Katie achieves her goal, but tragedy strikes Winton Colliery and both her grandfather and Katies childhood sweetheart Billy are killed in a mining accident. Shocked and distraught, Katie finds herself vulnerable to the advances of the owner of the mine, Matthew Hamilton, a married man who wastes no time in taking advantage of her. Thrown out by her grandmother, her reputation and career in tatters, Katie finds herself facing a home for unmarried mothers. Only Matthew Hamilton offers her a way to keep her baby, but only if she forgoes her principles and becomes his mistress.