TIME WAS RUNNING OUT ... Shane McKittrick wanted to hire a woman to be his wife and bear his child. Karen Muir, driven by her love for him and sure that she could win his love before the time limit on their marriage had expired, overruled his objections and became his wife. But her willingness to accept his strange bargain only convinced Shane that she was like all other women —- scheming and greedy. By night, passion flamed between them —- passion that even Shane could not deny; but by day, Shane's anger grew ever stronger. Then came the day when Karen knew beyond doubt that she to have Shane's child, and suddenly she was in a race against time —- a race she had no hope of winning.