During the dark days of the American Civil War, promises, sometimes spoken and sometimes unspoken, might often be all people had left to keep up their spirits and give them hope. Cynthia and Coswell Tims' survival would depend on such a promise. Their alliance was a strong one, but escaped lunatics, jealous neighbors, ruthless slave speculators, emboldened home guards, Yankee invaders and ever-present racism would test their resolve. Expertly...