As he dies, Pemberton thinks of Serena.Serena Pemberton is one of the most unforgettable characters you're likely to encounter in modern fiction.

Pemberton is shocked as Galloway explains that Serena didn't want to be with him anymore after he saved his son's life.

There, Galloway feeds Pemberton a sandwich with rat poison that Serena made for him. Galloway and Pemberton head up to the mountains to go hunting.When Serena learns that her hubby gave his son and Rachel some travel money to flee, she is livid.

Luckily, Sheriff McDowell helps Rachel and Jacob escape, which infuriates Serena more.

Meanwhile, Serena doesn't like the idea of another woman running around town with her husband's baby so she tries to kill Rachel and Jacob.

They sell their land to the government and find investors to back the Brazil plan.

Pemberton is up for an adventure and agrees to it. She's sick of being in North Carolina, and they're pretty much done harvesting most of the trees there anyhow.

Serena decides that she'd like to try her hand at the timber business in Brazil.

After Pemberton and Galloway get rid of the doc who caused Serena's miscarriage (in their minds), things go back to normal.

Things go from bad to worse when she miscarries and almost dies as a result.

Pemberton wants her to take it easy, but she doesn't think that's necessary.

Serena gets pregnant and is excited to give Pemberton an heir.

The Pembertons are hounded by the Secretary of the Interior to sell their land to make a national park but they refuse.

Serena and Pemberton meet with Harris and make a deal with him for new land.

Next on the to-do list? Finding new business partners.

When Serena gets tired of listening to Pemberton's business partners, Buchanan and Wilkie exclude her from decisions Pemberton kills Buchanan and stiffs Wilkie on the price of the land.

Always looking for a new solution to problems, Serena buys an eagle and trains it to kill rattlesnakes Pemberton is impressed with her skill and discipline.

Pemberton introduces his wife to everyone and is proud of her brains and beauty.

They go to their property where Serena makes a few changes to the work the men are doing.

After Pemberton wins the duel (and kills Harmon), Serena grabs the knife, gives it to Rachel, and tells her to stay the heck away from them.

Serena calmly encourages her new husband to a duel with Rachel's dad.

They get back to North Carolina where Rachel and her dad are waiting for them on the platform, complete with a baby in Rachel's belly.

Before the book even begins, Pemberton has a tryst with one of his workers named Rachel then runs off to Boston and gets hitched to a gal named Serena.

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