Life was full of promise for Calvin Moore that hot day in June. He had graduated from medical school with full honors; he was planning to return to Baltimore and go into practice with his mentor Dr. Eldred Hudkins; and Maggie, his beautiful Maggie, had agreed to marry him. Calvin still couldn't believe that she had chosen him over Roger Beauregard, one of the wealthiest planters in Virginia. He rode towards Richmond speechless with happiness.

"Calvin Moore!"

The young man pulled up his horse. Roger Beauregard was waiting by the bridge with two of his friends, Arthur Cantrell and Brett Jackson. Calvin scowled. Beauregard was a handsome devil, there was no denying that. He was very tall, well over six feet, with chiseled features, glossy light hair and piercing blue eyes. He came from old money and was considered very charming. Calvin knew he was also insufferably conceited and small-minded and when he had been drinking he was cruel. His friends were much like him, lacking only his money to indulge their vices as thoroughly as he did. Calvin nudged his horse into a walk and started past them.

Beauregard caught his rein. "I heard you're engaged."

"I am."

"Not to Maggie Thorn."

"No?" Calvin raised his brows in mock astonishment and said coolly, "She'll be surprised to hear that, seeing how she's planning to be at the church on Sunday for the express purpose of becoming my wife."

Beauregard's face flushed. He was a good horseman and an excellent shot, but he had no more education than one of his dogs and he suspected Calvin was making fun of him. His friends seemed to think so too. They started to laugh and Beauregard's temper flared. "Get down off that horse!"

Calvin looked at him disdainfully. "Get out of my way." He reached for his rein and Beauregard grabbed him and pulled him down. Calvin shoved him furiously. "Beauregard, I've met a lot of people in my time and you're not one of them! I never saw anyone who needs taking down as much as you!"

Beauregard grinned evilly. "I'm glad to hear you say that, Moore." He walked over to his friends and returned with two pistols.

Calvin's face turned white but he stood his ground and snarled, "So now you plan to commit cold-blooded murder?" He looked at Beauregard's friends and shouted, "I hope they hang all three of you together!"

Beauregard shook his head. Stepping up to Calvin, he shoved one of the pistols in his waistband. "This isn't a murder. I demand satisfaction."

Calvin's eyes narrowed. "Satisfaction for what?"

"For your shameless seduction of the woman I love."

"Maggie?" Calvin couldn't help himself. He started to laugh and Beauregard backhanded him, bringing a trickle of blood to his lips. The young man wiped it away and eyed Beauregard with scorn. "Maggie barely knows you're alive. She wouldn't have you if you were the last man on earth."

"She may change her mind once you're dead," said Beauregard viciously. The man was in earnest and beckoned to one of his friends. "Cantrell will act as your second."

"I'm not fighting you!"

"Then I'll kill you and take my chances." Beauregard looked at his friends and grinned. "Actually, I wouldn't be taking that much of a chance, would I?" They laughed and shook their heads and Calvin realized that his only hope of safety lay in going through with the duel.

"All right, let's get it over with," said the young man coldly.