A novel about Hezekiah Thomas, a freed slave who through a series of events goes against his beliefs to become an owner of slaves.
Having gained his longed for freedom, Hezekiah Thomas is faced with making it on his own for the first time in his life, though his wife and child remain the property of his vengeful half-brother, James Thomas IV. But graced with a sharp mind and high intelligence, he soon begins his own business in shoemaking and in time a fateful meeting with black slave trader, Albert Shelton, leads to Hezekiah being contracted by The Crown to supply the boots for the invading English armies. However, in order for him to afford to meet the quantities, he enters into an alliance with Shelton which forces Hezekiah to go against all of his principals to become an owner of slaves, convincing himself that it will give them all the perfect life - one of wealth and freedom. To secure the deal, Shelton requests Ruth, Hezekiah’s only daughter, as security against the loan, through marriage to his son, Adam. But Ruth has plans of her own and begins a love affair with Ezekiel, head slave belonging to Hezekiah, and soon becomes pregnant with his child. When Hezekiah discovers the deception he must find a way to appease Shelton before everything is lost.