Note from Linda:

I offer up a special thank you to the times we live in where we have AI tools that made it possible for me to create images of my characters as I see them in my head.

It is always a challenge to decide if you love them or hate them....perhaps they are like us...complex human beings that are trying to do the right thing....or not.

Savannah is a Character All by Itself

Paddy O’Donnell

Role: Irish indentured servant; Alice’s lifelong friend

Paddy and Alice have been inseparable since birth, bound by shared hardship and loyalty forged in Ireland. Will their friendship survive the ill-conceived plan to become indentured servants in the new colonies?

Nate Jones

Role: Teenager of English and Native American heritage

Caught between two worlds that refuse to fully accept him, Nate has learned to survive by observation and adaptability. His knowledge of both cultures makes him a valuable guide for Alice as she struggles to find her footing in Savannah. But helping her may force Nate to risk what little belonging he has.

James Oglethorpe

Role: Founder and leader of Savannah

A charismatic English lord and idealistic social reformer, Oglethorpe is determined to prove that Savannah can succeed as a bold experiment—a haven for London’s worthy poor. His belief in justice and reform is genuine, but when confronted with the alleged guilt of an Irish girl from a deeply despised people, his ideals are put to the ultimate test

Thomas Causton

Role: Oglethorpe’s right hand

One of the colony’s worthy poor himself, Thomas Causton now bears far more responsibility than he can comfortably manage, and he can’t ever quite forget where he came from. Fiercely loyal to Oglethorpe and desperate not to fail him, Thomas is tasked with overseeing the investigation into William Wise’s death—despite questionable qualifications and mounting pressure that threaten to cloud his judgment.

Elizabeth Stanley

Role: Midwife and de facto physician

Outspoken, sharp-tongued, and deeply practical, Elizabeth Stanley has become responsible for the health and welfare of Savannah’s colonists after the doctor’s death. She recognizes both Alice’s vulnerability and her potential. As the long-standing hatred between the English and Irish threatens to erupt, Elizabeth may be Alice’s most helpful advisor though her influence is weak as she faces the prejudice of being a woman in a colony ruled by men.

Elias Cannon

Role: Head carpenter; Alice’s first master

Another one of Savannah’s original settlers, Elias Cannon has endured staggering personal loss during the colony’s brutal first year. Now responsible for shaping Oglethorpe’s vision of the town, he carries both authority and deeply ingrained prejudice against the Irish. He was happy to loan Alice to William Wise but now her fate as his servant depends on whether grief and bias outweigh his sense of duty and fairness.

Clemmie Cannon

Role: Elias’s daughter

Only four years old, Clemmie has already lost her mother and two brothers. Adrift in a harsh frontier settlement with little room for childhood, she is lonely, observant, and quietly grieving. Alice may be the first person to truly see her—and that bond could change them both.

William Wise

Role: Cattle farmer

Cruel, lecherous, and openly contemptuous of those beneath him, William Wise is widely despised throughout the colony. His arrogance and brutality earned him many enemies—perhaps enough that someone wanted him dead. When Alice is loaned to him and he ends up dead, the question becomes not whether he deserved his fate, but whether Alice is the one who delivered it.

Skee

Role: Native American warrior and leader

A seasoned warrior and respected military leader, Skee is also known for his fondness for rum. He believes Alice’s striking red hair is a sign of divine favor and his interest in her may prove protective—or perilous.

Joseph Watson

Role: Indian Trader

A transplant from Charleston seeking a second chance, Joseph Watson trades with local tribes and counts Skee as a close friend. His easy charm and heavy drinking bring volatility to an already tense Savannah. As rumors swirl around William Wise’s death, Joseph’s choices threaten to complicate everything.

Kat Ongy

Role: Irish Indentured Servant

Sharp-eyed and resentful, Kat is keenly aware of how few opportunities exist for Irish servants—especially women. Her attraction to Richard White, and her jealousy of Alice, fuel a rivalry that proves prejudice and betrayal can come from within one’s own community as easily as from outside it.

Peter Gordon

Role: First Forty Agitator

Another member of one of Savannah’s original families, Peter Gordon delights in stirring unrest whenever Oglethorpe is absent. Loud, opinionated, and unapologetically hateful toward both the Irish and the Native Americans, Peter thrives on conflict. His influence and malice make Alice’s already untenable position more uncomfortable.