In 1935 Carrie had everything a young girl might want: loving parents, a man who loved her and her future settled - training at college to be a primary school teacher. When her father died, everything changed. He was the stationmaster and at his death his wife and daughter lost their income and home; the house went with the job.

Matt pressured her to marry him, and, on learning that her mother who was dying of cancer, was eager to see her settled, she agreed, despite the fact that Ewen, for whom she had cared before Matt came on the scene, begged her to marry him.

She was to find out that she had made a big mistake. Matt's parents, with whom they lived after the wedding, were insufferable and he had a violent temper and needed little excuse to beat her. When the war came and Matt left, it was a relief. And then Ewen came back into her life, but of course she was married with two children.

A very enjoyable story with strong characters and a clear and accurate picture of the period and railway life.