He wanted a housekeeper, not a wife.
Like many kids on the river, Emilie and Luc are married for the benefits of their families. Emilie considers Luc an attractive boy, and she hopes to find the happiness her parents had. Luc, however, has no understanding of women or wives, and he just wants Emilie to care for his ailing grandfather so he won't lose his farm.
Emilie is determined to show Luc how helpful a wife can be to him, and she supports him regardless of his cold, silent demeanor or the hurtful antics of his family. Luc's father, though, is determined to convince Luc that a wife is a problem to be returned to her family when his grandfather dies.
Eventually both Luc and Emilie's families are working against them, and the pair will need to be united if they are to survive alone in the swamps. Emilie only hopes she can reach Luc's heart before his papa destroys it—and possibly both of their lives—entirely. Swamp Wife is book two of the Trilogy on the River. Drift down the river and enjoy a sweet romance from a simpler place and time.