Laura James and her two beautiful young daughters, Caledonia and Mary, live in Madison County, Kentucky. The year is 1800. Laura was widowed at Fort Boonesborough years before when her husband Andrew was killed. Mary, the youngest, was still in the womb during the starving time at the fort. Her mind had not developed quite right and she is too innocent for her years. Callie feels a fierce protectiveness for her, but also struggles with guilt because she yearns to pull away and claim her own life. Then the handsome and kind Michael O'Neal enters their lives, changing forever the course their hearts must take.