Minnesota 1880 - Mina was damaged goods. Viciously attacked by a trusted church official, she was not only shamed, but pregnant. The man mysteriously disappeared and Mina, with the help of her fiercely loving mother, left home, only to return several years later a widow with a beautiful son - her ficticious husband having died in Canada. But the tragic and secret past did not stop handsome Eugene Wilson from falling in love with her. Even when the brutal truth was laid before him, he knew this strong and beautful woman was meant for him. With a courage and spirit that guided her through the early tragedy, she forged a new life with her husband and burgeoning family. When a diptheria epidemic swept her town with deadly results, her very will to live was tested. She descended into the temporary madness of grief, then fought her way back - not merely to live but find happiness once again. With Eugene at her side, she faced terrifying forest fires and killing blizzards. Through all the hardships and happiness of a pioneer life, Mina laid the foundation of spirit and fortitude for the generations that followed.