When a young woman from a conservative community gets 'in the family way' in 1880 the options for her future are limited. The fortunate ones are sent away to give them a chance for a new life and so it is for sixteen year old Minnie. Her experiences as she travels to Montreal for the birth, to Prince Edward Island for a life on her aunt's farm, her wedding there and her married life in Halifax, reveal the history of life in the Maritimes through her eyes. As society changes even today, this story imagines a strong woman as she matures and her life unfolds.