Alberta Rochefort has fled her home state of Maine to avoid an unwanted engagement orchestrated by her powerful and domineering father. She has sought refuge in the small town of Milton, Louisiana where she meets and befriends the poverty-stricken Keegan family. At the same time she meets the attractive and fascinating but obnoxious Flynn McCormack whom she immediately alienates when she comes to the aid of the Keegans after he threatens to evict them from his land. Flynn McCormack is furious that this haughty woman dared interfere in his business and swears to make her pay. To his delight, that opportunity comes sooner than expected. Using the Keegans to blackmail Alberta he demands that she work for him on his small farm for seven days. He delights in forcing her to do the most menial jobs he can find, milking, cleaning, washing, and on occasion, even more intimate tasks. However, McCormack had not counted on Alberta's indomitable spirit and her determination not to let him win the war without a fight. But worse, he had not been prepared for his growing admiration and attraction to this spoiled but kind-hearted, strong willed and sexy woman. But when Alberta's life is threatened they must put aside their animosity and mistrust of one another to discover who in the small town of Milton wants to harm her.