Cathy Black is virtually homeless when she lands a job as housekeeper and cook to a widowed rancher and nanny to his five-year old daughter. However, the rancher's sister, Monica is the one who did the hiring, and Dean Abernathy does his best to get rid of her. First her makes her live in the original ranch house, a log cabin that has been used as storage for years, infested with rats and has no modern conveniences. Cathy has been raised by post Depression era great grandparents who taught her to survive with bare minimal means and she accepts her bosses unspoken challenge. As time wears on she meets challenge after challenge, including those from the model girlfriend who comes without invitation and establishes herself at the ranch house whenever she wants.