When socialite Emma Crowell stops the carriage on the way to Portland to exercise her fussy poodle, she does not expect to become stranded in the woods in decidedly unsuitable attire. The pair of men who find her decide to take her back to their cave, where they've hidden sheep they rustled. When rancher Peter Lowery arrives, furious, to retrieve his property and discovers Emma, he does the Christian thing and brings her, her dog and the thieves back to his cabin. Peter may have to shelter the motley group, but he expects them to earn their keep until he can take them to Bountiful, the nearest town. Emma suddenly finds herself in charge of the house and the care of Peter's young son Robby. She's surprised to find that she enjoys the challenges of life at the cabin and feels drawn to Peter. But though willing to learn, no matter how she tries, she can never seem to live up to expectations. What is to be her worth as a woman? What is to be her legacy?