Laura and her husband William Deene have come a long way, from England to Ohio to Indian Territory. With their farm failing and Laura expecting her fourth child, their relationship begins to disintegrate and with another cruel winter coming on, Will's mistrustful and violent nature becomes more apparent. Laura finds relief in the arms of their new neighbour, a young man of wealthy providence setting up as a lone homesteader; James Clappe. Attracted to Clappe's youth, kindness and naivete, Laura struggles to maintain her stoic tolerance of the hard prairie life she has endured for so long....