Born into a loving frontier family, Emma Davis loses it all when her father is killed in a farming accident and her mother unknowingly marries, "The devil himself." At age 12, after her mother dies, a friendly Indian tribe takes her in. Raising her as their own, they name her Little Dove. A decade later, the chief insists she marry his son, a brave she considers to be her brother. Escaping before her tribal ceremony, she comes across a stagecoach that has been attacked. All appear to be dead. After discovering a young woman's journal, she takes on Margaret Bridalson's past, present, and future as described in the journal. She does not consider being taken off course by one very handsome and kind trail guide, Seb Bradford. Resistance must prevail when they discover Margaret's betrothed is Seb's father.