In the spring of 1887, orphaned Laurabeth Appleby travels from Galveston, Texas, to Fort Worth in hopes of meeting her only living relative-an uncle.
Upon arrival, she learns he's not only a former Texas Ranger but is employed as a freighter for the vast XIT Ranch. To find him, she must tread deep into the Texas frontier, an untamed land considered deadly for an eighteen-year-old single girl.
At the XIT, she falls in love with a young cowboy who's trying to build his future by forgetting his past. When a deliberately set prairie fire destroys the XIT's southern range, Laurabeth learns hard truths about trust, betrayal, and the faith required for lasting happiness.