Major Kane is transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia. The Major's wife, Marcia and daughter, Leigh are averse to moving and make life difficult for the family. The delightful Candy is well loved by the Fort Benning post. She meets and eventually dates sixteen year old Barton Reed.

Candy Kane is 16 and still in the shadow of her impatient mother and whiny sister, and even her best friend Barton is quite unreliable. The family is living in a crowded DC hotel while Colonel Kane works for the government. Barton turns up with an old coupe named Matilda, which he begs Candy to adopt since he cannot keep the old jalopy once he is in the Army.

Candy's father, Major Kane, is overseas. Candy finds adventure in San Marino, California training a race horse named Mister Smith.