In 1863, the War Between the States is dividing more than just a nation. To escape the conflict, Jessica Hale and her family flee their Kentucky homestead and head for the Nevada Territory. Her brother, Ambrose, committed to the Confederates, rejoins the Kentucky militia and is disowned by his father. But the worst is yet to come. When Unionists presume the family to be Confederate sympathizers, they set a devastating fire to their home. All alone and then "kidnapped" by cattleman Jake Bennett, Jessica is taken to a ranch deep in the Sierra Nevada wilderness. But, can Jessica overcome her resentment toward Jake for failing to save her family? When Jake launches a plan to help Jessica's brother escape from prison camp, she sees him for the honest, good-hearted Christian man that he is and now knows the depth of his love for her. Through the lingering smoke and smoldering ashes from her ruined home and murdered family.

Jake Bennett is finally wed to the love of his life, Jessica Hale-but he isn't convinced she won't leave him. Life is a constant struggle for the Bennetts as they battle drought and live in fear of raids on Southerners, and he is not sure that Jess knew what she was getting herself into when she married him. Jess, however, despairs for another reason-she is unable to conceive a child. While trying to prove their unconditional love for each other, the Bennetts are devastated to discover that a former friend of Jess' parents, Miriam Van Dorn, isn't who they thought she was. Together, they must stand in faith through betrayal, danger, and barrenness, trusting that God will reward their hopes for a better future.

The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. Even though she is with child–an answer to heartfelt prayers–the cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia. Springtime brings trials of a different kind–the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation. The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life–and the life of her unborn child–at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves–a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.