It is the 1950's and Fiona McLean a beautiful young woman daughter of Scottish laird Donald McLean and French wife Josephine lives with her parents and young brother.

Newly trained as a teacher although she has a priveleged and relatively happy life she is restless, constrained by the traditions of her heritage and often dreams of more distant horizons.

But it is only a dream and would likely have remained so without the impetus of the tragic loss of both her mother and brother together in a freak sailing acccident. Left heartbroken her father appears unable to cope and Fiona is left to step in and oversee the affairs of both the estate and a fleet of fishing trawlers while she too deals with her own grief and time passes.

Until finally driven by the need to escape her pain and make a new life for herself she, with the encouragement of her beloved Aunt Anne does make the decision to follow her dream. It is not easy and she is beset with guilt when the time comes to step onto the plane and leave her father and all that she knows behind her to go to Australia.

Taking up the position of relief teacher in a small rural country town it is hot and it is challenging in the extreme, in every sense and yet she is determined it will not overwhelm her so much so when she is offered a permanent position she accepts with alacrity.

Much in demand with the local boys she shows little interes that is not until the fun loving David Callahan finally captures her attention and eventually her heart and just as she is beginning to believe she can make a new and happy life for herself in this country when tragedy strikes again.

This time it is her father, another boating accident, or is it, and lying in hospital unconscious and possibly dying she feels torn but compelled to return to be with him. His life while he lays unconscious is under threat from persons yet unknown as the police investigate and Fiona is not averse to becoming involved.

Then there is the devastingly attractive Paul Enright who appears on her doorstep. A sailing afficendo like herself the attraction is immediate but he is married and she loves another, and besides, is he friend or foe.

Then there is Grandmother Nicolette Delacroix haughty, aristocratic and very wealthy never a favorite with her granddaughter nevertheless a trip to Paris, a visit to the family vineyards, the presentation of jewels worth a fortune and the proposition of becoming her heir leaves Fiona breathless and yet oddly reluctant to accept.

She still wants to live her own life, one of her own choosing and so much would have to change and yet what of David. His silence is becoming worrying and then there is Paul whose pursuit of her is becoming quite blatant despite the haughty Charlotte his wife.

Meanwhile her father languishing for months in his twilight state happily begins to show signs of recovery. And it is then Anne confesses she has always loved him and plans to tell him so when he becomes fully cognizant again. Something she has never doubted.

Paul Enright's true colours are finally revealed and the law is very interested. David Callahan arrives unannounced. Donald McLeans recovery is complete and he and Anne marry as do David and Fiona soon after, in the little village church where she and generations of her family before her have been baptized.

Then a honeymoon in Paris, the acceptance finally of her Grandmother's truly amazing proposal and their return to Australia. She to her teaching job and his as headmaster at the nearby high school. Two people in love and just happy to be together no matter where the future may take them.