Beautiful illiterate Mary, daughter of a Florida pioneer, marries William, refined gentleman from Washington, DC. Their life in 1850s Florida seems idyllic, with Mary embracing frontier life and William adapting to the rugged challenges. However, external forces threaten, as economic struggles, cultural differences, and the Civil War cast a shadow over their peaceful existence. Faced with these challenges, Mary and William must fight to protect their love and the life they've built together.