Thirteen year old Lucy dreams of one day becoming a nurse. When her family immigrates from Ireland to the Dominion of Canada in 1868, she has no idea how challenging her life is about to become, or if she can fulfill her dream.

Crossing a raging river in a severe storm and encountering a black bear are only the beginning of the experiences she faces. Now she finds herself in an ongoing conflict with Brendan O'Hara, son of the owner of O'Hara's General Store. Will she be able to keep her job at the store despite Brendan's attempts to get her into trouble? And how will she and her family survive the harsh winter when her father leaves to work in the lumber camp?