During the 1850s Australian gold rush, Annie flees home to avoid abuse and painful memories. She walks for miles, desperate for safe haven, until she runs into Ted, a former teacher. The man is welcoming and kind and becomes a surrogate father to young Annie. Slowly, she grows into a beautiful woman under the guidance of the man who treats her as his daughter.

When Annie is sixteen, tragedy strikes, and she must leave the cozy home Ted built for them both. She moves to Melbourne, where she becomes very wealthy, thanks to Ted. She dreams of one day opening her own restaurant, so she works in several in order to get a handle on the business, never expecting futher disaster.

Annie is attacked, and as if the incident is not traumatic enough, she ends up pregnant. In an era when single parenting is a thing far into the future, she must make a brave choice as she stumbles upon true love. She will eventually confront the villain who raped her but not before finding the courage to live the wonderful life she deserves, no matter the setbacks.