In 1884, Charlene Dieter needs a new life, away from unwanted male suitors and from Jo, her best friend who has rebuffed her romantic overtures. Charlene finds her new self in "Charlie," the man she always thought she should have been. Charlie decides to start a new life in Illinois, motivated by letters from a cousin of Charlie's deceased dad.

Kitty McIntire, a young woman managing her prairie farm after her father's death, also fends off a suitor, John Cameron. John, however, presses on, despite a rival for Kitty's attentions in cousin Charlie, newly arrived in their small town. Charlie does his best to be a farmer, but sustains injuries that lay him up. Kitty attends him while he recuperates, and they begin to fall in love, when circumstances force Charlie to let Kitty in on his secret.

Charlie and Kitty together face the escalating verbal and physical attacks from John, as he tries to get Kitty and her farm for his own purposes.

Will John come between the love that Charlie has found with Kitty? How can they, two women in a time that men rule, bring John to justice?