In the mid 1800s, a divorced woman has few options. But Esther Taylor is no ordinary woman. Leaving an abusive husband while trying to keep her two children safe is just the beginning. Esther makes her way in the world by virtue of her wit and strong work ethic. Whether working as a cook at a riverside café or as a ranch hand at round-ups, Esther's pioneer spirit and gut-wrenching determination to move forward are inspirational and a font of strength to her children, Mark and Joan. When the Civil War erupts, Esther's fortitude is tested in ways she never imagined with the disappearance of both her newfound love and her son amid the carnage of the war. Ever relentless, Esther searches for her scattered family. Can her indomitable spirit bear the realities of love and war to triumph one more time?