When fifteen-year-old Maryann Madigan's parents are killed in a plane crash, she's uprooted from a privileged Boston lifestyle to a Wyoming horse ranch. Living with an aunt she barely knows, the young woman struggles with her grief until a spirited appaloosa stallion captures her heart. There's just one problem, she's terrified of horses. Determined to learn how to ride, she enlists the help of Rick Ferguson, a charismatic, dark-haired cowboy who falls hard for the shy but resilient beauty. Clandestine riding lessons conquer her fear of horses and kindle their young love. When a vindictive ranch hand goes too far, Maryann must fight to save her beloved horse, her hero, and the place she now calls home.