After losing her husband in a brutal attack, Joy Everly is left to raise her daughter alone on a farm in a small New Mexico town called Mayfly. Struggling to keep the land left to her by her husband, Joy refuses Franklin York's offer to buy her property in order to expand the railroad. She thinks she'll never see him again, only to discover that he's her best friend Clara's brother and is staying at her house. Though he has been told to talk Joy into selling her land or be fired, Franklin finds himself admiring the young woman's determination. As Christmas approaches, the two find themselves becoming closer but an unforeseen tragedy may tear Joy's heart into pieces.