After Hannah Jewell loses her husband and child during the War Between the States, she sets sail for a new life in the Pacific Northwest to care for her widowed brother's daughter. Aboard the Lady Eagle on the journey around Cape Horn, Hannah becomes enthralled with a tall Texan named Jake Buss who himself is headed to the Washington Territory. Jake makes no secret of his attraction for Hannah. But even though she is drawn to Jake, she still can't let go of the memory of her husband, John. With no firm knowledge of what happened to John, Hannah is caught between feeling like a widow and a wife. As she settles into her new life with her brother, Hannah's feelings for Jake continue to grow. But she cannot commit to him without knowing John's fate. Will she let go of caution and pursue her own happiness or will the past continue to haunt her?