In 1854 Peter Hartley, now fully recovered from the heartbreak of loosing Natalie to an English duke, travels West. On his way, by wagon train, he rescues a twelve year old girl from a cliff. The image of the girl's raven hair and dark eyes remains with him. Rain Cloud Lonehawk, daughter of a Cheyenne chief and an English school teacher, never forgets her rescuer and compares every young man she meets to him. No one ever compares. When next they meet, under the most bizarre circumstances, Rain Cloud is a beautiful young woman with an unfortunate past who is again in need of rescue. Peter is a wealthy man with extensive orchards in Sonoma and many business interests in San Francisco. They are together barely a week before Rain Cloud is in yet another predicament. Immediately after this third rescue Peter is called to Virginia. Once there he knows he will continue on to England to visit Natalie and his younger brothers, Robin and Brian, who now make England and France, respectively, their home. Rain Cloud, who has long dreamed of attending school in San Francisco and becoming a school teacher like her mother, knows that her latest predicament has put an end to those dreams. She also believes that winning Peter's heart is a pipe dream. After all what gentleman would consider taking a half Indian girl as his wife? Consequently, she decides to go to her aunt in Shropshire, England and fulfill her dreams there. After many adventures crossing from California to England she finds herself in yet another predicament. This one lands her on the doorstep of the Duchess of Lonsworth, Natalie, where she must claim to be Peter's wife in order to gain admittance. Upon his arrival Peter's greeting is less than cordial, but their subsequent adventures lead them to love.