It is raining when Banner O'Brien arrives by steamboat to a small community on the Strait of Juan da Fuca, and it's a good thing too, because the sawmill is on fire. A number of workers have been injured, so Banner doesn't have time to think this is the first time she will be practicing medicine. She has no time to lock horns with the town's resident physician, Adam Corbin, but she knows from the scathing glances tossed her way from time to time that he isn't going to be receptive to the idea of a woman doctor joining his practice.
During the initial hub-bub, Banner does notice certain things about Adam - his elegant dress, for example, is unusual for a country doctor. Later Adam informs Banner that he thought he had hired a male doctor - he would have never hired a woman! He genially offers Banner to stay on as his nurse but she persuades him to let her practice temporarily for a few days. In the days that follow the two find themselves embroiled in the suffrage issues and a ring of smugglers, as well as falling in love with each other. But the coldly reserved Banner has been hurt before and only Adam Corbin can warm her heart and teach her to trust, and love, again.
