To the surprise of her family, Winona Pathfinder, an elderly Lakota Sioux medicine woman, announces she intends to die in two months' time. For counselling, Winona is sent to psychologist Dr Meggie O'Connor. Meggie is white, turning forty, divorced. She finds Winona a difficult patient - not only does she refuse to renounce her plan to die, but she also seems intent on turning the tables and teaching the doctor a thing or two about life.
As autumn turns to winter in the beautiful Michigan peninsula, Winona casts her web around Meggie. The doctor's professional methods slowly crumble in the face of Winona's earthy humour and unquenchable spirit, and eventually she has to ask herself: who is healing whom?
And as Meggie's perceptions change, she starts to reawaken to the possibility of romance. As she finds herself involved with two intriguing Sioux men, her life takes on new meanings and strange things begin to happen. And still Winona refuses to give up her intention to die . . .
