Mel Nicolaides, one of five children, has lived a happy, sheltered life at Living Spring in Florida. Her goal now, is to become as independent as possible. While her family heads for a vacation in Europe, Mel elects to stay at a remote North Florida spring to work. Her job is to illustrate a book about Seminole Indian medical and culinary herbs for an author whose Seminole name is Walking Woman. The revelation of a skeleton in Mel's family closet, during her time there, however, forces her to find sources of strength she never knew existed.