Desperate, Fiona Flaherty and her brother Sean must leave their beloved Ireland during the potato famine and start a new life in America. Finding the city streets are not paved with gold, they head for the legendary California Trail to seek their fortune. They meet Trevor Tremaine, a young man on the run who also hopes to strike it rich in the Golden State. Raised as a southern gentleman, he helps found one of the first banks in San Francisco, and when Fiona finds success as a singer, she and Sean are able to buy Freedom Ranch. Headstrong Fiona collects wealthy husbands while handsome Trevor takes beautiful mistresses, and when a woman from his prodigal past shows up with a surprise, it seems it will take the hand of fate to finally bring Fiona and Trevor together.