It was 19-year-old Summer Kuykendall's mother's deathbed wish that her daughter return to the ranch of Sam McLean, who had promised to take care of her, so she and her 8-year-old brother expected Sam to be waiting for them. Instead it is Sam's son, Slater, who honors his father's promise.

Installed in a house on the McLean ranch, Summer soon finds herself caught in a feud between Slater McLean, his uncle's wife, Ellen, and her son, Travis. While Ellen wants Summer to marry Travis, Summer finds herself drawn to the enigmatic Slater. As violence erupts, Summer discovers secrets that may change her life forever.