London - 1850 - A fast moving saga of a pioneer family leaving an established life behind to work as indentured colonists for the Hudson's Bay Company in Fort Victoria on British Columbia's rugged West Coast. Margaret Manson packs up herself and her two sons to follow her husband halfway around the world to an uncertain future.

During the long voyage she becomes romantically involved with the enigmatic ship’s captain, arriving at Fort Victoria with some serious complications and questions about her future. One problem is solved but another appears as she learns that her husband was lost at sea during his voyage, taking all their savings with him. Determined to succeed, she defies the accepted norms of the day, learning new tricks and skills to survive.

Working with the captain and some local Indians, Margaret and her sons establish a foothold in the new territory. The enigmatic Captain, Mark Holland, conceals a previous life in the street of Shanghai and sailing the China Sea. His love for Margaret and their business partnership is threatened as his past catches up with him. Rumours of Spanish gold fire up Margaret's imagination, fueled by some gold coins found with her husband’s belongings. This plunges her further into perilous adventures on Vancouver Island’s rugged West Coast.