Although both Catherine and her younger sister, Susanna Mae, are growing up and beginning to look at things in a new light, their life still seems ordinary enough as autumn begins. Then one day after school, Catherine stumbles upon a young woman living alone in a secluded hollow outside town.

As the days pass, the girls are gradually drawn into the web of mystery surrounding their new friend. As the girls come face-to-face with new questions, they must come to an important decision regarding Ulga's safety, especially after a stranger shows up, claiming to be the young woman's brother. Should they trust him? And what about the burly, cigar-smoking man with the scarred face who seems so interested in the sisters?

Catherine and Susanna Mae search for the answers to their multitude of questions. Piece by piece, they begin to unravel the mystery-but both sisters, and Ulga, are changed in ways that none of them could have imagined. Together, they learn to face suffering and betrayal while learning lasting lessons about loyalty, forgiveness, and second chances.