Emily is a farmer's daughter who had a passion to become a veterinary surgeon and go to work in Africa. She qualifies only to find that her small stature and her feminine good looks are against her. She is unable to secure employment. She gets a break when her great aunt asks her to come out to Kenya and help her run her large ranch in the Northern Frontier District. Getting to the ranch is not easy. However her great aunt is very welcoming. Emily's world disintegrates around her when her great aunt dies during her first night on the ranch. She is befriended by Simon, a young, but more senior vet, who goes out of his way to help her.

She falls in love with him, but he keeps her at arm's length. Emily shows courage and fortitude. She gains respect not only from her employees on the ranch but also from the senior members of the Veterinary Department and the Government Administration. She meets Simon's family and gains an insight into his character, but is this sufficient to earn his love?.