Marcella Conner loves her high school students. They fill the days of loneliness after tragedy visits and a marriage fails. She escapes the present when teaching England's noted authors such as Shakespeare, and Chaucer. She is fascinated by the verses of Scotland's poet laureate Robert Burns. Her wish is that perhaps one day she can visit Burns' homeland to roam the hillsides where he received the inspiration to pen the words that brought him national fame. Why not? After a difficult year, she needs a vacation.

Robert MacKerra's peaceful outing of fishing at the loch is rudely interrupted when a young woman suddenly appears from the ruins of a castle to ask for directions back to her home. She seems addled and is dressed in a garb like he has never seen. He has no idea where Florida is and assures her it is nowhere in his region near the banks of Scotland's Loch Doon.

Marcella is torn between locating the portal to return her to her century or remaining in the 17th century because of the attraction to the handsome Scot. Robert worries daily at any moment the forces that brought her to him will as quickly snatch her away. But, lest we forget, fate has the final word.