Cultured, graceful, feisty Shelby Collins is the epitome of a young southern lady. At the age of 15, Shelby'ss secure world is turned upside down when her father, in a drunken rage, attacks her. Fearing others will learn of his treachery, he takes her to a reform school and abandons her. In utter despair, Shelby is sure that her life is over, but sometimes life'ss blessings come in the most unexpected ways.