Dr. Laurence Chandler is captivated by Miss Jane Wesley from the moment he discovers her hiding in the hold of the SS Stenson. He's been looking for a pretty young woman to build a life with and Jane appears to be a likely candidate. Jane, however, is not so enchanted at being discovered by the handsome doctor. She has stowed away on the New Orleans-bound steamship with her twin sister. Penniless and desperate, Jane and Joniwho is heavily pregnantare on the run from Joni's abusive father-in-law, and discovery might be deadly.
Jane gives Laurence the slip. But when the ship wrecks during a hurricane, she is forced to accept his assistance so that her sister will survive. Having witnessed the abuse of Joni, their mother and other women, Jane resents having to depend on any manespecially one as old-fashioned and marriage-minded as Laurence.
But she just can't seem to shake him. Further catastrophesincluding the arrival of Joni's father-in-lawforce her and Joni to remain under his protection in New Orleans. But who will protect her from her own growing attraction to him?