Gillian is the only child of a very wealthy farmer, so whomever she marries will not only be lucky to have a pretty bride, but will also have the added benefit of inheriting a large fortune. Gillian is nineteen when the novel opens and she is a starry-eyed romantic who wants to flirt with men so that they will fall in love with her. Gillian, in many ways, still acts like a child and she is is selfish, narcissistic and silly towards others in her life. The kind and simple shepherd named Robert who is employed by her father is oftentimes the target of her coquetry. But Gillian keeps telling herself that she can never fall in love with Robert because she doesn’t want a simple farm hand for a husband; she wants excitement, passion and a man who can ride a horse bareback. Webb beautifully foreshadows the suffering that Gillian will have to endure before she can have her happily ever after....