Set in late 18th century Ireland, Esme must grow up quickly in small, isolated northwestern town. Her parents are leaving for America, abandoning her and her sister to fend for themselves. As she struggles to find her place, she finds it difficult to keep hold of what's left that's precious to her. Once married and in a new town, Esme's only friend, Aisling, helps her through difficult times, as her Traveler husband stays away longer and longer plying his trade. While Esme has had some comfort in her small family, she must now find comfort on her own, as her treacherous sister tries stealing the family heirloom to sell, a brooch reputed to have mystical powers, which had been left to her by her grandfather. Esme must learn to cope with her dwindling family and growing despair in order to keep the brooch safe.

故事发生在18世纪末的爱尔兰，埃斯梅必须在与世隔绝的西北小城迅速成长起来。她的父母要去美国，抛弃了她和她的妹妹，让她们自生自灭。当她努力寻找自己的位置时，她发现很难把握住剩下的对她来说很珍贵的东西。结婚后，在一个新的城市里，埃斯梅唯一的朋友艾斯林帮助她渡过难关，因为她的旅行者丈夫在外面做买卖的时间越来越长。虽然埃斯梅在她的小家庭中得到了一些安慰，但她现在必须自己寻找安慰，因为她那奸诈的妹妹试图偷出传家宝来卖，那是一枚被认为具有神秘力量的胸针，是她祖父留给她的。为了保证胸针的安全，埃斯梅必须学会应对她不断减少的家庭和日益增长的绝望。