Mahalia Strickler is ready to see the world. Modern all the way, she drinks and smokes, loves to dance, and has fought for the right to vote. When she returns home to Marshall's Bayou in 1920, she does not intend to stay long. The Methodist Church has unfairly exiled Daniel Griffin to southwest Louisiana. Still, he'll serve his sentence and use the time to search for his lost faith. The church in Marshall's Bayou is small, but it's his and there's work to do. The town knows Mae and Daniel have nothing in common. She's the wildest girl in the marsh, and he's the preacher. It doesn't take long, however, for the two of them to realize that everyone else is wrong. Still, Mae knows her reputation will ruin Daniel's career. No matter what her heart says, she must leave. Mae's plans are threatened by a Gulf storm that nearly destroys Marshall's Bayou. When the clouds finally clear, many souls have been lost, and Daniel finds strength in helping the town heal. His destiny is now clear, but he must have Mae by his side. Can he convince the woman he loves to stay with him, no matter what the consequences?