Grieving over the death of her husband, Diana Hunter is urged by friends to take a short trip to Mexico to teach English to impoverished children in a remote mountain pueblo.
Leaving her privileged life-style behind, Diana promptly takes a cultural face-plant in the village. Suspicion, superstition, and ancient customs overwhelm her. Speaking no Spanish, she's grateful to Marisol Cabrera who befriends her, and guides her along the culturally thorny path. But Marisol's husband, Eduardo, and his brother, Diego, resent her presence and plot to drive her away.
Never having seen an Anglo, the campesino children are terrified of her, and their parents believe she's a witch. Disheartened, Diana decides to return to the United States, then a shocking call from the estate attorney shatters her already rocky world. All of her assets have mysteriously disappeared and her home is in foreclosure. She has nothing to go back to.
When funds for the local Campesino school evaporate, Diana's love for the children drives her to rent Golondrina, a large dilapidated hacienda, to provide a place for them to learn. It's a daunting task to make the huge manse livable. The well fails, she finds an ill-tempered stallion housed in her stable, a mysterious pregnant woman shows up on her doorstep, and the telephone service she desperately needs in order to generate income from her freelance illustrating business is months away. When the village parents forbid the children to attend school at Golondrina, fearing that the spirit of Isabella, first owner of the hacienda, haunts the place, Diana reaches the end of her endurance.
High In the mountains of Central Mexico, amid ancient pyramids and spiritual beliefs, Diana's story tells of her life-changing journey to overcome fear and self-doubt against formidable odds. Will she find the strength to create a new life of independence and fulfillment?
