Laurel's practical plans to attend graduate school in biogenetics have just fallen through, but an unexpected letter opens up an intriguing new opportunity. The famous painter Maybelle Starr has invited Laurel to her secluded home in Vermont as an apprentice artist. Painting is another impractical hobby that Laurel abandoned years ago in favor of helping her father catalog his rare rose collection. Valuable objects mysteriously disappear. Sparkling lights that aren't fireflies are spotted.
Laurel discovers a hidden talent for relating to wild animals.
Meanwhile, the beautiful and fey Maybelle refuses to teach Laurel anything concrete about art, encouraging her instead to walk around the forest for inspiration. Dane Walden, who farms the adjoining property, isn't happy to see Laurel at Fallingstar. He and his sister Daphne were raised for several years by Maybelle after their mother died and their abusive father disappeared, and he doesn't want to see Maybelle hurt by this city girl outsider. Yet gradually Dane is forced to admit that, although Laurel may be ignorant of rural life, she has potential. His protective sister Daphne isn't so sure that she likes the way Laurel and Dane are starting to look at each other.