In Japan, no Fire Horse Woman could ever dream of marrying. It was a tragic sign, a ruinous birth date that occurred once every sixty years. Though always beautiful, Fire Horse Women were destined to remain untamed by men - and were to be avoided as wives at all cost. An orphan as well, Sayo had two strikes against her. But her loving mentor kept her secrets and made a match for her with the second son of a wealthy family - a son who was staking his own claim in America.

Though beset by doubts and unforeseen circumstances, tragedy and pain, Sayo learns to harness the power of the Fire Horse in this new land and survive all the obstacles that life sets in her path. But as the winds of World War II begin to blow across America, Sayo and her family find themselves looked upon as enemies and interned in a desert camp. There, under immense hardship, Sayo, her daughter Hanna, and her granddaughter Terri persevere.