Then her neighbor, Del VanOrthrum makes matters worse by accidentally over-spraying a chemical on her field. Del's a good man who has just come home from his big-city job to help his father. He wants to make it up to Anna, but whenever he tries, she gets prickly and unapproachable.
One by one, Anna's defenses crumble before Del's determined courtship. She loves him desperately, but she can't believe he will stand by her when he realizes why the townspeople gossip behind her back.