When artist Maureen O`Rourke is hired by a dislikable Louisiana cotton farmer named Taylor Clairmont to paint a portrait of his manor house, she vows to put her feelings about him aside and concentrate on her work. While Maureen is able to overcome her feelings about Taylor, she is unable to control her emotions when she meets a handsome Chitimacha Chief, named Racing Moon. Determined to keep Taylor from usurping his family`s land, Racing Moon vows to do whatever it takes to stop Taylor from taking what rightfully belongs to him and his people. However, he can not fight his attraction to Maureen--a women he mistakenly believes to be Taylor`s wife.