Joanna left Los Angeles to visit her Uncle Reese in the Ozarks, near Branson, MO. Driving from the airport to her Uncle's home on the back roads, she was run off the road by mules driven by Jessie Bates. She was hot, tired and cranky and was not very nice to the Ozark native. Jessie was driving the mules to return a buckboard wagon he had restored to Linc Wilder's place. Linc was following Jessie and stopped to assist in getting Joanna's vehicle back on the road. Joanna was disrespectful to Jessie but she later apologized. After she apologized to Jessie, Linc realized that maybe Joanna wasn't such a bad person after all.
While getting to know Jessie, Joanna was told stories about ghosts in the area and when Joanna saw the Foxfire she was convinced it was ghosts. Foxfire was a mixture of gasses that cause generate light when they mix. Foxfire occasionally appears at night in that area of the country.
In the meantime, Reese Morgan was interested in Rachel Parmelee who owns a doll shop in town. Joanna convinced Rachel to come to their house for dinner and get to know Reese. Reese later proposes rather quickly to Rachel. Rachel agrees to marry Reese.
Joanna's mother had her own agenda to marry Reese and pays a surprise visit to Reese & Rachel's engagement party at Linc's home. Joanna's mother works quickly to discourage Rachel from marrying Reese and when Reece finds out, he quickly tells Joanna's mother to return to LA on the next available flight. Joanna's mother convinces Joanna to return to LA with her and Linc is very discouraged and disappointed.
Linc is left to close up the house in Missouri once Reese and Rachel wed and leave for California. Jessie pays a visit to Linc while he is closing the house and suggests that Linc go to LA and get Joanna. Joanna is visiting at Reese and Rachel's California home when Linc arrives. He quickly tells Joanna he loves her and proposes. Joanna agrees to marry Linc and move back to Missouri with him.