Catherine has returned to the home of her youth, once a beautiful manor house and farm in northern England. As she gazes on the disintegrating structures, she recalls a long-ago life filled with wealth and ease. In the bright fall sunshine of 1641, about to celebrate her 18th birthday, she saddles her horse Maudie for one last adventurous fling before becoming the "responsible young woman" her father requires. Little does Catherine know that her jaunt across the English countryside is about to be interrupted by fate, altering her life and the very foundations of her religious beliefs. Destiny takes hold during a terrible thunderstorm, which spooks Catherine's horse. She is thrown and awakens with a fever, injuries and amnesia. She is found along an unused trail and taken to the cottage of a Puritan family deep in the woods. These are the Ringolds, who nurse her back to health and, because her amnesia persists, name her Lucky. Catherine learns the Ringolds have been harboring two Puritan exiles, and she becomes involved in helping them escape from England. When a soldier is found dead near the hideout, arrangements are made to expedite the escape, but during the move another soldier appears, who Catherine shoots to save her own life. Now it is imperative that Catherine and the Ringolds join the exiles in the quest for religious freedom. Each leg of the journey through the northern English hills and woodlands is fraught with danger as they encounter friends and enemies. The Puritan family's dedication to their goal echoes across the land, making an indelible impression on Catherine. Further danger, intrigue and surprise await them when they reach the coast and attempt to escape with their fellow Puritans. Throughout Winds of Destiny, Catherine meets the challenge of each new adventure and discovers what is important in her life: a new faith, a new family and the love of her life.