After the death of her parents and grandfather, nine-year-old Rose Jones builds an impenetrable fortress around her wounded heart. Convinced she can protect herself from further heartache, she refuses to love or be loved. She will go through life alone. She will heed her mother's dying words...be strong. But Rose begins to question the true meaning of her mother's message when the kindness of strangers, a foundling's need for emotional attachment and a man's tender love cause the fortress to crumble.