Andi nearly tramples her new teacher in a reckless, impromptu horse race down the main street of Fresno — not a good way to begin the school term. Andi must also cope with the teacher’s irritating daughter, who uses her father’s prejudice to continually get Andi in trouble.
Learning to forgive Virginia is a test Andi repeatedly fails, but when an escaped convict bursts into the schoolroom and snatches Virginia as a hostage, Andi shows her true character by taking the terrified girl’s place. Andi’s frightening experiences with her outlaw captor result in a new understanding of what the Golden Rule really means.