Hetty Neville, a tomboy, steals a ride on a hay cart with her friend Ned. Then she meets Will Foster and discovers the first stirrings of love, but Will hides a secret. Highwaymen are in the area, robbing travellers, and he and Ned are implicated. Hetty's stepfather is the magistrate, sworn to hang all highwaymen caught, but Hetty is prepared to do whatever it takes to save them from the trap her stepfather has set.