Catherine and her two small children travel to remote Pine Creek, Maine, to escape her abusive ex-husband, and then she runs away from Robbie MacBain after raiding his hen house for eggs. Robbie is impressed with his little thief, and hopes to catch up with her and help her as he does anyone in trouble. Robbie is the guardian for his unusual family--his parents, uncles, and four foster boys deemed incorrigible by the state--but that's not all that makes him unusual. Robbie's family has traveled from thirteenth-century Scotland to modern-day Maine because of a mischievous wizard who now needs Robbie to travel back in time. After Robbie convinces Catherine to become his housekeeper, he embarks on his journey, which takes him away at night but brings him home in the morning. Catherine starts to trust the imposing Scotsman but believes he needs someone to watch over him as he watches over everyone else.