Two abandoned orphans grow up in Pony's Home in Michigan, the mischievous Candy and the quiet Annie. They do all they can to never get adopted and remain with each other always.
While Candy's satisfied being an orphan forever, Annie can't help wanting a mother and father. Then the two girls stumble across the kind Mr. Brighton and they learn what it's like having parents.
When Candy learns that Mr. Brighton plans on adopting her, she does all she can to assure that doesn't happen. But Annie feels differently about being adopted.
Annie now lives a rich life while Candy remains at Pony's Home. Nevertheless, they keep in contact through letters. Until the letters from Annie stop. Grief-stricken, Candy runs away into the forest where she meets someone mysterious.
Candy gets adopted by the rich Leagan family to be a playmate for their daughter. But all of Candy's hopes are crushed when she arrives as nothing turns out the way she expected.
The Leagan children continually bully Candy until she decides she's had enough and decides to run away back to Pony's Home. However, on the way she finds someone who reminds her of her mysterious Prince of the Hill.
Candy is determined to become an elegant lady, but finds herself reduced to a servant while Mr. Leagan is away. Meanwhile she learns more about the mysterious Adley family.
After the Leagan children ditch Candy in the middle of town, she meets another Adley brother: Alistair. Later it is revealed that the Adleys will be hosting a ball and the Leagans are invited, including Candy.
Candy finally meets the boy she saw at the rose gates: Anthony Brown, along with the Cornwell brothers. The three want to give Candy a good time at the ball, but Eliza (who's infatuated with Anthony) won't let that happen.
John and Sister Mary come to visit Candy, and she must hide the fact that she works as a servant and sleeps in the stable. Furthermore, she hopes she can hide the truth from Anthony.
The Brightons pay a visit to the Leagans, bringing Annie along as well. However, Annie's past must be kept a secret, putting a rift between her and Candy.
Candy is blamed for stealing from Anthony's rose garden, but she knows the truth. However, when all evidence points against her, she runs away - and happens upon another mysterious encounter.
The Leagan children attempt to frame Candy poisoning the horses, but a mysterious benefactor rescues her. She figures it must be Albert and tries to send him a letter. The next day, he comes for her.
Candy visits Pony's Home to learn that Father's Tree on Pony's Hill is to be cut down and sold. Candy and the other children are determined not to let that happen.
Dorothy is to be sent to Mexico to serve at Adley property there, much to Candy's dismay. But after the Leagan children's further framing, Candy finds herself being sent in Dorothy's stead. She seeks out help.
Despite Anthony's protests, Candy decides to keep her honor and go to Mexico. He and the Cornwell brothers discover the true culprit of the thievery, proving Candy's innocence, but they're too late.
It's a long, bitter journey, and Mr. Garcia is cruel toward Candy. They take along a poor, indebted family, but their baby is ill and Mr. Garcia won't turn back to the nearest town.
The journey turns deadly with rattlesnakes, bandits, and child kidnappers. Candy finds herself in trouble from even her travelling companion, but when things turn for worst for both of them, he must make the right decision.
Though her kidnappers treat her well, Candy is determined to escape. Meanwhile, Anthony and the Cornwell brothers hear of her abduction and set out to rescue her.
Now a daughter of the Adleys, Candy couldn't be happier. Even the Leagan children must submit, but Candy won't have them shamed like she was. Meanwhile, Anthony realizes Candy's infatuation with the Prince of the Hill and becomes envious.
With a rich lifestyle comes loads of responsibility. While Candy is stuck memorizing Adley family history, Anthony gets into a feud with Tom after an accident.
Relocated to the forest Adley mansion, Anthony trains with Tom to participate in the upcoming rodeo. However, great-aunt Elroy won't allow it and sends Candy to change his mind.
With the reward from the rodeo, Candy and Anthony venture around town to spend the money. It's their first date, but after a foreboding incident, Candy fears it may be their last.
Candy fears for the future, but Anthony reassures her and tells her not to worry. After all, the annual Adley fox hunt approaches where she'll be officially presented.
Candy's worst fears are realized. The Adleys mourn their loss, especially Candy who's stricken with nightmares and a high fever. Even so, she must fight against the Leagan children who insist on taking over their late cousin's possessions.
Candy visits Pony's Home in attempt to deal with her grief, but everything reminds her of Anthony. Jimmy, a new orphan there, bullies her for being a cry-baby. The two ultimately face off against each other to decide who's the boss.
Christmas is approaching. The owner of the land of Pony's Home, Mr. Cartwright, plans on expanding his ranches and thus drive Pony's Home out. Candy ventures with Jimmy in order to dissuade him in person, but it turns out not be so easy.
It's time to choose a new path in life. Candy learns of Mr. Cartwright's wish of adopting her, but she doesn't want to betray the Adley's. Yet they remind her too much of Anthony. And then there's the orphans wanting her at Pony's Home.
Candy is eager to become a caretaker for the children at Pony's Home, but she considers the option of whether it would be better to study first before undertaking the job, especially since the opportunity to do so at London comes up.
On the way to England, the ship receives a call for help from a capsized fishing boat, but the captain and a rich businessman stand split on the decision of coming to the rescue and risking losing the latter's important contract.
Upon arriving at Southampton, Candy is posed with entering the school with her pet raccoon Klint, visiting her elusive Grandfather William, and perpetual encounters with the striking son of the Duke of Grandchester.
Candy fails to make a good initial impression on the school principal. Or the other students, thanks to Eliza. Nevertheless, Candy hopes she can keep one new friend.
After an unusual incident at the girls' dorm, Candy finds an unexpected visitor. Patty's grandma wants to stay for a bit to see how a boarding school works since she'd been home-schooled all her life. Candy hopes she can keep her a secret.
Eliza and Neil have it out for Candy, but an unlikely rescuer comes to her aid. As much as she dislikes him, she also can't stop thinking about him. Stear and Archie invite Candy to their room where she learns more about Terry.
The students receive a day off from campus, but, thanks to great-aunt Elroy, the others leave without Candy, making her the only student left on campus. That is - except for Terry. Fortunately, Mr. Brighton comes and two go into town.
Annie arrives at Saint Paul's Academy. She notices the attention Candy gets from Archie, and while Candy reassures her that they're only friends, Archie may think otherwise - especially after seeing Candy's interactions with Terry.
An unexpected visitor enters Candy's room in the middle of the night and she is forced to steal out and find a pharmacy. On the way she stumbles upon someone she hadn't seen in a long time.
Candy, on her way to Archie and Stear's room, accidentally ends up in Terry's room where she finds a clue concerning his past. But then he catches her, and eventually, the entire backstory unfolds.
Secrets are in the air - Neil is determined to discover Candy's; Patty hopes to share her's with her best friend. Meanwhile, the May Festival approaches and Candy will get to be one of the lucky May-flower girls.
Though confined to the contemplation room, Candy won't stay in one place for long. She slips away and sets out for the zoo where she encounters more than who she expected to see. In time, she finds herself on a date.
The May Festival begins, but Candy remains confined. However, thanks to a gift from Grandfather William, she is able to escape her imprisonment and join the festivities - just so long as no one sees through the ploy.
After a fight between Archie and Terry, the former is sent to the contemplation room. Meanwhile, summer is on its way, and the girls talk about spending the holiday in Scotland. Then something happens that shakes Candy's chances of going.
In Scotland, Candy tries to return a wandering sheep to a shepherd boy when she learns he lives at the Grandchester summer home. She makes numerous attempts to see Terry, but instead finds someone else who is visiting the mansion.
When Terry rescues Eliza from drowning, she convinces great-aunt Elroy to throw a white garden party in his honor. Nonetheless, Candy knows she won't be welcome and it ends up being a party for two.
Candy tries to avoid Terry, but after receiving a letter from Albert, she searches him out. Eliza, jealous of Candy and Terry, plans a deadly trap for the two.
Terry argues with Sister Gray about their punishments, Annie and Patty visit the Cornwell brothers to talk, Archie seeks vengeance on Terry. Meanwhile, Candy weeps within the tower walls.
Terry breaks all his ties, knowing what he must do for Candy's sake. She is released from the tower, much to her delight, until she realizes what happened.
Candy runs in with Neil, helps the Duke of Grandchester accept Terry's leaving, and even decides to help Eliza's crony, Louise. However, she is unsure about wanting to become a proper lady of St. Paul's Academy.
