The year is 1860, and in Greene County Alabama, Laurelwood plantation owner Taul Pfister must contend with his wife's mysterious illness, a contentious new overseer, and his love for a slave woman with a closely-guarded secret. Though Taul stands in strong opposition to the impending war with the North, his only son fully expects to join his loyal friends, taking up arms in defense of the Cause. As the war grinds on, Laurelwood is plagued by mounting hardships and deprivation, and Taul is haunted by a potential crime that he seems unable - or unwilling to resolve. While serving in the 2nd Alabama Cavalry, Taul's son Franklin embraces the camaraderie of war in the midst of its brutality as he struggles to come to terms with his doubts and fears. His fate leads him to the isolated home of a lonely war widow and the uncertainty of newfound emotions. Will Franklin attempt to evade hostile forces of both sides of the conflict to return home to his beloved Laurelwood - or will he follow his heart? Can Taul resolve his forbidden desires and successfully transfer the mantle of responsibility he is so anxious to relinquish - and can Laurelwood itself survive, or is it destined to become just another victim of the ravages of the Great War?