In the Deep South, three friends, Emmett, Jacob, and Rachel, live a peaceful and innocent life. But that all changes when Jacob, a slave Emmett, and Rachel befriended, is violently beaten by his master. That beating comes courtesy of Jack Colquitt, a local overseer at a plantation, who hopes to get a reward for reporting any times Jacob steps out of line. One misunderstanding leads to another, and soon both Emmett and Jacob develop grudges against one another.
As the Civil War heats up, both boys will go through several life changes, and eventually end up on opposing sides of the battlefield. As time goes by, the tug of war between Colquitt and Emmett and Jacob nearly destroys the lives of both boys, until they all finally come face to face for their final reckoning. As the nation fights to keep from tearing itself apart, it'll be a miracle if any of the three childhood friends make it out unscathed.