Wrongly accused of a crime, Reverend Luke Wheeler, for the sake of his infant son, determines to persevere after the death of his wife. Subterfuge becomes Luke's stock-in-trade as he, along with Claire Larson, his cousin by marriage, and son Davey are swept up into an adventure into frontier America. Their dangerous cross-country trek reaches a climax as Luke navigates a keelboat down the untamed Mississippi. Yet even more terrifying than river pirates to Luke is Claire's declaration of unwavering love. What kind of future can a fugitive offer a woman? Will truth prevail or will Luke remain a wanted man?