For over a year, Mayme--a former slave--and Katie have lived together on Katie's plantation, hiding the fact that they are orphans of war to avoid being separated. Together they have sheltered others and battled threats of foreclosure, theft, and deadly danger. But now the girls face what seems like the certain end of their scheme. A hard-nosed relative of Katie's father discovers--and exposes--their secret. He claims Rosewood as his own and forces Mayme and the other blacks to leave. Katie decides she must leave as well. Is this the end of their way of life? Will the girls ever be together again?