It's November 1928 in the small town of Bakersbee, Georgia. Fifteen-year-old Scooter Wagner longs to escape the mines for a life in medicine, while Mary Maldon, the mine owner's daughter, harbors ambitions of becoming a nurse and helping others.

When tragedy strikes deep in the mine, Scooter and Mary embark on a 260-mile journey to seek aid from a woman skilled in herbal medicine. Their journey ignites a spark between them despite their youth and social differences. But love comes at a price. Mary's father issues an ultimatum that forces Scooter to choose between love and saving his family.

The pair find themselves on separate paths—or so it seems. In a world where coal dust and class barriers threaten to smother hope, can their bond prove strong enough to forge a new future?