Deserted by her no-good husband as she's about to give birth to yet another child, a woman and her two children fight to survive in the North Idaho wilderness.
Young Grady Edenfield becomes the man of the family in a hurry on the rainy night he loses two little brothers. And his ma? She's sick, too. Sick and tired of leaving dead babies behind as her husband's wanderlust constantly moves them on.
But this time, Grady finds an deserted cabin and claims it for their home. As they wait for his pa to return, the small family makes friends and builds a decent life.