Gabriel Lyon was not called to be a plantation owner; he was called to preach the Word of God. Much to his father's dismay, he leaves the family home in New Canaan to attend college in Amherst, where he will study to become a preacher. There, he meets the love of his life, Josephine Hall. Everything seems to be moving in the direction of God's plan-until a letter arrives for Gabriel.
His father is dying back home. He leaves school immediately-and when he arrives back in New Canaan, he's in time to convert his dying father and save his soul. Before old man Lyon dies, Gabriel also makes a devastating promise: he will take over the family plantation. He takes to his tasks willingly, for Gabriel knows that no matter what he thought about his life purpose, God always makes His own plans.
With his father gone, Gabriel must become the head of the house, the head of the plantation, and the slave master. As the Civil War inches closer and closer to their home, however, it becomes apparent that Gabriel is called for more than he expected: more than a preacher and more than a plantation owner. He has been called to save his plantation, save his family, and possibly, save his country.