Falling water valley: Bethany Andrews' father had finally found a place for them to call home. But that was before he was called to doctor the Confederate Army and before raiders regularly tormented the people of the beautiful valley, frightening away their minister and closing their church.

Bethany has tried to help the people of the valley with her medical knowledge, but now after a raid by bushwhackers, an injured stranger is in the valley and a baby is missing.

Bethany finds herself unsettlingly drawn to the stranger, even while wondering if he is one of those who prey on the valley. Will her aid to him cause more bloodshed? Can she keep the misguided woman who pretends psychic powers from turning the people's wrath against him?

Birdsong road: The war Between the States has torn the small valley community apart, with residents' still holding allegiances to both sides of the conflict. Charity Morgan, too, has strong feelings, hating the Yankees for what they've done to her family and home-but it is her new job to unite the valley by teaching the children. Charity will do her duty, but she cannot bring herself to be kind to Will Bowers, who fought on the Union side. And that is fine with Will, for after finding out that Charity's brother was a famous Confederate spy, his initial interest in her has become confused. If Charity ever finds her brother, how can she bring him into this maelstrom of political emotions that she is learning to call home? And if Will can't put issues of the war behind him, will he ever find a place of rest?