Emmett Murphy Shane Hagedorn is a Civil War veteran who returns to his Michigan home looking for peace After his wife dies he fulfills his promise to a dying soldier and brings the Negro widow Haddie Lauren LaStrada and her daughter to stay with him and his son The townsfolk arent ready for this modern family and a nefarious plot to remove them is hatched Facing bigotry and greatly outnumbered Emmett struggles to find faith But when the circus train comes to town a mysterious turn of events provide Emmett and his family with the unexpected help they need to overcome