The Promise

Billy Gaston, a ten year old, Virginia farm boy, is bearing the awesome task of being " man of the house" and protecting Ma, Sis and the family homestead while Pa is away fighting the Civil War. But the war is going poorly for the South as it is winding down. A marauding deserter, Ruffy Gann, tries to steal the family's last remaining food supply, their chickens. Ma is seriously injured in the confrontation, and Billy must bravely infiltrate Confederate lines to find Doc to help Ma. Doc can't leave right away but he gives Billy not only some needed medical advice to help Ma but also, unfortunately, his gun which he says he doesn't need - a gun that later is used by the deserter to unjustly incriminate Billy when Doc is found murdered. Billy must try to prove his innocence, help his Ma, and bring the true murderer to justice. And along the way, he is tested to see if he can find a bit of compassion in his heart for an undeserving recipient.