As the Civil War approaches, eighteen-year-old Junius Hart falls in love with Ruby, one of his father's slaves. When Junius overhears plans to kidnap Ruby, he vows to get her to safety via the Underground Railroad, but his plan goes disastrously wrong when they are ambushed by Jayhawkers and Ruby is captured.
Junius has a special talent: since he was a boy, he has played his grandfather's fife. He sees a way to track Ruby by joining the Missouri State Guard as a fifer. But soon after, his unit is absorbed into the Confederate Army, forcing Junius to choose between his quest and his moral compass.
After the war, Junius is still reeling from the loss of Ruby. He embarks on a career selling musical instruments which takes him to Canada. There, he learns of Ruby's fate and meets someone who will forever change his life. For a brief moment, Junius believes his dreams of a life with Ruby may come true, until a shocking revelation tragically destroys them both.
Years later, Junius has rebuilt his life. He no longer plays the fife, but, in a surprising twist, one half of his broken fife shows up in the hands of a stranger, bringing him the redemption he never thought he'd find.