The winter of 1858 has been hard in Kentucky. Twelve year old Josh Oakley promised to take care of the family until Pa came back from a summer job on a Mississippi steamboat. Now Pa is missing, the food about gone, and Ma and his little sister, Polly, are sick. When Ma says they should go to Pleasant Hill where the Shakers, take in anyone in need, Josh argues..."Pa said Shakers got strange ways. Don't allow marrying, shake and dance in Church" But...