This National Book Award finalist, published in 1969, follows the struggles of Mary Call Luther and her siblings, as they struggle through the harsh Appalachian winter after the death of their father, Roy Luther. Mary Call has promised her father that she will keep her family together on the mountain and will not accept charity from strangers. This means that she must keep his death a secret and find a way to provide for her two sisters and her brother.

Mary Call has always felt that their landlord, Kiser Pease, has taken advantage of her father and kept him down. When Kiser becomes ill, Mary Call makes him sign over their house in exchange for their help. Kiser has wanted to marry Devola, the oldest sister, for some time, but because Devola is like a child, Mary Call has promised her father never to let that happen...