Young and in love, David and Molly (Linda Purl) Beaton have just celebrated their wedding and are off to start their life together as homesteaders. Headed for the Dakota Territory with a few dollars and plenty of enthusiasm, they proudly stake their claim and get to work. But the Beatons quickly learn that life on the prairie isn't always easy and they must endure everything from harsh winters, to the birth of their first child, to a swarm of grasshoppers—all without the help of their families. With strong wills and support from each other, they won't give up hope, even when the going gets tough.