Nineteen-year-old Christy Huddleston arrives from Asheville to teach in the poverty-stricken community of Cutter Gap, where she must learn to live on her own and fit it with the locals. Christy makes friends with Miss Alice at the Mission, the local doctor and the Reverend. Meanwhile, Christy and Dr. MacNeill spend some "quality" time together and the discovery of a secret stash of moonshine beneath the school causes problems for David and Christy.

Rob Allen enters a writing contest and Little Burl is injured when he falls through a crevice in the rocks.

When Opal's baby girl dies because of backwoods superstitions, Christy is appalled. Meanwhile, Tom McHone seeks refuge at the mission after being shot and accused of telling the authorities about the moonshining operation.

Christy is introduced to Aunt Polly and David rubs Ault Allen the wrong way.

Dr. Ferrand, mission director, pays a visit to Cutter Gap. Christy receives a large number of donations from Ashville, including equipment to hook up a phone line to El Pano.

Dr. MacNeill tries an experimental procedure on Becky O'Teale in hopes of curing her trachoma. Meanwhile, Miss Alice disapproves of Christy's friendship with Neil.

Christy meets Hattie McHabe, the oldest Cutter Gap resident. Meanwhile, Theodore S. Harland arrives to record the folklore of the cove, or so he says, and Miss Alice's daughter, Margaret, returns from ""the dead.""

As the residents of Cutter Gap prepare for Thanksgiving, Christy's father visits. Meanwhile, David tries to find a way to bring the new church bell to town on his own.

Christy's father suffers a stroke, that leads to a visit from her mother, culminating in her being ordered to return home to Asheville to care for her ailing father. Meanwhile, the the Cutter Gap men have a surprise in store for the Reverend.

When David's sister Ida prepares to marry her penpal, Clarence Sweetwater, this propels David to propose Christy. Meanwhile, Christy attempts to help teenager Lundy Taylor reconnect with his father.

Christy becomes jealous when David's childhood friend, songbird Sissel Jorgensen, arrives for a visit. Meanwhile, Sam Houston and his dog, Singer Lee, search for the great white buck

Rob Allen is offered a college scholarship if he can pass a test. Zady Spencer feels left out when Christy begins spending so much time with Rob, tutoring him for his entrance exam.

Christy and her students set out to disprove a superstition and take a field trip into a cave but trouble ensues. Meanwhile, Ruby Mae discovers that she is related to a famous heroine.

Christy and Miss Alice journey back to Freedom, Kentucky, the site of her first mission. Meanwhile, back in Cutter Gap, Neil discovers that David proposed to Christy.

New resident, Daniel Scott tries to make friends with the Spencers. Meanwhile, John Spencer becomes enamoured of Christy and Bessie Colburn spreads a malicious rumor about her out of jealousy.

Dr. MacNeill puts the mission under quarantine after an outbreak of scarlet fever.

Christy is taken hostage by a man who blames Dr. MacNeill for the death of his wife.

Christy finds an abandoned baby in the woods and reconsiders David's marriage proposal in order to adopt it.

A visiting benefactor for the mission seeks to acquire land for his lumber business, but it may not be what it seems.

Margaret returns to the cove and Christy is torn between her feelings for David and Neil.