As Jack and Julianna make their way back to Fort Bridger to announce their engagement they run across a couple stranded along the road, Matt and Emily McDermott, and their daughter Holly. Holly is six years old and bears a remarkable resemblance to Patty Ruth. When tragedy strikes and Holly dies of pneumonia Emily McDermott becomes mentally unstable and refuses to believe that Holly is dead. She heads out one day to find Holly and mistakes Patty Ruth as her dead daughter. Matt's heart is torn between his wife and the guilt of keeping Patty Ruth. He finally decides he must take Patty Ruth home on Christmas Eve. Hannah decides that God has given her the perfect gift this Christmas-to have Patty Ruth back.