W.D. and Jesse, cousins from the back hills of Tennessee, head to Missouri "just to pick some cotton." Swimming the Mississippi River and being caught in a hailstorm turns out to be the easiest part of their life-changing trip. The old sea captain they find in a pool of blood aboard the Tiptonville ferry is alive, but barely He's been robbed of a magnificent diamond necklace. As his life hangs in the balance, the sheriff treats the Two From Tennessee like suspects. They soon find work at the R.G. Billings' Plantation, but get far more than they bargained for as a U.S. Air Force T-6 "Texan" crashes in the cotton field where they're working. Disregarding their own safety, they attempt a daring rescue of the trapped pilot. In the meantime, Jesse falls head over heels in love with the sea captain's niece, Angel Steffelow, while W.D. gets involved with Kerri Lynn Carlisle, a young girl from New Madrid, Missouri who has psychic powers that intrigue and frighten him.