Billy has always dreamed of having not one, but two dogs. So when he finally saves enough money to get two puppies—Old Dan and Little Ann—he is filled with joy. It doesn't matter that times are tough; together they will roam the hills of the Ozarks. Soon, Billy and his hounds will become the best hunting team in the valley. Stories of their great achievements spread throughout the region, and the combination of Old Dan's physical strength, Little Ann's intelligence, and Billy's tenacity seems unbeatable. But tragedy awaits these determined hunters—now friends—and Billy learns that hope can spring from despair, and that the seeds of the future can grow from the scars of the past.