"Keeping the Promise" begins as the hopeful tale of a colonial family seeking a new and promising life in the deep wilderness of Maine in 1768. But their hopes, dreams, and very survival as a family are severely tested when the father reluctantly leaves his 13-year-old son, Matt, alone in the wilderness to protect their claim until he can return with the rest of the family and their belongings. Weeks of waiting turn into months, and months into seasons, as his family struggles against a deadly epidemic and other hardships in their journey to rejoin their boy. Young Matt's ability to survive his lonely and dangerous vigil becomes more questionable with each passing day, until he's befriended by a band of Penobscot Indians. The experience transforms Matt as his Indian benefactors teach him life's most important lessons about survival, trust, loyalty and hope.