The Greenes return to Chicory Creek, Kentucky, to join Erasmus for Thanksgiving, but Nathaniel's mother (Delta Burke) arrives, intent on reclaiming her son, now that her life is in order.
The Greene family joins Josh on an assignment after a violent gang incident.
Working as a mall security guard, Russell helps his new his boss (Gary Graham), whose supposedly deceased wife (Pam Tillis) returns to see their daughter (Elise Shirley) after disappearing years before.
Nathaniel is kidnapped by the woman whose family died because of Joe's (Richard Thomas) reckless driving.
Meanwhile, Claire visits Darlene, a prisoner on death row who she is going to teach to read.