In 1908 the waterways were still the best way to ship timber to market. A time-honoured tradition was the rafting of timber down the Ocmulgee-Oconee-Altamaha River system. The men who did this were a hardy lot. It took a special breed of men survive the challenges of this life. "River Pilot" is the story of one of these men, William Augustus Reynolds (Gus). According to his father, Gus has river mud in his veins. Together with other men of his time, Gus struggles to make a living as they cut trees from the river swamp, build rafts, and float them down river. Eva Hester meets Gus at a family reunion, and they are eventually married. Together they work to raise a family. Eva struggles with loneliness and anxiety as she waits for Gus to return from the river. With the strong support of Gus and his family, she is able to build a good life until the day tragedy intervenes. For the first time in her life, Eva must face the facts of life and deal with them the best she can.