A trip to Mankato for some Christmas shopping flares into a nightmare when Laura and Almanzo's 2-year-old daughter Rose is kidnapped by Elsa Norris, an emotionally unstable young woman who is grieving the loss of her baby. Elsa brings the little girl home to her husband, and they care for her as their own. Laura, Almanzo, and Mr. Edwards search frantically for Rose and, along the way, are joined by young Samuel, an orphaned runaway who is searching for a family to call his own. Back in Walnut Grove, with his wife away for the time being, Nels jumps at the opportunity to teach his greedy daughter Nancy some important lessons about the true meaning of the season. Jason Carter will stop at nothing to afford a Christmas present for his mother, and John and Sarah do their best to make the holiday special for their boys, who may not have much to open on Christmas morning this year. Lastly, Mr. Montague--who is initially disgusted by the commercialism of Christmas--comes through for his friends when they need it most.