Rae Lynn is a 25-year-old woman who grew up in an orphanage after being abandoned as an infant. Seeking stability and a sense of belonging, she manages a small turpentine operation with her older husband, Warren. Following a catastrophic accident at their home, she makes a difficult decision and flees the state to seek employment at a remote logging camp. She values self-sufficiency and works hard to blend in and survive in highly demanding physical environments.

Del is a 28-year-old farm hand who grew up learning the turpentine trade in the longleaf pine forests. Following a terrifying near-suffocation inside a grain storage bin, he decides to change his path and secures work as a chipper at the Swallow Hill camp. He is highly observant of his surroundings and prefers to judge people by their actions rather than social prejudices.

Cornelia operates the camp store alongside her husband. She possesses a quiet, compassionate demeanor that contrasts sharply with the harsh environment of the turpentine camp. She often extends kindness to the workers and helps those who fall ill or suffer injuries, though she remains highly cautious of angering her strict spouse.

Otis runs the isolated company store at the Swallow Hill camp, maintaining strict control over the goods the workers require to survive. He tracks their financial debts meticulously, using this system to exert power and trap the laborers in a continuous cycle of owing the company. He demands total obedience at home and runs his business with a cold, calculating approach.

Crow serves as an authoritarian woods rider who supervises the chippers. He holds deep prejudices and frequently uses intimidation or physical punishment to keep the laborers in line. He demands absolute submission and specifically targets workers who question his methods or show solidarity with marginalized groups.

Warren is a 40-year-old man operating a modest turpentine farm. He provided Rae Lynn with her first real home after she aged out of the orphanage. He values hard work but possesses a stubborn streak, repeatedly refusing medical assistance after a heavy tree limb causes a severe injury.

Butch is a local acquaintance who frequents the Cobb property. He observes the daily operations and maintains an outwardly friendly relationship with Warren, though his interactions carry underlying tension and ulterior motives regarding the farm's future.

Commonly known as Peewee, Pritchard manages the overall operations at the Swallow Hill turpentine camp. He assigns men to their respective woods riders and oversees the camp's productivity. He balances his desire for high resin yields with the volatile dynamics between his supervisors and the workforce.

Jim is a woods rider at the Swallow Hill camp who manages his crew with more patience than his peers. He focuses on steady work and defends laborers who fall behind on their quotas, placing him at odds with the more aggressive foremen.

Nolan is an experienced Black laborer at the turpentine camp. He understands the dangerous social dynamics of the isolated operation and advises incoming workers on how to survive the harsh management style of the woods riders.

Sudie May is Del's sister who resides in North Carolina. She maintains a deep connection to her family's agricultural roots and offers a welcoming, stable presence away from the grueling conditions of the logging industry.

Amos runs a household and agricultural operation with his wife. He is practical and supportive, offering advice on local tradesmen and barrel makers to those looking to establish new businesses.

Moe owns a farm in Georgia where laborers handle heavy agricultural tasks. He reacts strictly to misconduct, reassigning workers to highly dangerous duties like clearing out towering grain bins as a form of punishment.

Myra is married to the owner of a Georgia farm. Her brief, illicit encounter sets off a chain of events that drastically alters the employment and location of the workers involved.

Eugene is Warren's son from a previous marriage. He distanced himself from the family property after his mother's death and views his father's new household with suspicion and detachment.