The story takes place over a three week period in August, 1967. Dix Monroe was at loose ends after working three-years in law enforcement and nearly that length of time serving as a Navy SEAL in Vietnam. He now worked as a probation officer in a rural county in northern California. He is trying to adjust to a normal civilian life. He has no particular goals in life. He feels unencumbered by not have any romantic relationships, and thinks that the last thing he need in his life now is a woman. And then in a crisis situation involving a neighbor's medical emergency, he meets Cluny Ramm, the neighbor's daughter. Their relationship evolves, while at the same time he becomes involved in a conflict with two local narcotic officer that moves from verbal to physical encounters, and heads toward a shoot-out. Resolution of both situations moves quickly and ends in explosive encounters.