The beautiful and naive Clover Collette has been in the clutches of her overbearing mother for twenty-four years, but when Francis Darling unintentionally penetrates her defenses, the two suddenly and secretly fall in love. Within hours they're engaged and on the run. Madly in love, they drift through the heartland of America confronted by bank robbers, maniacal doctors, a Wall Street tycoon, an absentminded poet, and a blind artist - each one troubled by a heart wrenching tale of love.