Michael S. Nuckols returns with the long-awaited sequel to "The Winter Calf." In the days after their son's funeral, neither Iris Littleton nor Charles Funkhauser expected to see each other again. When Charles reads that Iris has nearly drowned, he rushes to Maple Gap to search for the boy that may be his son. Rumors about the boy's disappearance haunt Charles as he tries to make amends for leaving the unwed mother. All the while, a new preacher and a bootlegger arrive in Maple Gap, sowing chaos in the mountain witch's solitary life.