At the end of the twenty first century, there is no city government left, just federal officers to oversee taxation and deaths. Cricket Winters, an apothecary like her mother before her, is the only medical resource most of the town can afford, and she's lucky if she can get her hands on good quality catgut. When Cricket's father dies, a handsome young friend of his named Grey Bonneville shows up at the burial to pay his respects. Cricket is drawn to Grey's Scottish accent, so much like her parents'. Grey is impressed with her ability to throw a dirty punch, and circumstances bring them much together. But as Cricket begins uncovering family secrets that may cost her her property and livelihood, she no longer trusts anyone, least of all Grey, whom corrupt federal agents claim is a smuggler, implicating her father as well. In desperate need of money to save her property, Cricket gets a job with the local Mormon crime boss as an armed guard for a trip to Portland. Before she hits the road to Portland, Cricket finds disturbing evidence about her mother's unsolved murder that makes her the new target of old evil.