The uneasy friendship between Fremont Adams and C.D. Hobbs worked best when both men had a job to do, when they could fall into the rhythm of hard labor. Neglected by his mother at an early age, Hobbs found his way into the Adams family and took his fair share of chores on their Wyoming ranch. But everyone could tell he was always a bit odd, a bit off. As a result, Fremont resigned himself to watching out for Hobbs, who had an innocence and optimism that can only come from ignorance. During a grueling tour of Korea, however, Adams and Hobbs face unspeakable horrors and return to the ranch marked in dangerous ways.