At the turn of the century, J.H. Akins and Louise Cresap Akins arrive in Lewistown, Montana by way of Humansville, Missouri.  They have their two year old daughter, Bohnda in tow.  They would soon prosper in the rich civic life of Lewistown.

Dockery steals a friend's car and gets it stuck in a snowbank.  He wonders if Bohnda will respond to his outburst in his previous letter. 

Dockery did not know he was the jealous type.  But when he receives Bohnda's letter about two other men plying her for sympathy, he erupts in concern.