A funeral takes place in Laskin, South Dakota, in June 1885. Patrick Stark had overdosed on laudanum. Nell, Patrick’s wife, and her sons arrive home from the funeral. Martha, Nell’s mother-in-law, and Pearl, Nell’s sister-in-law, are cooking dinner. Nell feels grateful for having her in-laws supporting her when she has no blood relatives. She was staying at James Stark's house, her father-in-law. James Stark owned a general store in the town and sections of land that he divided among his three oldest sons, including Patrick and Graham, Pearl’s husband. Nell worries about what work she can find in Laskin because the only current available job was washing, but it is heavy work and looked down upon. Nell begins to feel uneasy about James because he was inappropriately physical with her, such as placing his arm against hers at dinner, or reaching over her as she cleaned.   As autumn came, Pearl became pregnant. Martha suddenly dies one afternoon from a heart attack. Nell only worries that James Stark won't be stopped in his intentions with her now that his wife is dead. She vows to move away and become a washer before having to marry him. As winter passes, James continues being touchy with Nell and calls her “Nellie." Nell knows that in June, her mourning will be over, and James would find his next wife. She worries because the townspeople expect Nell and James to get married when her mourning is over. Pearl gives birth to a girl named Violet in March. Graham begins to sleep in the store, and after two weeks acquires a bad cold. The town doctor leaves a small bottle of laudanum for him and Nell gives him the medicine several times a day. He begs her to kill him with it, but she assures him that he will get better. Nell hides the laudanum bottle high in the kitchen cupboard that night.   The next morning, Graham is found dead with the empty laudanum bottle at his side. Pearl angrily asks Nell if she gave him as much as she gave Patrick, revealing that the entire town thinks she poisoned Patrick. Nell remembers Patrick dealing with alcoholism. When he was going through withdrawals, she gave him a small dose of laudanum, followed by other small ones when he had severe symptoms, until eventually, he died from an overdose.   The doctor confirms Graham’s death. James reveals to Nell that his grandchild, Violet, is actually his child. He says Graham knew but helped keep the secret from Martha. He doesn't know if Graham killed himself or if Pearl killed him. The day after Graham’s funeral, Nell finally moves away with her sons to Sioux Falls, where she takes up washing and declines all help from James. Two years later, she reads that Pearl died of blood poisoning. Eventually, Nell learned that James remarried and named one of his three daughters Nell.