Sometime in the twentieth or twenty-first century, sixteen-year-old Sammy Boone runs away from home to escape from her abusive boyfriend and father. Sammy finds employment at Glen Otterbausch’s Wyoming ranch. Her horse riding skills impress Glen—known as the Otter—who quickly begins to nurse a crush on his employee. The two make the horse ranch a profitable enterprise that draws regular visitors from out of state. The Otter relies on Sammy as a reliable employee, and his love for her grows. After years of working together, the Otter makes advances on Sammy. Sammy rebuffs his advances; the Otter hastily offers the ranch to Sammy, which Sammy also rejects. Years later, after fifteen years of Sammy’s employment at the ranch, the Otter’s recently divorced nephew Harrison stays at the ranch and begins a sexual relationship with Sammy. The Otter grows extremely jealous. Harrison leaves Sammy, his horse, and the ranch to mend his relationship with his wife and does not return. Still jealous and angry, the Otter hastily sells his nephew’s horse to a butcher, but buys it back in an auction battle with Sammy after a change in heart.