In the western town of Goldorado, a young Rae Brown has recently separated from her husband, Pete, and needs money. She begins to help Doc Mac, a local doctor, nurse Mr. Cowper back to health after Cowper barely survives a mining accident. Rae’s only experience nursing was when she took care of her Aunt Bess and her stepfather. Nervous Mr. Cowper doesn’t have the money to pay her, Rae snoops in his things. In his trunk she finds a wad of cash along with several books. Mr. Cowper floats in and out of consciousness. He often calls out for a woman named Cleo. Rae reflects on the various male bodies she’s seen as she takes care of Mr. Cowper's ailing body. She remembers that her father died when she was eleven and her mother married a man named Roy soon after. Her mother entertained Roy’s friends for money, which caused all the other girls to stop speaking to Rae. Rae felt isolated and met Pete, with whom she fell in love and followed to Goldorado. Back in the present, Rae feels the most tender towards Cowper’s weakened body. After a week in Rae’s care, Mr. Cowper requests a Bible, so Doc Mac and Rae start to read it to him. Mr. Cowper shares more about his own life. He reveals that his parents and his sister, Cleo, are all dead. Mr. Cowper wants something other than the Bible to read and asks if Rae has any books. Rae doesn’t have any, but she admits she looked in Mr. Cowper’s trunk, where she saw multiple books. Mr. Cowper is not angry, only thrilled by the idea of new books to read.   One evening, Rae reads Dickens aloud to Mr. Cowper. Doc Mac soon joins them, and both men sit and peacefully listen to her. The next morning, Rae and Mr. Cowper bond over books and hymns.