As an orphaned Floridian boy grows up to become a mathematician with a healthy family of his own in the 20th century, the memory of his unhappy father lingers, threatening his peace of mind.

In present-day Montana, an eighteen-year old’s father goes missing at the same time that a cougar begins to roam around town, which leads to a string of tragic losses and an uncomfortable blend of revulsion and awe for the silent creature.