As Linden and Rhett prepare for their wedding, the arrival of Linden's estranged brother, Ash, complicates matters. Ash, having lost everything in the city, reluctantly returns to his roots. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a harsh Midwestern winter, testing the characters' resolve and relationships. Throughout the novel, the characters face various challenges: Rhett's prize mare, Cinnamon, becomes unexpectedly pregnant; Linden and Sage are caught in a dangerous blizzard; and Ash struggles to find his place in a world he thought he'd left behind.