In this introduction to the Jessica Thorpe Series, Jessica tends bar in a fading Wisconsin town. It is January. The usual misfits arrive from Wisconsin's cities, up for a week or two as they work out their problems. One man is different. A failed politician, he is in town to rebuild his career. All he needs is the local militia and Jessica's help. His cause? Struggling local loggers. Jessica wants to help the loggers too. And that puts Jessica right in the middle as the militia takes over her tiny town.