In March, 1961, Leslie Richards leaves New York with her ten-year-old daughter, Mandy, hoping to escape from her past and the ruins of a relationship. She chooses Pine Hollow, Arkansas because that is where her grandmother lived, and Leslie still remembers the visits. At this point in her life, the thought of a quieter, simpler daily routine has tremendous appeal. A moderately successful author of children's books, Leslie has the freedom of taking her job with her, even though her agent would prefer she stay in New York. In the quiet, rural countryside, Leslie anticipates a lifestyle that will satisfy her professional and personal needs. What she doesn't anticipate is a series of apparent kidnappings and the narrow view of the local sheriff who has reasons of his own for trying to pin the kidnappings on her. Organized crime owns everything in Hot Springs, including Sheriff Bates, and pressure is put on him to put the kidnapping cases to rest before the bosses come from Chicago for a big meeting. Pinning them on Leslie, the newcomer to town, seems like the best option. Leslie has to prove her innocence before she is locked up for good.