In Cash, Texas, 1958, where nothing ever happens, suddenly everything does: a child is killed in a freak school bus accident, a farmer is brutally murdered, and a child molester is terrorizing the community. When lame-duck Deputy Sheriff Wayne Tinsley receives the first call, he fails to anticipate the calamitous events in store for the people of Cash, and for him. Arresting an irascible black teenager for the murder of the farmer, Deputy Tinsley becomes a local hero. Convicting the acolored boya would be the easy, popular thing to do, but the deputy doesnat believe the boy is guilty. The missing evidence that could save the boy–a ledger written by his dead mother–is held by Faye Cowen, Tinsleyas secret love, and its disclosure will undoubtedly destroy her family. The deputy must discover the truth of the crimes in an environment of prejudices, danger, deceit and hatred. And, finally, Tinsley is forced to face and overcome his own hatred, or lose his life.