In 1925 Texas, Davy Stoneman, straight out of college, returns to his hometown of Twin Forks as a deputy sheriff. Along the way he comes to the aid of Hanna Whitefield, the new schoolteacher, and immediately finds himself drawn to her. The first day Davy on the job, he rescues a badly beaten Pastor John, an African American. Davy learns the men responsible are Tommy Baron, an old acquaintance, and the Bryson Brothers, Lott and Finn.
He arrests the three men, which sets off a series of encounters that threatens to bring a bloodbath down on Twin Forks. At the same time, he uncovers a secret that rips apart his own life. With so much leagued against him, can he save the town and right his own life?