When housewife Alice is suddenly widowed and left with no money and no job to support herself and her son, she sets off across the country to find a new life. Stranded in Phoenix, she lands a waitressing job and meets a rancher.

Caroline just wants to settle down in one place, find a decent guy, and provide a better home for her handful of a son, Toby. When she moves to Seattle and meets Dwight, she thinks she's got it made. Toby, however, feels differently after spending time with Dwight while away from Caroline. Dwight seems to want to mold Toby into a better person, but to do so he emotionally, verbally, and physically abuses the kid. The marriage proceeds, and soon Caroline,...