Deaf Smith, Texas, a small town with problems . . . Lawyer Billy Bob Holland's friend and neighbour, luckless ex-rodeo rider Wilbur Pickett, has been framed for the theft of $300,000 worth of bearer bonds stolen from Earl Deitrich. Deitrich is the local boy made good, rich but dirty,and doesn't care who he hurts on his way to the top. When Wilbur's wife kills a man in self-defence, she too finds herself threatened with the local lock-up - and worse besides - thanks to a deputy who wouldn't think twice about sexually harassing a blind woman.
It's up to Billy Bob to tie down Deitrich and his henchmen - including the local sheriff, who cannot afford to be impartial, not if he wants to keep his job. Keeping his job is the least of it - the bodies are beginning to pile up and Billy Bob is deep in a quagmire of lies and deceit with black gold at its heart.
