In 1921, Cleo Snow, poised between her Victorian raising and post-World War I liberal ideas, travels to Sago Island, Ga and falls in love with war hero pilot Graham Henry. Complicating their love-at-first-sight is Josie Drake. The former follies dancer goes missing and leaves a note saying she’s getting a divorce to marry Graham. When Josie’s body turns up in the marsh, Graham is suspected, but Cleo knows Graham had nothing to do with Josie’s death. Cleo was with him in the lighthouse that night. To prove Graham is innocent, Cleo will have to confess, a loathsome idea, and Graham swears he will not compromise Cleo to exonerate himself. Another island resident, Doc Holliday, who claims to be related to the infamous gunslinger, is a veterinarian and a falconer. His falcon, Billy, captures Cleo’s severely crushed heart. Cleo captures Doc’s heart, but she’s reeling over her gullibility and her body’s occasional betrayal of her resolve.