Chapter One begins with David’s description of the town of Bentrock, his family, and his life. The town is small and composed primarily of farmers and ranchers and such small business and local government officials as one would expect in a rural county seat.

David’s father Wesley Hayden has a special role as sheriff, an office that he inherited from his powerful father. David’s mother Gail would much prefer that David’s father practice law and live elsewhere, so as not to be dominated by David’s grandfather and his family.

There is actually not much for a county sheriff to do in Mercer County, Montana. Life is so hard for the farmers and ranchers in the desolate northern plains that “so much of your attention and energy went into keeping not only yourself but also your family, your crops, and your cattle alive, that nothing was left over for raising hell or making trouble” (Chapter 1, p. 4).

David is disappointed that his father does not fit the typical image of a western sheriff.  His father wears a shirt and tie just like a small businessman. Sheriff Hayden does not wear cowboy boots or a Stetson hat or carry a gun.