"Maria knew not to ask Eli where he would be going or when he might return. She felt certain that her birthing time was very close and hoped that Eli might be home early. Then she found herself hoping that he would not be coming home at all." Oklahoma Territory 1889: Eli Brandt is a cruel and profane tyrant, quick tempered and physically brutal. A victim of her abusive husband, Maria endures his frequent rages with a futile hope that things might somehow change. Both Maria and their son Jacob endure years of Eli's cruelty and suffer his punishments until Jacob rebels in defense of himself and his mother and their lives are forever changed.