Marilynn Porter has lived in Jackson, Mississippi for her entire life. She’s carried the burden of keeping her family together since her father’s death last year. But with her 22nd birthday around the corner and her best friend Ruby running off to become a stranger’s bride, Marilynn begins to consider alternative ways to leave her southern nest.

Gerald Meyer rushed to California with hopes of becoming a wealthy man by working in the mines every day. He spends day after day surrounded by hundreds of grimy men, but spends his nights alone or in a partially crowded bar if he’s lucky.

More and more men are grabbing their piece of the American dream, and Gerald is at risk of being left right on the outside of it, eyes wide open. Someone to keep him company wouldn’t be so bad, especially anyone bold enough to answer an ad in the newspaper.

Marilynn and Gerald remind us that love is often messy, and prefers not to be handled.