This is a compilation of stories from the author's youth in the 1920s to the end of his days, written by a Montana man. William Lloyd was a career Navy man who served during World War II and returned home to settle in Rosebud, Montana after retiring.

Jessie returns to Sage Bluff, Montana, accompanied by Jack, her huge orange tomcat, to house sit for her dad and judge an art competition. With her easel set up in the family field and painting the morning light on the golden haystack, she absentmindedly brushes a note of turquoise onto the canvas-echoing a spot of color she sees . Curious about the lovely spot of blue, the artist walks over to discover a shoe. The mate is still on the foot of a dying Native American girl crammed between the hay bales. She whispers to Jessie that her attacker was a cop. The story becomes personal when old...

While painting on location in one of her family's hay fields, Jessie absentmindedly brushes a note of turquoise onto the canvas. Curious about what added the lovely spot of color, the artist walks over to discover a tennis shoe. The mate is still on the foot of a dying Native American girl crammed between the hay bales. The story becomes more personal when old flame, Sheriff Russell Bonham, reveals that Amber Reynolds, a grad student writing a thesis for her art history major, was attacked while on her way to speak to Jessie's family about two missing Thomas Moran masterpieces worth millions....