A lawman with bleak eyes stalks a ne'er-do-well with a rakish smile through a quiet waterfront town in Delaware, near the turn of the last century. Both have recently arrived by steamship from New Jersey, and as far as a Nanticoke Indian youth named Sonny is concerned, they can't leave Lewes the same way soon enough. Sonny is trying to stay out of trouble and explore the puzzling affections being showered on him by the daughter of the wealthiest banker in town. But everyone seems to want something else from him, and some of it involves a thrashing by the banker. Sonny can't explain what it means or why it all seems to be coming down on him. He only knows that life as he has known it is changing. Formidable men mean him no good. He'll be lucky to get through the next week.