Content Warning: The novel depicts and mentions murder (including a graphic kill by knife and a murder-suicide), violent nightmares, severed human heads, animal death and remains, and domestic abuse.

While driving through Dubois, Wyoming, for a 10-day stay at a ranch Airbnb, New York banker Grace Evans pulls into a Gunslinger 66 self-serve gas station and goes inside to pay. As she fuels her car, the attendant approaches her—but she quickly drives away. The natural beauty of Wyoming awes Grace. After 7:00 pm, she pulls up to a ranch house along the Wind River. The host, Calvin Wells, hurries out to meet her. The two introduce themselves, and he carries Grace’s bags into the house. She thinks, “A sinking feeling hit me in my gut” (9).

Calvin watches Grace unpack, enthralled by her beauty—especially her long blonde hair and blue eyes. However, he vows not to chase another woman so soon. Grace hoists her heavy bags onto her bed, surprising him with her strength. She walks through the house, which is covered with taxidermized animal heads. Calvin offers to help her, but she stresses her independence. Grace has a bag that she will not open in front of Calvin, and Calvin has a basement where guests are not permitted.