After spending years fending for herself on a wide-open prairie, young Bridget Seegraw stumbles into a ghost town and discovers an unusual site: Last Chance Bookstore. In a bleak land harshly controlled by the Order and its soldiers, the Purveyors, Bridget falls under the gentle influence of the bookstore and must adapt to a different way of life - The Code - as taught to her by the store's manager and philosopher, Dakota Robishaw. With Dakota's help, Bridget begins to trust and be loyal to her new family and her new tribe. She must also understand the meaning of the mandate: We do not murder. From girl to woman, from rebel to teacher, from loner to leader, Bridget discovers a fresh identity and sets off on a long journey, all under the mantle of her sacred protector, Mother.