Lily McDade lives in the small Texas town of McDade with her father and younger siblings: Dane, Nathan, and Dellie. After her mother died giving birth to Dellie, Lily had to step up into the role of care giver. The novel takes place seven years later, when Lily is fifteen. She comes across Marion Beatty, the youngest of the "Beatty Gang". After the encounter, she can't seem to stop thinking about him. Though her father- not to mention, the entire town- frown upon the Beatty family, Lily can't seem to see the "evils" they speak of in her Marion. After many secret meetings and warnings, Lily finds she can not live without him.
She is forced to choose between her life (and potential 'proper' suitor) or Marion and his outlaw ways. When she witnesses the cold blooded murder of his two eldest brothers, and the injury of the third, she finds it is a no brainer choice. She and Marion run off together. The first night off, she accidently loses her virginity to him. He decides they should get married, exactly what she's been dreaming of. But after their impromptu wedding in Austin, Lily realizes she doesn't know her husband at all. His lies begin to unfold. Yet, she can't not love him. The audience realizes his flaws, but is still captivated by his pure love and adoration towards his wife. They hide in his uncle's home, where Lily finds she is with child. However, a reward is out for anyone who can find Marion. He ultimately ends up turning himself in when he discovers he is being followed by the two men who killed his brothers. Lily is escorted 'home', where her father burns the marriage license. But, she leaves the house, buys a gun, and sets out to free her husband.