Shane Morgan's world is shattered when his mother is killed in a car accident. His father, a famous rodeo star, and a hero to many, drowns his sorrow in booze and soon is just a rodeo clown with a drinking problem. Then the two inherit a small ranch, and Shane looks forward to having a real home, making friends, and getting through a whole school year in the same place.

But things don't go well at school or at home. In fact, Shane and his father seem to be growing further and further apart.

Will his father ever change? Will things ever be different?