The coming of age story about Fred, a boy who is sent into the desert with very few resources to help build his family's homestead.
Many colorful characters come into his life, among them ranchers, prostitutes, miners and other unlikely mentors.
Over eleven hard years as a homesteader, hard-rock miner and buckaroo, he learns to live in solitude and keep his emotions in check.
Oh, he also learns to dig a ditch.