Big Diehl understood his nature, early-on. Raised as a cowkid on a ranch in northeastern Colorado, Diehl yearned for something more, something encompassing the truth of himself. He became a soldier. Served honorably in Iraq. Found precious love along the way. Yearned to return to Wyoming where his future awaited, where an unfinished reckoning beckoned. This short story also contains a short teaser for the full length novel of the same name at the end.

Diehl's return to Wyoming from six years of service to his country—-including combat in Iraq—-is colored with a dark intent to even the score with his father. But before he can once again embrace that family, including Tony, a ranch hand with a military history of his own, Diehl's single-minded purpose of revenge against his father precipitates events that turn his life in a direction never envisioned. His comfort through it all, is Jack, a Border Collie who Diehl rescues from certain death; a dog who, perhaps, rescues Diehl from himself.

Big Diehl struggles against his inner demons to make a home for himself and Joe Tye on the high plains of northwestern Colorado. Big Diehl and Joe Tye leave Wyoming, with little more than their border collie, Jack, sharing dreams of making a home together on the high plains of northwestern Colorado. Their shared intent is to work hard, and establish themselves as good and honest men who only want a fair shake from those they encounter in the small towns and big ranches of this mountain paradise. Their hopes for the future become fragile, though, when not eveyone is willing to accept them for who they are. So too, the inner demons Diehl still carries from the first Gulf War threaten his and Joe's dreams of the peaceful, loving place they both wish to embrace the rest of their lives.