Betsy Borntrager wants nothing more in her life than to kneel for her baptismal vows in the Amish church, marry Eli, and raise a family in the old ways. But she is surrounded by silence amongst the Plain People—silence that is meant to bring her closer to the church, and yet is pushing her further away. The only one not silent is Eli, and he has a different way of dealing with undesirable behavior—spanking, suppositories and plastic rods that make her feel submission in a whole new way.