In June, 1932, New York City Fire Captain Jake McCann is appointed fire chief in Woodhill, Ohio, a small town near Cleveland, where his brother, Dave, is a physician. Jake brings to Woodhill his best friends, Freddy Pratter, and Mickey Justini, both firefighters, and participants in two tragic fires that have left all three men scarred.
Woodhill Councilman John Fannelli and his former son-in-law, Dan Darvey, profit from Prohibition by bootlegging and running protection rackets in Cleveland and Woodhill. Fannelli’s theft of a carton containing Dan’s best-kept secret results in threats, arson fires, and in Jake’s inadvertant role in their argument. Before Police Chief Matt Gardner can ask him questions, Dan seeks help from his cousin, Chicago racketeer Bobby Darvey, who brings Dan to Chicago and into his organization.
Dan’s second wife, Laura, refuses to speculate on how Dan earns so much money in the midst of the Depression, and with Dan away much of the time, Laura devotes her time to raising Appaloosa horses. As she and Jake share their mutual interest in horses, their relationship deepens from that of friends to lovers.
When, from Chicago, Dan learns of Jake and Laura’s affair, he takes revenge that leads to Laura’s abduction, a battle of wits between Jake, Dan, and Bobby, and a final fire that frees Jake, his friends and Laura from their memories.
In June, 1932, New York City Fire Captain Jake McCann is appointed fire chief in Woodhill, Ohio, a small town near Cleveland, where his brother, Dave, is a physician. Jake brings to Woodhill his best friends, Freddy Pratter, and Mickey Justini, both firefighters, and participants in two tragic fires that have left all three men scarred.
Woodhill Councilman John Fannelli and his former son-in-law, Dan Darvey, profit from Prohibition by bootlegging and running protection rackets in Cleveland and Woodhill. Fannelli’s theft of a carton containing Dan’s best-kept secret results in threats, arson fires, and in Jake’s inadvertant role in their argument. Before Police Chief Matt Gardner can ask him questions, Dan seeks help from his cousin, Chicago racketeer Bobby Darvey, who brings Dan to Chicago and into his organization.
Dan’s second wife, Laura, refuses to speculate on how Dan earns so much money in the midst of the Depression, and with Dan away much of the time, Laura devotes her time to raising Appaloosa horses. As she and Jake share their mutual interest in horses, their relationship deepens from that of friends to lovers.
When, from Chicago, Dan learns of Jake and Laura’s affair, he takes revenge that leads to Laura’s abduction, a battle of wits between Jake, Dan, and Bobby, and a final fire that frees Jake, his friends and Laura from their memories.
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