While driving through the desert in the American southwest during a blinding rainstorm, Tod and Buz, needing some food, are trying to decide whether to stop in the next town of Hastings three minutes away, or drive another twenty minutes down the road to what looks by the map to be the slightly larger town of Sparrow Falls. Beyond that, the next town is about two hours away. They are forced to stop temporarily in Hastings as they almost run over a young woman standing in the middle of the road, who, dripping wet and wearing a church robe, hops in their car, she obviously wanting to get away. She ends up being the type of person who answers questions about herself but still ends up remaining evasive, meaning that they learn little about her. Despite Lottie begging them not to, Tod and Buz decide to stop in Sparrow Falls for their dinner. They learn that the reason she, Lottie Montana, didn't want them to stop is that she is wanted for murder there, for killing Al Hingle, the brother of the town's sheriff. She has never admitted to the murder, nor has she denied it. Menacing Sheriff Hingle has friends in high places, and can seemingly exact his own form of justice. But Buz in particular seems to think there is something more to Lottie's story, even if she did kill Al Hingle. As such, Buz and Tod decide to help Lottie in whatever way they can. Although she was running away, they feel that some of the answers they are looking for may be found back in Hastings.
—Huggo