In a tiny Idaho community, widowed mother Cate Nightingale owns and operates a struggling bed-and-breakfast; occasionally she enlists the aid of Calvin Harris, the shy, enigmatic local handyman.

To Cate's shock, Calvin proves much bolder than expected when a trio of thugs invades her inn, demanding the possessions of a guest who vanished some days before. Though Calvin manages to disperse the intruders, the men soon regroup and shut down phone access in the village, holding its citizens hostage.

In a desperate bid for survival, Cate and Cal strike out on their own, determined to solicit help from a neighboring town. As their heart-stopping journey unfolds, Cate witnesses Cal's astonishing evolution from reticent carpenter to fearless protector.