The novel is narrated through Luke's perspective as the Chandler family hires migrant workers, including the Spruill "hill people" family and Mexican laborers, to help with the grueling cotton harvest. Luke becomes infatuated with teenage Tally Spruill, who briefly exposes herself to him.
Tensions escalate when Tally's mentally unstable brother, Hank, violently attacks members of a neighboring family, killing one of them. Luke witnesses the attack but is coerced by Hank into lying about what he witnessed. Later, Luke sees a Mexican worker named Cowboy murder Hank and dispose of the body. Cowboy threatens Luke to keep silent, and he and Tally eventually flee the town together.
Amid these dramatic events, Luke grapples with the harsh realities of farm life and the loss of childhood innocence. He also uncovers hints that his beloved Uncle Ricky, who is away at war, may have fathered a child out of wedlock.