Even though seventeen year old Eddy Gavolin gut shot his drunken stepfather, the older man managed to get a lucky stab that killed the youth's mother. She died in his arms without revealing his real father's identity. And after she was put to rest in the New Mexico desert the stark realization infected him--he had a hell of a mountain to climb. Not only was he a country boy with Indian blood, he was a real life bastard as well. Under the tutelage of Deputy Dave Brinkle and Lambert Snodgrass, a transplanted Texas oil field driller, he starts his climb toward fortune after he discovers large quantities of coal on the old family sheep ranch. But with wealth came more problems, more sex, more alcohol and he was denied hunger his first true love, Gloria Drake. To cleanse his body, mind and soul, he seeks a spiritual communication from his deceased Bible totin' Grandpappy Gavolin and finally finds deliverance.