 Writer Jacqueline Holt is ticketed by Bubba Skinner for running a red light and is immediately attracted to him. Jackie stays in Sparta to work on a book, renting a cabin outside town. The first evening, she calls Bubba to report a prowler, saying that her dangerous ex-husband, Frank Van Dorn, is after her with a gun. When Bubba responds to the call, the romance begins. Frank calls Jackie, threatening to harm her, so Bubba teaches her to fire a revolver. Bubba spends so much time with Jackie he gets behind in his duties. One night Bubba is awakened by gunshots, runs downstairs and finds Jackie standing over a dead man who is not Frank. Instead, the victim is Tom Anderson, a private investigator/bounty hunter who is after Frank. In despair, Bubba turns in his badge.