In the rugged landscape of 1920s Montana, two brothers, Phil and George Burbank, run a successful cattle ranching operation. Phil is a domineering and caustic man, projecting a tough cowboy persona, while George is gentle and amiable. Their contrasting personalities cause friction, as Phil bullies anyone he perceives as weak. The brothers' established routine begins to change when George meets Rose, a widowed innkeeper, as they stop by her establishment on a cattle drive.

George quickly becomes enamored with Rose's delicate demeanor and, to Phil's dismay, marries her, bringing her and her sensitive, introverted son Peter back to the Burbank ranch. Phil, openly hostile, ridicules and intimidates them, creating tension at the ranch. Through their interactions, hidden complexities of the characters begin to surface, revealing deep-seated insecurities and repressed emotions that shape their relationships in unforeseen ways.