In the summer of 1917, the journey begins for Robert Grainier, a young man who finds himself embroiled in a tense situation involving a Chinese laborer accused of stealing from the Spokane International Railway's company stores in the Idaho Panhandle. Robert Grainier, played by Joel Edgerton, and the other white workers attempt to force the man over a nearby bridge during their construction project, but the laborer manages to escape their grasp. That day, Robert stops in Meadow Creek and buys a bottle of sarsaparilla for his wife, Felicity Jones, Gladys, and their four-month-old daughter, Kate. As he's making his way home to his cabin, Robert has a fleeting thought that he might have seen the fleeing Chinese man again, which fills him with a sense of foreboding and the belief that he has somehow cursed him.
The time jumps to 1920, where Robert Grainier heads northward, to the rugged landscapes of Washington, to assist in repairing the formidable Robinson Gorge Bridge. During this period, he also cuts and transports timber for the Simpson Company, forging a hard-working existence. Here, he comes across Arn Peeples, an old friend and fellow laborer, known for fearless—though somewhat superstitious—work using dynamite to excavate tunnels. Unfortunately, Arn meets a tragic end when a falling dead branch strikes him down. The story then moves to the early 1960s or possibly 1963, where Robert is seen observing young ironworkers constructing a new highway, reflecting the passage of decades in his life. In the mid-1950s, Robert witnesses startling sights such as the World's Fattest Man, and recalls with nostalgia flying in a biplane in 1927 and observing Elvis Presley’s private train in Troy, Montana.
Robert Grainier's backstory is as rich and complex as his present life. Born in 1886, his origins are somewhat ambiguous, possibly in Utah or Canada. As a child, he arrives in Idaho in 1893 as an orphan aboard the Great Northern Railway, eventually being adopted by a local family. His childhood is marked by witnessing the brutal mass deportation of Chinese families from the town, an event that influences his understanding of prejudice and loss. By 1899, the towns of Fry and Eatonville are merged into what is now Bonners Ferry. Robert leaves school early in his teens, turning his attention to fishing and simple work. One poignant moment occurs when he stumbles upon William Coswell Haley, a dying man, whom he offers water from his boot, highlighting a tender yet somber act of compassion.
In his early adult years, Robert is hired out by the railroad and local families, working around town. At 31, he marries Gladys Olding. By the summer of 1920, Robert returns from work in Washington, only to find their cabin destroyed by a wildfire, and Gladys and Kate missing. The next spring, he finds their abandoned cabin and semi-communes with the memory of his wife. One surreal night, while sleeping by the river, Robert believes he sees Gladys’ spirit passing by, her white bonnet floating above him. He spends the summer alone, adopting a red dog as his companion. Later, he takes a train to Bonners Ferry and stays through the winter, rebuilding his life and his cabin by the Moyea Valley in spring. Over time, the red dog produces four puppies, and Robert befriends a Kootenai Indian named Bob, who, tragically, is run over by trains during a drunken escapade.
Four years into his solitary life, Robert realizes he can no longer escape the seasons of summer work in Washington and winter stays in Bonners Ferry. By 1925, he remains in town, taking on jobs such as loading sacks of cornmeal onto wagons, and acquiring the horses and wagon of the Pinkham family after witnessing their grandson Hank collapse and die. During this period, rumors circulate about a wolf-girl, adding a layer of folklore and mystery to his rural existence.
A haunting visitation occurs when Robert encounters a figure he believes to be Gladys. She tells him she died after falling and breaking her back on rocks by the river before drowning. Before her death, she unknots her bodice to ensure her daughter Kate could escape, an act that leaves an indelible mark on Robert's psyche. From this point, he continues living in his cabin, working diligently through the seasons, only taking a final summer in Washington to earn enough for the winter. His life includes a memorable trip on the Great Northern Railway and a flight in an early airplane, marking the technological advances he witnesses.
Throughout his life, Robert endures physical pain from arthritis and rheumatism but refuses to quit. A nightmarish encounter with a pack of wolves at his cabin leads him to believe he sees the wolf-girl again, who, despite growling and barking, allows him to splint her broken leg before disappearing into the night, never to be seen again. His story culminates in his peaceful death in November 1968, found the following spring by hikers. In a poignant memory from 1935, Robert attends a sideshow to see a wolf-boy. The crowd laughs at him, but he's moved by the creature's roar, understanding perhaps that some beasts dwell within.
The novella concludes with a reflection on the passage of time, ending with the stark statement: "And suddenly it all went black. And that time was gone forever." A deeply contemplative tale of life, loss, and the enduring spirit of a man shaped by the rugged landscapes and turbulent history surrounding him.
