With a mysterious power he does not understand, Dr. Greffen "Pearly" Gates, a former, well-respected Dallas physician, is released from prison on the eve of WWII. Following exoneration for the murder of two patients and reinstatement of his medical license, he comes to live in a small rural town and work in the only Texas hospital that would hire him. He is bewildered that many believe he has the ability to save lives beyond the traditional practice of medicine. Seeking a fresh start among strangers, he confronts jealousy, mistrust, mischief, backstabbing, and abusive trysts that affect his new beginnings. Yet, there is one woman who sees the heart of the man and yearns for his attention. Will his inescapable past and the stain as a convict ruin their plans for a love and life together? Many of the characters Tank's fans loved in Palomino and Porky Baycann appear in Dr. Gates' journey in this culturally rich companion novel.
