Since the death of his mother Jake Able has been alone with only his anger and an emotionally void military officer father. Jake's father The General is transferred from base to base, when problems arise he is the one they call in to solve them. The General's latest assignment is at the Agricultural Research and Development Center located in the small town of Pretty Prairie. The son of one of the local farmers has broken into the center bringing unwanted attention and jeopardizing the ARDC's financial backing.
While The General is taking care of business at the ARDC Jake makes his first true friend, Tommy McCain. The General has never approved of the friendship between the two boys and when the opportunity presents itself to come between them he takes it. As time goes by the boy's friendship is tested by false senses of loyalty and betrayal. In the end Jake has to make the decision to stand by his friend and remove the obstacles that stand between them, his father and the ARDC.