Augustus lives in Rail Creek, a small, rugged town where his father serves as the sheriff. His father, a corrupt lawman, often enforces justice selectively, which has caused tension between them. Augustus, however, dreams of a town that upholds true justice and safety for all. He works for his father, trying to solve petty crimes while aspiring to one day clean up the town for real. Augustus is deeply religious, shaped by his upbringing, and finds himself conflicted by the strict moral code he adheres to and the darker impulses he keeps hidden. Though he loves his family—especially his mother and younger sister—he frequently argues with his father over matters of integrity and fairness.