Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

Cotton Welles tries to escape his troubled past and leaves the faith-healing life behind. He starts work as a ranch hand.

Troubled Past — Cotton Welles is introduced as a reluctant faith healer trying to escape his troubled past. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Unspecified
Leaving Old Life — Cotton seeks distance from the life associated with his faith-healing abilities. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Unspecified
Ranch Work — Cotton begins working as a ranch hand. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
A New Household — His ranch work places Cotton within a household led by a widower and his young daughter. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Plain-Spoken Welcome — Cotton encounters the plain-spoken widower while beginning his new ranch life. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch

Cotton gradually becomes part of the ranch household. The possibility of family gives his new life emotional stability.

Daily Ranch Routine — Cotton continues ranch work as he tries to establish a different life. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Growing Belonging — Over time, Cotton becomes increasingly integrated into the ranch household. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Family Possibility — Cotton begins to experience the ranch household as a possible family. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Local Connection — Cotton meets a local girl who helps out at the ranch. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Local area
Shared Ranch Work — The local girl’s work at the ranch brings her into Cotton’s developing life there. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch

Cotton develops feelings for a local girl who helps at the ranch. Their connection strengthens his hope that he has found a home.

Love Emerges — Cotton falls in love with the local girl who helps at the ranch. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Hope Of Home — His new family connection and romantic feelings give Cotton hope of finding a permanent home. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Past Reappears — Cotton’s attempt to leave his former life is threatened when his past catches up with him. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Mother Tracks Him — Cotton’s evangelist mother tracks him down at the ranch. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Demand For Return — His mother vows to reclaim Cotton and take him back to the revival circuit. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch

Cotton’s evangelist mother tracks him down and vows to reclaim him and his miraculous gifts. His hoped-for home is placed in jeopardy.

Miraculous Gifts Claimed — Cotton’s mother seeks to recover the miraculous gifts that define his evangelist career. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Home Versus Calling — Cotton faces a conflict between his hoped-for home and the revival life his mother demands. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
Dreams Threatened — Cotton’s dreams of belonging and love are placed under direct threat. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Ranch
The Revival Choice — Cotton’s future is tied to the demand that he return to the revival circuit. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Revival circuit
Uncertain Belonging — Cotton’s hoped-for home remains threatened by his mother’s claim on his gifts and former life. Characters: Cotton Welles Location: Unspecified

Story Breakdown

Troubled Past — Cotton begins from a life he wants to escape.
- Reluctant Healer — Cotton is defined as a reluctant faith healer.
- Escape Attempt — He tries to leave his troubled past behind.
Ranch Arrival — Cotton starts a new working life at a ranch.
- Ranch Hand — He takes employment as a ranch hand.
- New Household — His work places him near a widower and his young daughter.
Growing Family — The ranch gradually becomes a source of belonging.
- Daily Stability — Cotton remains engaged in ranch life over time.
- Family Hope — He begins to feel part of the household.
Romantic Hope — A local connection develops into love and strengthens Cotton’s hope.
- Local Connection — A local girl helps out at the ranch.
- Falling In Love — Cotton falls in love with her.
Maternal Pursuit — Cotton’s evangelist mother finds him and seeks to reclaim his gifts.
- Mother Tracks Him — His mother follows him to the ranch.
- Gifts Reclaimed — She vows to get Cotton and his miraculous gifts back.
Threatened Home — Cotton must face the danger his former revival life poses to his new hopes.
- Revival Demand — His mother demands his return to the revival circuit.
- Belonging At Risk — His dreams of home and love are threatened.