Stuart is hired by an acquaintance Rúben De Leon to act as a bodyguard for his cousin Roxanna Ferrales - Rocky in more casual circumstances - in accompanying her back to the country of San Dede, where she was raised the daughter of its former leader, Rodolpho Ferrales, who implemented democratic reforms to its political system and who has since passed. What Roxanna and De Leon fail to tell Stuart is that Roxanna, having been educated in the States, is heading home to take over her father's party as the heir apparent, their opposition, the Sestos, who would like nothing less than to see her in charge if only as a symbol to bring the party back especially for the imminent elections. Stuart does get hints of something to that latter effect when he is paid a visit by a man named Norbento Salazar, who states as much that he is one of the many who does not want to see her back. Salazar's actions are even more surprising when Stuart later learns his friendship with Rodolpho. The potential risks are why Roxanna and De Leon have made the strategic decision to take the train from Puerto Robledo to Capital City instead of flying in to Capital City directly. This business transaction takes place between Roxanna and Stuart despite the immediate antagonism between the two, Stuart who believes she's the rudest young woman he's ever met, and Roxanna who believes him to be arrogant. Despite the strategy, the opposition seems to know their movements as someone or some people are able to orchestrate the two of them being stranded in the desert alone, Roxanna unaware of their exact location. During what is the treacherous dust storm season, the two have to overcome their differences in working together to make it out of the desert alive.
—Huggo