A successful professor has his life disrupted by a secret from his past - in his college days he became a member of a powerful secret society, and now the society has a job for him.

Centers on Missy's adopted daughter Belinda Tyler as she follows her dream. Belinda wants to be a doctor, but this time period does not look kindly on women with careers, especially one in the medical field. But Belinda is a strong-minded woman and deeply wants a career as a doctor. She manages to prove her abilities while assisting the local doctor and caring for an old woman who recently experienced a stroke. Belinda nurses her back to health and helps her regain the use of her arm again. Belinda also meets the nephew of their deceased neighbor. Drew comes to town to get his uncle's farm in shape to sell. After that he intends on returning to New York to join his father's law practice. He has no desire to stay in this small, unsophisticated town. But after meeting Belinda he has second thoughts. Belinda also feels something for Drew, but she is conflicted because she wants to be a doctor...

In 1978 Sheriff Reed captures the deranged serial killer known as The Death Valley Drifter in the desert and the criminal is sentenced to death. In the present day, Sheriff Reed is near retirement and will be replaced by his son. Whilst they are having a meal in a rest stop diner in the middle of the desert, a runaway car with three thieves who robbed a casino stops in the spot for refueling. One of the robbers is the former boyfriend of the waitress Maya, and another criminal is wounded in the backseat. There is a shootout among the thieves and the sheriffs and their car explodes, however the body of the wounded criminal vanishes and the survivors discover that they are stranded in the place. Furthermore, they are stalked and chased by a fiend with stench known as The Reeker.