The much anticipated dog training academy is about to open, with several friends ready to gather for the celebration, when Harley Fremont and her K-9 partner, Gemma, are called away to assist in finding a couple who failed to return from their weekend trail hike.

The duo, with a search and rescue partner, track the missing couple as best they can in less-than-desirable trail conditions. When bullets fly, the search turns into something more dangerous than they’d expected.

In preparation for the multiple celebrations that week, Harley and Bill Harris had a pergola installed, in addition to eight glamping tents. The couple welcome their middle-aged friends and family for the grand opening. Along with the arriving adults are five dogs, to add to the two who live fulltime on the ranch.

A second celebration is planned a week later. Included in the preparation are a red carpet, something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. More friends and five more dogs arrive.

Wedding stories, accidents, unraveling relationships, new friends, new neighbors, and a black-clad stranger intertwine in this story of middle-aged friendships, love, a dog training academy, and nights around the fire pit.