1978年的某个寒冷秋夜，迷路的希罗顿走进了一个偏僻的农场。农场主夫妇热情地招待了这位不速之客，宾主一起喝酒聊天，谈得十分投机。不料人心的贪欲引发了血的悲剧……四年后的冬天，姆尔兹警官负责调查这起凶杀案，他和重要证人希罗顿一起前往现场检证。敷衍了事的调查、嫌疑人的回想……在一片混沌之中，惊人的真相渐渐浮现而出……

The green Verdies are the tiny, but brave guardians of the lakeside. The young Verdies only become guardians when their hair turns brown. Until then, however, life is boring. The youngsters with green hair are not allowed to fly on warblers, not allowed to row alone, and they're not allowed to ride wild frogs at the rodeo. Willy Whistle's big dream is to become a guardian, but his curiosity always gets him into trouble. However, the whole lake becomes at risk when the enemies of the lakeside, the Grimps and the swans, enter into alliance. The guardians are helpless, but Willy comes up with a daring plan in order to save his home and his trapped friend, Jeremiah Jump. Luckily he is not alone, because Grandpa, the water snakes and the frogs also come to his aid.

故事发生在1890年的科罗拉多州，科迪（玛德琳·斯托 Madeleine Stowe 饰）、安妮塔（玛丽·斯图尔特·马斯特森 Mary Stuart Masterson 饰）、艾琳（安迪·麦克道威尔 Andie MacDowell 饰）和莉莉（德鲁·巴里摩尔 Drew Barrymore 饰）是四位风姿绰卓的妙龄女子，因为被一位军官调戏，科迪失手将他杀死，不得不面临被绞死的命运。另外三人在处决前将科迪救下，四人就此踏上了逃亡的旅途。 祸不单行，在途中，她们又遭遇了一帮劫匪，所带的财物被洗劫一空。巧合的是，一名牛仔同样在寻找这帮劫匪企图复仇，五人一拍即合，决定联手展开复仇行动。在此过程中，科迪也和这名英俊的牛仔碰撞出了爱情的火花。