The beloved grandmother of Joey Salas suffered a stroke in January. By August, with only a learner's permit Joey and his best friend Leif Anderlund sneak out and drive off in Grandma's car to 'spring' her from the rehab clinic. While trying to elude any police and parental detection Joey and Leif take a wrong turn and end up following a winding road that is anything but a short cut. Instead the novice road explorers discover desperate kidnappers holding the governor's kid sister hostage. Entirely on their own Joey and Leif must use the limited resources they have to save themselves and the terrified captive. When everyone's path crosses that of a pack of three wolves it's a toss up as to which adversary the boys prefer to face.