Dukes is a historical novel set in the early nineteen hundreds in and around Caloosa, Florida. The people in that town are almost as poor as Lucky, Nose, and Baptist, although the townspeople do have homes or shanties, while the unlikely trio live out of their wagon.

The Dukes threesome camp outside of town and set up a square ring of posts and ropes for the fights. The night before the first fight they were lucky enough to catch a mess of catfish for supper. But on fight night they ate only a can of beans.

The entire story takes place in three days: from the Dukes' wagon arriving in Caloosa, through the fights on that night and the second night, to the consequences of the last fight, which forces a change of life on the third day.