In the lawless, drought-ridden lands of the Arizona Territory in 1893, two extraordinary lives collide. Nora is an unflinching frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life, her husband, a newspaperman, who has gone in search of water for the parched household, and her elder sons who have vanished after an explosive argument. Nora is biding her time with her youngest son, who is convinced that a mysterious beast is stalking the land around...

Chet Byrnes must keep up his skill with a gun in order to build his ranching empire.

"Chet Byrnes has his hands full taking care of his family and running his ranching operation in Arizona Territory. But he still takes his responsibilities as a deputy U.S. marshal very seriously. Bandits have been crossing the border, cutting a bloody swath of mayhem--stealing horses, robbing banks, and murdering innocent folk--then high-tailing it back to safety in Mexico. The chief U.S. marshal asks Chet to lead a secret task force to stop the raids...

Where there is no law and order, the renegade will prey on the weak and innocent. West of Yuma, beneath the red sandstone bluffs, the comancheros reigned with brutal terror. A motley crew of savage men, they rode with lust in their hearts and cruelty on their minds. For until brave men rose up to stop them, these desperadoes--like evil doers everywhere--made fear their ally in a battle for the land.