SUMMARY This is a western love story. It is the tale of a man named Jake who, defeated and disillusioned by the horrors of the War Between the States, heads west with his brother to create a better life. However, his refusal to back down from confrontation, which served him well in war, leads to a life of violence. Through his skill with firearms and the quickness of his reflexes, he acquires a reputation as a dangerous foe. When a writer publishes a fictitious account of his exploits, everyone sees a cold-bloodied killer and no one, except his brother, sees a man of honor trying to come to terms with what he has done and who he is. Only through the love of a woman and her understanding of the demons that drive him does he begin to put his life back together again and find, among the constant battles for survival, a life worth living.