Travelling north from New Mexico, Chad Miller happens upon the small Colorado township of Hooper, where Perdi Bridge is vainly trying to protect her family and cattle business from Brig Porton. A one-time army commander and now the powerful owner of High Smoke, Porton is intent on wresting the Bridges' property from them, taking their very lives if necessary.

From the outset Chad finds himself involved with the Bridges and he knows he cannot ride on and leave a family who has real need of his skill with fists and gun power. With the odds against him, can Chad shape up a fighting force before Porton and his mercenaries overwhelm them all?