"Two shots from Nat Brophy's gun brought down the Hardin brothers. They died as they had lived--by bloody violence. Their young half-brother, Clem, was left alone to try to restore peace to the range they had turned into a smoking ruin. Clem saw clearly that the only way to do that was to make his own kind of war. On one side, Clem faced Val Meeker and the tough and vengeful crew the elder Hardins had hired to terrorize the nesters. On the other side...

Barely disturbing the shadowy growth, a shape hurtled straight at him. Dan Rawley groped for the cap-and-ball pistol, but even as he cleared the holster he was struck.