Paul Yancey is not what you'd call a professional anything. After leaving Belle Clare, the family plantation in Charleston SC, he'd drifted from city to city, from job to job, without ever really finding himself or his niche in life.

Until the fateful hunting trip on which he'd accompanied his brother Matthew, a former Texas Ranger. Their time together out in the Texas hill country was supposed to be relaxing and rejuvenating. Instead, they'd happened across Arliss Helms, cattle thief and stagecoach robber. Later, Paul writes the story of their meeting and apprehension and sells it to a newspaper chain. From there, he's off and running in his new career. A respectable one, no less.

Other outlaws and gunslingers cross his path; other stories follow.

Now comes one that will be the biggest to hit print. If he can secure it.

Catamount Clemens is holed up in some hideaway near Mount Whitney. Not only must Paul track him down, but he must do it before other forces interfere.

With speed and proficiency in mind, Paul hires the Fergusons, a guide duo from Carson City. Father and son, Ezra and Teddy. Or is it? Too late, Paul discovers that Teddy is actually Theodosia, a girl with a mystery of her own.

How quickly they can reach Paul's quarry depends on too many unpredictable factors.

Not the least of which is his growing attraction to the capable and efficient Miss Ferguson.