Johnny Royal had lived on his wits and his gun ever since he'd left home following a foolish argument. Years later he was heading back, wary of the welcome a prodigal son could expect from hard working, honest parents - until the shooting started. Young Mariella needed his protection, and that decision was confirmed once he met the beautiful local rancher, Sarah. Rustlers and outlaws had dominated the neighbourhood since Sarah's powerful grandfather had been taken ill, and an old crime masterminded by her uncle had returned to haunt them. Aided by the grizzled old ranch foreman and Sarah, Johnny began to blaze a path of destruction through the forces set against them, searching for her uncle's ill-gotten gains in the teeth of the outlaw's meanest gunslingers.