The story takes place in a northern California town near the Sierra foothills. Neville Stryker, the protagonist, is ambushed and left for dead on the trail. He walks to the next town, Egalitaria, formerly named Bickford, and finds his horse but he also finds a town held captive by a gang of murderous politicos. Major Neville Stryker, now known as Stryker, has had a relentless series of violently tragic losses and he reacts to aggression with a gun or a blade. Most of his enemies occupy graves. Morgan Bickford, the town of Egalitaria's leading citizen, persuades Stryker to help her recover her assets with the only thing she has to offer, her body. Afterwards she and Stryker cut a deal but only when she agrees to give him forty-percent of the ranch sale proceeds, provided he can get her ranch back. Morgan quickly realizes Stryker is a dangerous and ruthless killer himself. However, her interest is piqued by the complexities of the tall loner and his mysterious past.