Lou Travis, an ex-Yankee captain, does not expect a warm welcome from any Texan right after the War Between the States. But he must go to Clearwater, Texas, for he has promised Will Mallory, a dying Confederate soldier, to take some money to his wife. While Travis delivers the money, then helps the young widow rebuild her cattle herd, it isn’t the Texans who harass him. It’s Captain Speevy of the Union Army-with his vicious band of goons-the man who metes out martial justice in Clearwater. Captain Speevy has his eye on Will Mallory’s widow. But April Mallory prefers Lou Travis. And if Speevy can’t drive out the newcomer-well, he’ll just find some way to kill him.