While Gill McCain is out working the cattle, his father hires a drifting cowhand, Chad Randle, to help out with some of the needed repairs around the ranch. When Mr. McCain and Randle have an argument, Randle kills Gill's father in cold blood, then takes off for parts unknown. Desperate to bring Chad Randle to justice, no matter what it takes, Gill sets out on a path that will take him on a danger packed quest for revenge through Texas, Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming, with Abilene, Kansas never far from his mind.