The search for wealthy and idealistic young Englishman Simon Gaunt who has gone missing in the wilds of the American West, brings together an assortment of characters, each with his or her own purpose, including Simon's brothers Addington and Charles, their Scots-Indian guide Jerry Potts, journalist Caleb Ayto, revenge-minded Lucy Stoveall, and Civil War veteran Custis Straw.

Second volume in Vanderhaeghe's frontier trilogy. Preceded by The Englishman's boy, followed by A good man.