Faced with being alone, Birch deals with sorrow, despair, anger, and a consuming desire for retaliation. He becomes a Deadwood deputy sheriff and one of the fastest gunmen in the Dakota Territory. In the end, Birch confronts his family's killers, but finds his lust for retribution is hollow. Reunited with his younger brothers, Birch comes to terms with life and reaches his own personal redemption. "An historically accurate tale rich in character development, action, and perhaps, most importantly, the power of redemption. Kenneth Kieser knows Deadwood and the Dakotas and glows with realistic energy."—Cotton Smith, President, Western Writers of America