Book excerpt: Texas tough, Arizona-bound, and ready for any fight that comes . . . An epic saga by the Spur Award–winning author who writes with “the flavor of the real West” (Elmer Kelton). With blood and tears, Chet Byrnes built a life in Texas, only to have it shattered by an ill-fated cattle drive and a deadly family feud. Realizing he and his family need to start over in new territory, Chet and his young nephew set out for Arizona, hoping to find a new home. Chet and Heck cross New Mexico and ride into Arizona. Encountering killers, bandits, a punishing climate, and a harsh, haunting land, they search for the perfect place to settle down. For the sake of his family, Chet will have to risk dying before he can meet the one woman who would make it all worthwhile . . .