Ira Beard hunted Joaquin, the mountain bandit. In the Civil War he chased Confederate rebels. Now he's settled down with a family and business, hoping for some peace and quiet. He has seen San Francisco through riots, fires, earthquake and war. It's time for a change.

Then a banker sends him on a mission to inspect a new silver mine down in the Mojave, where not many men will go. The job sounds like a nice break from routine. What Ira doesn't expect is a Paiute curse, swindlers, double dealers and murder. The problem comes down to how to get out alive. Later, he won't even talk to his son about it.

This is Ira Beard book 3.