In the Black Hills, Dakota Territory in 1873, budding romance ends in tragedy resulting in Jim Early's obsessive pursuit of a giant grizzly to the ultimate, bloody finale. Some real characters and the frontier locale, frequent encounters with other deadly wild animals and hornet's nest Cheyennes create a cinematic period set through which this action drama moves from caught breath to heart stop. The fabric of relationships is torn by racial conflict and persisting Civil War passions. Underlying governmental intrigue, the lure of gold, and the panorama of Custer's 7th Cavalry in garrison and in battle contribute texture. Revenge smolders like a smoky hot coal throughout.

Following the untimely death of their parents, Poke Bodeen and his sister, Mary, packed a few meager possessions, sold the family homestead and move west. After stopping for supplies in the small community of Doubletree in the Colorado Territory, they camp near the fork of the Trinchera and Rio Grande rivers to rest the stock and make needed repairs. While scouting the area and hunting for fresh meat, Poke is ambushed and left for dead. Upon regaining consciousness, Poke returns to the camp site only to find Mary missing. Their horses and cattle have disappeared and their belongings destroyed. Poke follows the trail of the attackers back to the small, sleepy town of Doubletree. When Mary's body is discovered, ravaged by buzzards and wild varmints, Bodeen is immediately suspected. He is thrown in jail to await the hangman's noose by an inept Deputy Sheriff Ross Koonce. Only the unexpected return of Sheriff Burlison saves Bodeen from Koonce and an angry, aroused lynch mob. After viewing the dead women's body and examining an old family daguerreotype and an old weathered wanted poster, Sheriff Burlison informs Bodeen, his sister could have possibly been the notorious outlaw, Arrena Johnson. Poke also becomes a target. Nevertheless, armed with only a single clue, a faded family photograph, and a blurred vision during the attack, Poke is persistent in his search for Mary's killer. During his investigation, Bodeen discovers an ingenious, monstrous plot of rustling and murder. Poke Bodeen is determined to let nothing stand between him and his pursuit for justice. Lucinda Chafflin, beautiful daughter of the hostile cattle rancher, John Chaffin, finds herself sympathetic to both her father and Bodeen. She attempts to help Poke, but she herself is ambushed and narrowly escapes certain death at the hands of the killer and is left to fend for her during a terrible storm. After rescuing Lucinda, Poke is now more concerned than ever for her safety as he continues to pursue his sister's murderer and untangle the mysterious web of deceit plaguing the community. As the danger and body count escalates, Poke faces the frustrating dilemma of being unable to prove his suspicions and end the malicious betrayals being committed against the residents of the Doubletree community. Poke is finally able to enlist the aid of a few, a six-gun toting boarding house window, an aging doctor, a wounded deputy, and two lovely ladies, to bring the predators to justice, almost.