When war came to the Shenandoah Valley, Matt Slaughter and his older brother, Owen, joined the Confederate army. But three years defending his homeland as a sniper has weighed heavily on Matt’s conscience. With the cause lost, the brothers desert—only to find upon their arrival home that Owen’s farm has fallen into the hands of swindlers.

When Owen accidentally kills a Union officer, Matt takes the blame. But now—facing a sham trial and a noose—he escapes to the west, where he saves the life of another fugitive down-and-outer. Both men are a breed apart from other outlaws. Neither kills for pleasure or steals for profit. But that doesn’t matter to the cold-blooded men who are going to give them hell to pay—and get the same in return....