Colorado, July 1878. The nationally famous solar eclipse is almost upon the country, and a peak overlooking the fledgling town of Elkhorn is one of the centers of attention. In the midst of boisterous and chaotic frontier pre-celebrations, Caleb Marlowe?reluctantly deputized for the coming event?learns that local power broker Judge Horace Patterson is being targeted for assassination by agents of a financial magnate. Caleb's efforts to thwart the plan, however, are complicated when a ghost from his past shows up with the intention of blackmailing him. Elijah Starr, acting for a railroad robber baron, will use any ruthless method at his disposal to clear the way to control a planned rail line to be built through Elkhorn. Caleb is commissioned to bring Starr in to face justice after the assassination attempt, but he has his own burning agenda. Starr is his father, the man who abused and murdered his mother, and Caleb swears his mother's death will be avenged and justice will prevail... or he'll die trying.