Jeff Dawson's father, known as the Lobo, had been accused of stealing the payroll of the 3B spread and then had been dry-gulched before he had a chance to prove his innocence. So now his son bore the brand of the Lobo breed: his narrowed blue eyes held the look of the hunted and looked askance at every passing pilgrim, and his square jaw told of a determination out of keeping with his tender years. 'Gospel' Cummings, self-appointed caretaker of the local Boot Hill, aimed to befriend the Lobo's whelp, and there was a young girl who also believed in him. But their feeble voices were drowned out by the roaring guns and unshucked hardware which called Jeff an owlhooter.