Paul Cable returns from the Civil War to find his Arizona homestead occupied by Union sympathizers, forcing him into a violent confrontation to reclaim his property. Returning to his family after the collapse of the Confederacy, Cable discovers that his absence has been exploited by two men who refuse to vacate his land. He must navigate the shifting legal and social landscape of the post-war frontier while protecting his wife and children from those who view him as an enemy combatant. The narrative follows a linear progression, focusing on the tension between personal property rights and the lingering animosity of a divided nation.

Readers frequently highlight the lean, efficient prose that characterizes Leonard's early work in the Western genre. Discussion often centers on the moral ambiguity of the protagonist, who must balance his desire for peace with the necessity of violence to secure his home. Critics note the effectiveness of the atmosphere, which captures the instability of the American West during the reconstruction era. The pacing is described as deliberate, building tension through dialogue and the threat of impending conflict rather than constant action. Many readers appreciate how the story avoids romanticizing the period, instead focusing on the harsh realities of survival and the difficulty of reintegrating into a society that has moved on without the veteran.