A cursed father hunts his descendants while one son prepares to end the cycle of violence.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Curse Takes Root
Isaac's frontier violence and the curse establish the fatal logic driving his actions. He begins hunting his own descendants before they can supposedly kill him.
Key Events
Isaac Works the Frontier — Isaac fathers children across the frontier and clears Cheyenne land for the Army. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Great Plains frontier
Violence Destroys Isaac — The brutality of Isaac's work damages him psychologically. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Cheyenne frontier
The Fatal Curse — A Cheyenne chief curses Isaac to die at his children's hands. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Cheyenne land
Isaac Hunts Descendants — Believing the curse, Isaac begins killing his descendants first. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Frontier settlements
Blood Across The Frontier
Isaac's killings spread fear through frontier towns. His disputed claim concerning Megan and the growing evidence of close-range shootings intensify the mystery.
Key Events
Rumors Spread — Rumors of Isaac's campaign spread from town to town. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Frontier towns
Isaac Searches for Megan — Isaac arrives looking for Megan after she returns from church. Characters: Isaac LeMay, MeganLocation: A frontier town
Megan's Paternity Disputed — Isaac insists Megan is his child, while the claim is denied. Characters: Isaac LeMay, MeganLocation: A frontier residence
More Descendants Die — Isaac leaves mutilated and murdered victims while pursuing other children. Characters: Isaac LeMayLocation: Frontier settlements
Coleman Investigates — Coleman investigates killings linked to a fugitive and stolen Army equipment. Characters: ColemanLocation: Local settlements
Close-Range Shootings — Several dead men appear to have been shot at close range. Characters: ColemanLocation: A frontier settlement
Cal Chooses The Hunt
Cal learns that Isaac is pursuing him and rejects permanent flight. With Anna beside him, he prepares to confront his father.
Key Events
Close-Range Shootings — Several dead men appear to have been shot at close range. Characters: ColemanLocation: A frontier settlement
Cal Learns the Threat — Cal learns that Isaac is searching for him while traveling with Anna. Characters: Cal, AnnaLocation: A frontier route
Anna Fears the Devil — Anna is troubled by her past and believes the Devil will not leave them alone. Characters: Anna, CalLocation: A frontier route
Cal Chooses Violence — After stabbing a man, Cal refuses permanent flight and prepares to kill Isaac. Characters: Cal, AnnaLocation: A temporary stopping place
The Pursuit Tightens — Cal and Anna move toward Isaac as authorities follow ammunition and bodies. Characters: Cal, Anna, ColemanLocation: Frontier roads
A Dangerous Alliance
Cal seeks Grayton Willets's help and admits the violence connected to his weapon. Grayton gives him Isaac's route and demands decisive action.
Key Events
Cal Seeks Grayton — Cal asks Grayton Willets and his clan for help reaching Isaac. Characters: Cal, Grayton WilletsLocation: Willets territory
Cal Confesses Killing — Cal admits killing for his weapon but says he wants to stop Isaac's murders. Characters: Cal, Grayton WilletsLocation: Willets territory
Grayton Reveals Isaac's Route — Grayton reveals where Isaac is going and demands a decisive killing. Characters: Cal, Grayton WilletsLocation: Willets territory
Anna's Violent Stand
Armed authorities confront Anna over her support for Cal. She defends him as her son, but the encounter turns violent before the central conflict is resolved.
Key Events
Authorities Confront Anna — Armed authorities accuse Anna of aiding a criminal. Characters: AnnaLocation: A frontier road
Anna Defends Cal — Anna says Cal is the boy she brought into the world and loves. Characters: Anna, CalLocation: A frontier road
The Confrontation Turns Violent — The confrontation between Anna and armed authorities becomes violent. Characters: Anna, CalLocation: A frontier road
Fates Remain Unresolved — The supplied dialogue ends before Isaac or Cal's final fate is established. Characters: Isaac LeMay, Cal, AnnaLocation: Unspecified frontier setting
Story Breakdown
Isaac's Frontier Past — Isaac's work and accumulated violence establish the psychological foundation of the story.
Army Land Clearing — Isaac takes work clearing Cheyenne land for the Army.
Brutality's Consequences — The brutality of that work destroys Isaac.
The Fatal Curse — A curse convinces Isaac that his own children will eventually kill him.
Cheyenne Curse — A Cheyenne chief curses Isaac to die at his children's hands.
Preemptive Hunt — Isaac hunts descendants before they can supposedly kill him.
Frontier Bloodshed — Isaac's campaign leaves victims and creates a widening trail of fear.
Ivory Colt — Isaac carries an ivory-handled Colt during his campaign.
Murdered Victims — Mutilated and murdered victims are left behind.
Cal's Decision — Cal learns he is being hunted and chooses confrontation instead of permanent escape.
Threat Revealed — Cal learns that Isaac is searching for him.
Father's Death — Cal says he must prepare to kill his father.
Grayton's Assistance — Cal obtains support and direction from Grayton Willets.
Seeking Help — Cal asks Grayton and his clan to help him reach Isaac.
Decisive Demand — Grayton reveals Isaac's route and demands that Cal kill him decisively.
Anna's Last Stand — Anna's loyalty to Cal places her directly against armed authorities.
Criminal Accusation — Authorities accuse Anna of aiding a criminal.
Violent Confrontation — Anna defends Cal before the encounter turns violent.
Isaac LeMay, a murderous outlaw, learns he is cursed by a prophecy: one of his children will kill him. To prevent this, he hunts down each of his estranged children, including long-lost son Cal. With bounty hunters and Sheriff Solomon on his tail, LeMay must find a way to stop his children and end the curse.
