For Dave Brenteen, it was like standing between the branding iron and the fire. A killer was running loose, a man deemed the Night Prowler, had attacked four unsuspecting women and had murdered his lifelong friend. On the flip side, after killing Hyde Spangler's son, the man had vowed to have blood vengeance. Toss in a woman he had loved, but married his rival; a school teacher, who just might mend his broken heart; and accepting the job of deputy to the town sheriff he had known for years. How hard could it be to sort out all of the problems without ending up dead? Spook on the loose, Hyde's vow to kill him, a jealous ex-rival, and a sought-after school marm - it seemed more than one man and one gun could handle.