From here, our story picks up with Luke Dunn having begun to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with in bringing justice to the Nueces Strip as a Texas Ranger under special authorization from the nominal head of the Rangers, John C. "Rip" Ford. While companies of Rangers are funded at various times when threats arise and money comes available, Luke is left to almost single-handedly exercise law across the vast reaches of prairie. When not on his Texas Ranger assignments, he works with his wife at building their Heaven's Gate ranch near Nuecestown just west of Corpus Christi.

With Luke's success in eliminating the likes of Bad Bart Strong and Dirk Cavendish while weakening Carlos Perez comes a high level of notoriety. Luke will continue to find himself conflicted between the roles of Texas Ranger bringing justice to the Nueces Strip and rancher and family man contributing to the settlement of the region.

But with the notoriety of killing lawbreakers comes the threats of those looking to make a name for themselves. Rip Ford's assignments are woven into the context of Luke dealing with the very real menaces that he must face on the vast reaches of the Strip. Carlos Perez is hardly the least of the perils Luke will face, as he must hunt the powerful obsessive mastermind of an intricate defrauding of the military and Indians in Texas.