In the late 1800s, Abby Walker, an affluent and tough-mindedBostonian, embarks on a journey out west with her husbandLiam, when her husband is murdered before her eyes. Aftercrossing paths with Calian, a curious Apache tracker, Abbyarrives in the town of Independence, Texas, where sheencounters diverse and eclectic residents running from theirpasts, chasing their dreams, and keeping their own secrets,including Kate Carver, an idiosyncratic burlesque dancer withperhaps too keen an interest in Abby's origins, and Kai, asoulful Chinese immigrant who runs a local restaurant/laundryand offers Abby friendship without agenda. Abby also literallyruns into Hoyt Rawlins, a slippery rogue, thief and conartist with a dented heart of gold who quickly eyes Abby as amark, until she turns the tables on him. In seeking justicefor her husband, Abby encounters Independence's noble deputysheriff, Augustus, and his new boss, Sheriff Tom Davidson,who she has reason to believe is a very bad man indeed. Abbyand Hoyt soon find themselves precariously aligned, bothseeking to uncover the truth about the identity of Abby'shusband's killer, and vow to save Independence – a frontierboomtown where nothing is what it seems.
