Three years after the EMP attack brought America to its knees, the Miller family has finally put the worst of the disaster behind them. While modern conveniences like electricity, telephones, and running vehicles are a distant memory, they have turned their West Virginia homestead into a productive and self-sustaining farm. Life is hard, but there is food on the table and they have hope for the future.

Kenny Miller, soon to be eighteen, is ready to become a man in his own right. Engaged to Sarah, a beautiful young woman from a nearby farm, he plans on starting a family of his own next fall. Sarah and Kenny work hard, save their money, and make sacrifices so they can start off their life together right. Disaster strikes, and Sarah is placed in terrible danger far from Kenny. In a world with no law and order, justice is dispensed from the barrel of a gun. How far will Kenny go to get her back?

Meanwhile, Chief Bud Howell is ready to hang his hat up and retire, but an old friend calls on him in his hour of need. A plot is uncovered that puts the future of everyone in West Virginia at stake. Can Chief Howell summon the strength to solve one last crime, perhaps the most important of his career?

Contains mature themes.