Shooting someone in the back is the coward's way. And Deputy U.S. Marshal Custis Long is determined to track down the coward who put three slugs into the back of Moses Arthur before the old codger could impart urgent information to the lawman. All Longarm knows is the info has something to do with Arthur's granddaughter.

With no more than a name to follow, Longarm sets out to find Arthur's kin and get to the bottom of the old man's murder. And when the trail leads to an actual castle out in the desert, Longarm realizes it's no mirage--especially when he's taken prisoner. Custis Long may not be a knight in shining armor, but when there are beautiful maidens to be rescued, he's sure as shooting a savior with a six-gun.