Sheriff Al Murphy had no jurisdiction in the Arizona Territory, but that didn't matter because Risa Villabisencio needed his help. Many years ago Risa and her husband, Santiago, had taken in the wounded sheriff and nursed him, saving his life. Santiago was a lawyer and a leader of the small Mexican community in San Patricio and the surrounding area; he had even tried to enlist the aid of the governor when justice was not forthcoming from the local law. A few weeks ago Santiago and his two sons had been waylaid as they headed to see the U.S. marshal in Vera Cruz to report that cattleman Ben King had murdered two Mexican goatherders. Santiago never reached Tucson. His buggy was found, with blood on the seat. There was no sign of Santiago or his sons. Murphy retraced Santiago's trail, following every possible lead. It was almost futile for one man to go up against King and his men, but Murphy found that help sometimes came when he least expected it and from the most unlikely of allies.