Jackson McGraw grew up in the sunbaked isolation of Broken Stroke, a town where time stands as still as the church’s long-broken clock. Raised in a family of ranchers, Jackson learned early the harsh rhythms of desert life—long days tending cattle under a relentless sun, wrestling with tough livestock, and working the land with calloused hands. His father’s exacting standards and relentless work ethic left little room for Jackson’s own dreams, pressing him instead into a life bound by duty and routine.

Though he knows every creaky floorboard in the saloon and every face in town, Jackson harbours a quiet curiosity about the world beyond the dusty horizon. Yet his loyalty to Broken Stroke keeps him tethered, even as he senses there’s more to life than the arid cycle of ranch work and storekeeping. When a mysterious rider arrives, bringing with them secrets and shadowy threats, Jackson’s untested courage and sense of duty pull him into a hidden world of danger and intrigue. Forced to confront the darker edges of his small town and the desert he calls home, Jackson finds himself stepping into a role he never imagined—a protector, a friend, and perhaps something even more.