Ben Blue gets the news that eight of his prized horses are missing and it looked as if they were stolen. A young stallion and seven blooded mares had been taken overnight. A chase ensues, which reveals a large and well organized operation. Northern and central New Mexico have been hit hard. Some of the animals were beyond price tags. Horses from all over the territory were being stolen and funneled through a network of seemingly honest ranches. Many the treasured horses were being sent east or to California, but others were being kept as breeding stock on an isolated ranch.
Due to poor communications, the size of the theft ring attracted little attention other than in localized areas. Ben is not one to take such a loss without an all out effort to recover his property. The thieves opened the dance, and they would have to pay the piper. Along the way Ben finds a place he hopes never to see again.