Standoff at Apache Butte

   Evans has lived around the Apache all his life. His ranch borders Apache hunting grounds and they have a tentative unspoken agreement. He doesn't hunt on their land and they are permitted an occasional beef to replace the buffalo white men have run off. Getting along with white men is a little more complicated.

   Anyone who actually knows Clay Evans is aware of his integrity. He is a confident and decisive young man. The trouble is; the people of Black Rock and the Circle T ranch only know of him. They know he owns the Circle E and that its brand would cover the Circle T. They know he was at the murder scene when it happened, and that he rode away without looking back. They know that last part because Red, a circle T rider, witnessed the killing – or at least he said he did.

Kid Talon's taunt at the bar in Black Rock wasn't the first time Clay Evans had heard the rumor about his ranch and running irons. He didn't start the fight with Kid Talon, but he wrapped it up without a scratch. He even left town at the Circle T foreman's request. He left oblivious to the fact that there was a murder. He didn't know why the posse was following him any more than he knew why they started shooting at him as soon as they saw him. All he knew was that he wasn't going to hang around collecting lead.

   After a brush with Apache hunters, Evans stumbles on a British camp beside a waterhole smack in the middle of Apache hunting grounds. As if that isn't enough, they are trophy hunting with the consent of the government. They are skeptical about the danger and reluctant to leave.

   If there is one thing Evans doesn't need, it's another complication in his life. He is tempted to leave them to their fate, but his conscience won't let him. He finally accepts their decision to make a stand on Apache Butte. From that point on, things deteriorate.

   Evan's integrity garners respect from some of the men on the butte, and disdain from others. He is willing to go back and stand trial to clear his name, assuming he can get off the butte alive.