<P>The people of the Seco Range are shocked when handsome Kurt Quillan turns twenty -- and becomes a hardened killer with seven notches on his gun. Though he shoots in self-defense, he seems never to have a witness. Then Lem Strikland, his foster father, becomes victim number eight. The well-liked rancher had raised Kurt as his own after the boy's mother, Bess Quillan, was killed. The locals are irate and pursue Kurt, whom they now believe is a cold-blooded murderer.</P><P>A stranger to Kurt, Bill Stagg has quit his job to help him. And crazy "Lispy Louie" -- who might not be so crazy after all -- has found and hidden Bess's will and other documents that might help Kurt out of the mess he's in.</P>