Stephen Drake was a gambler and a drifter; a man of his own accord. He knew and understood a man's addiction to gambling and he used that to his advantage. Their weakness, their addiction, their false hope was his strength, his source of power; winning poker was his obsession. Drifting from town to town was part of the game he played, mostly as a method of staying alive. But he always had a backup plan and though the gold rush had passed, the money still flowed and California was the new plan. He promised himself, no regrets and to never look back; that is until he met Robbie Allen, the damsel in constant distress and Joseph Landry, the unforeseen business partner. Could he make California his permanent place of residence or would he be run out as a con artist and murderer?