The American West is full of legends as big as Texas.

The lost city of gold.

The thunderbird.

What if the tall tales were true?

Elijah Brooks wants nothing to do with mysterious legends, least of all anything related to fire. As a Texas Ranger, he wants to hunt bandits, protect people, and forget what fire took from him. But rancher Richard King has a mission for the Rangers. One of his cowhands claimed to have found the city of gold before dying of horrible burns. If the story gets out, it could ignite a dangerous new gold rush in Comanche territory.

With his partner Ward at his side, Elijah travels to Lubbock to investigate. They meet up with the cowhand’s young widow and discover numerous other threats: remnants of a bitter feud, the last of the Comanche war bands, a secret foe from one Ranger’s past, and plenty of unscrupulous men out for their own wealth and glory.

Even if they survive these forces, they must face the city’s legendary protector: the thunderbird, a dragon from ancient times. What is it doing in Texas? And can it be defeated by mere guns and grit?