In the 1880's the citizens of the small town of Whiskey Branch, Nevada on the South bank of Whiskey Creek, roughly a half-day ride from the California border find themselves threatened by the Bleu family; a group of particularly vicious kinsfolk in the illegitimate business of moonshining. The Bleus have set their sights on taking over the little town as a place to relocate their criminal trade from where their stills are set up in the woods across from the town, on the creek's North bank.

With the still-young town having no official law enforcement; the planning and organization of a defensive plan falls to Pastor Windor, the town's spiritual leader; a man with a somewhat mysterious past.

And the always dangerous, even deadly whirlpool in the center of the creek; called The Whiskey Twist by the townspeople, could be a welcome part of the town's defense.

Created years before by an earthquake; and always a cause for fear and dread, the whirlpool will now be a valuable barrier against the attackers.