In the small town of Vacio, Texas, three brothers come home to bury their father but find a desperate struggle for survival instead. David, Dan, and Joe, the three sons of Chester Branson, a wealthy but hardheaded ranch owner, each left home for different reasons but all under a cloud of anger.

David, the oldest, left to make his fortune in New York City, hoping to finally live up to Chester's expectations. Joe, the youngest was the black sheep of the family, and too much like Chester.

And Dan, the middle son, left home for the most heartbreaking reason of all: Chester's bigotry and pride caused Dan to lose the only woman he ever loved, a beautiful Indian maiden named Maria. Now the brothers return to the small town where Chester moved after being forced to sell the family ranch.

Each one deals with the feelings they have for their father and his loss. But what the men don't know is that Chester's death was anything but an accident, and the people of Vacio are waiting for them.

If the Branson boys are not careful, they will never leave Vacio alive but instead, be. .

. Dead by Midnight.

. .