Troy Madigan, the son of a Confederate veteran, and his sister Rebecca, grow up in 1880s Abilene, Texas. Rebecca proves at an early age to be a femme fatale and sets in motion the major events of the story. Troy, after killing a man in a gunfight defending his sister's honor, ends up in Dodge City as a cowboy. Eventually moving on to Wichita, Troy finds his calling as a lawman. Filled with rich historical detail and lively characters, Ray Renek's "Notch" hastens to a tragic and surprising conclusion.

Troy Madigan is a former cowboy who worked for a cattle outfit in Dodge City, Kansas. Later, he became a lawman in Wichita, Kansas. His physical appearance and principles made him a legendary figure. In 1898, he makes a call that will take him into the Spanish-American War. There, he encounters thrilling adventure and romance. The story is filled with dramatic incidents and descriptive historical details. From the beginning to the end, it covers a spectrum of emotions that deal with tragedy, near tragedy, love, and courage.