He climbed high and hard and fast, this Dean Holt, this ruthless young man ina hurry to conquer a world - and not caring whom he ruined on the way. And he was almost up thee, almost on the top run, the dizzying heights where a man could stand with and empire at his feet - the whole Salinas Valley, the rich, turbulent young lettuce industry, bought and paid for and his.

He had the most beautiful women, the biggest cars, the most lavish home - but the top rung of the ladder was just out of Dean Holt's reach.

He set out to make it, with the same hungry toughness that had driven him so far.

Then, for the first time in his life, Dean Holt fell in love.

With the girl who occupied the ladder's top rung - and would destroy Dean Holt rather than let him reach it.