Rankin, a professor at Northeast University in New York City, disappeared following an ancient treasure map to a legendary stash of gold reportedly mined by Spanish conquistadors and hidden in the mysterious Lost Cave with the Iron Door.
On their rescue quest, Stark and the women are ruthlessly stalked by treasure hunter Douglas Brockton and his army of hired guns. However, the group soon discovers that the real threat originates not from Brockton, but from the unseen menace of "the Golden Ones"-ghosts of dead conquistadors left behind a century before to guard the gold.
However, these "ghosts," Stark realizes, fight with very real weapons. The trio must dodge rock slides, crossbow bolts, and Spanish longswords as their trek grows more and more dangerous.
Will Stark and Prudence reunite the young couple and solve the mystery of the conquistador's gold before they fall victim to the many dangers that lurk in the desolate canyons of the Wichitas?