Late in the summer of 1901, Joseph Albers is a man in trouble. He bet everything on a Kentucky coal mine, but the mine proved unworkable and soon collapsed, killing dozens of miners. The folk of Piquette, Joseph's fledgling township, have fallen to smallpox and to yellow fever. In a desperate attempt to save what's left of his town - and his dream of making it big in coal country - Joseph hunkers down at the crossroads, hoping for a midnight meeting with the devil.

Instead Joseph encounters Charley Cat, and finds himself surrounded by the demons, legends, and creatures of myth who travel with the ancient, ageless god.

By the time their parley has ended, the fates of both Joseph and of Piquette, Kentucky will have changed forever.