- When a sunken Barkley riverboat is finally found, it's cargo of gold is missing and the late family patriarch is suspected to have stolen it.
- A Barkley riverboat, sunk years before with a fortune in Civil War era government gold aboard is located- but there's no trace of the gold. A group of Confederate symphatizers or Tom Barkley himself may have caused the explosion which sank the ship- the lure of gold may even extend to Nick's old commanding officer who is assigned to investigate.—Anonymous
- A Barkley riverboat, The River Monarch which sank eight years ago, is found by a young lad while fishing. Regardless of Silas' objections, Jock McClain, Nick's previous Colonel, barges in and surprises Nick at the Barkley home one evening while Nick is keeping company with Melanie DeLand, daughter of Cyrus DeLand, once head of the Barkley shipping line. He tells Nick, the Barkleys, and Melanie about the riverboat recovery. It was said on board the riverboat is a million dollars in Confederate gold. The news causes Melanie to faint; Nick takes her home where she awakens her father from a terrible nightmare. She tells her Cyrus, who is noticeably disturbed by the news. He tells his daughter to get Peter Doolin and Anson Gregory, members of The Knights of the Golden Circle.
Victoria insists that the colonel stays with the Barkleys while in town. Come morning, Nick and the Colonel, who is in charge of returning the gold, are present when the riverboat contents are recovered. The two men are surprised to see that lead is found in the riverboat and not gold.
A meeting of The Knights of the Golden Circle finds Cyrus Deland, Peter Doolin, Anson, and a few others reveal 23 lives were lost when the riverboat sank. The Knights of the Golden Circle agrees to blame Tom Barkley for the riverboat's demise although Cyrus objects saying the shame of such an accusation would be unbearable and shameful for the Barkleys; furthermore, this allegation would cause the Barkleys to lose their fortune after they paid for the missing gold to the government. The Knights of the Golden Circle decide to allow Mr. Doolin, also the owner of The Stockton Town Eagle Newspaper, to publish this faux story.
The Barkleys respond with fiery to the next morning's newspaper. Victoria rides into town to confront Mr. Doolin, who assures her he will from now on only print the provable truth. In the meantime, Nick goes to see Melanie only to be reminded of the harsh lies by Sam, the storekeeper.
After confronting Mr. Doolin themselves, Nick and Heath are put in jail for causing a public brawl. Later the three Barkley brothers bump into Colonel Jock who tells them he will now be staying in town since Corporal Drum brought him orders that say he has been assigned to investigate the River Monarch affair. Colonel Jock asks Jared to have all his father's business affairs ready for his disposal.
Later at the ranch, Colonel Jock tells the Barkleys a fabricated explosion, not an accident in the boiler room as was previously believed, destroyed the riverboat. Victoria continues to defend her husband even though Colonel Jock has informed the government will take Tom Barkleys estate to compensate for their lost gold.
Jared finds documentation that states there were more men (The Knights of the Golden Circle) with motive and access to The Monarch's gold besides Tom Barkley. Nick goes to Stockton that night to talk to Cyrus DeLand. He explains to Melanie how her father, Anson Gregory, and Peter Doolin may be responsible for the lost gold. Melanie goes back into the store's living quarters where all the men from The Knights of the Golden Circle are discussing the gold's whereabouts. Cyrus refuses to tell the men where the gold is hidden and assures them the gold is hidden in a safe place as Melanie eavesdrops from the staircase.
The next day, Nick confronts Colonel Jock in his hotel room and tells the colonel that The Knights of the Golden Circle stole the gold. In rebuttal, Colonel Jock declares to Nick that his father was on The Monarch when it went down giving Tom Barkley opportunity to sink the riverboat. Nick slams the door, leaves, and is shot by Peter Doolin and Anson Gregory, who make the shooting look like a robbery. Colonel Jock and Corporal Drum see the shooting and shot at the two shooters to keep them from shooting a second time and killing Nick.
Cyrus DeLand then goes to Colonel Jock's hotel room as Melanie shows up at the Barkley ranch. She tells Nick her father, Cyrus, was involved and assures him that Tom's name would be cleared. She apologizes for her avoidance and lying. Cyrus makes a deal with Colonel Jock in exchange for the gold his friends will receive amnesty. Nick makes amends with Melanie by telling her he would have done the same thing if the tables were reversed.
Audra rides up and tells Nick and Melanie that Colonel Jock sent a telegram to Washington stating Tom Barkley was guilty of sinking The Monarch Riverboat.
Cyrus takes the Colonel to where the gold is hidden. As he digs, Cyrus reveals that the war ended before he and Tom could send the gold to Richmond. The only solution then was to destroy the riverboat.
With gold in his hands, Colonel Jock shoots Cyrus dead in hopes of escaping with gold and keeping the blame on Tom Barkley. In the cave, Nick shows up surprising to Colonel Jock. The colonel tells Nick that Cyrus tried to kill him with a shovel. Nick asks about the gold, but the colonel tells him there is no cold but a few stone cold walls and a few rats. Colonel Jock asks Nick how he knew where he and Cyrus were. Nick reveals that Melanie knew from overhearing all the nightmares revealing events from the past her father's past.
Nick sees cigar smoke coming from out of the ground, which also shows someone had been digging in that area. Nick explains that he realized the colonel's telegram meant the colonel wanted the gold for himself. Nick turns to leave, but the colonel shoots him and declares, "Nick, for the sake of everything we've been through, 'STOP!'" The colonel aims to shoot again, but he cannot. He then tends to Nick's shoulder wound. The final scene shows Nick and Jared shooting pool together discussing Colonel Jock's court-martial. Nick takes a drink to "Days of Glory" as he breaks his shot glass.
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