Earl Lamar, former Confederate soldier and Bosque County Texas rancher has made two successful cattle drives, selling cattle to keep the L Bar Ranch in business. While driving his herd safely across the Red River and Indian Territory will bring in enough gold to keep his ranch afloat for a long time to come, the danger in taking the trail to Kansas can't be overlooked with treacherous rivers to cross, Indians to avoid or fight, bad weather, and ruthless cattle thieves always lying in wait. Earl manages to return home in one piece just in time to meet his new daughter. But a carpetbagger Texas governor seems intent on playing rough with former rebelling states by making things as miserable as possible for native Texans. To make matters worse, the KKK raids Earl's ranch and Texas no longer seems to have a hope or prayer of ever returning to normal.