After a long train ride from Connecticut, Hope Farman was on the last leg of her journey to her Uncle Nate's "Rancho del Encanto." Bouncing along in the buckboard driven by Jim Crossley, one of her uncle's hired hands, Hope is full of questions about the place where she plans to spend the summer. But anticipation turns to fear as they find themselves in the path of stampeding cattle. Jim's attempt to get them to safety seems to working until Hope is thrown from the buckboard. She is rescued by Channing, a somewhat mysterious man who was born in the desert, has lived there ever since, and knows its secrets. After seeing her safely to her uncle's ranch, Channing leaves her with these parting words, "If you should get into a mess, and you probably will, and need a friend, remember my name."