Orphaned at a young age, sixteen-year-old Tom Lee has spent his life on a wagon, travelling around the west during and after the Civil War with his Uncle Isaiah, a "patented medicine" salesman. Tom loved the carefree life, the daily adventures, learning not only from his uncle's books but also from his experiences living outdoors. He became an excellent horseman and "wagoneer," a crack shot, and tracker. But his idyllic, nomadic life is abruptly interrupted when a werewolf kills his uncle. After his own near-death brush with the demon, Tom vows to find and kill it to revenge his uncle's death, and then carry on with his independent lifestyle. His quest becomes complicated, however, as he is thrust into relationships with six orphaned, throw-away kids, and by encounters with zealous lawmen and scheming bad guys.