This is the story of the Hawkins family who struggle to maintain a ranch in Sagrado, New Mexico Territory. They must fight off the Apache Indians who raid and steal cattle and horses, and they also must defend against their own ranch boss, Shorty Jones and his gang of rustlers. It is seen through the eyes of a son, Thaddeus, who returned from the Civil War with his brother, Pete, and is now doing the books for the ranch.