Buck, an orphaned Tennessee farm boy seeking his maternal grandfather in a journey across the South, reunites with his grandfather in the Indian Nations. Buck works alongside his grandfather and cousins in the family store. Twelve years pass during which Buck grows to full manhood. During a Comanche raid on the store, Buck is wounded, family members are killed, and his cousin's young wife, Becky, is stolen. Although wounded, Buck sets out to recover Becky, whom he deeply loves, and to avenge the deaths of his cousin and grandfather. To accomplish his goals, Buck finds it necessary to join the Texas Rangers. As the Texas Rangers end their battles with the Comanches and Kiowas, they spend ever more of their time fighting criminals. Buck proves to be a valuable addition to the Frontier Battalion and is assigned an undercover role to solve a cattle rustling operation. In far south Texas, he becomes entangled in the mystery of the San Saba Gold. Through all of this, he renews his courtship with Becky.