Puma Son of Mountain Lion is a half-Indian boy who is away from his village undergoing the rites of manhood. When he returns, he finds his village destroyed by a warring tribe and his family slain. His mother dies in his arms and her last words are: "Go find your father." Puma finds his father in Santa Fe, New Mexico. His father welcomes him with open arms and trains him in the white man's ways. Puma accompanies his family to visit his grandparents in Virginia and Georgia. He attends West Point and becomes a cavalry officer and placed in command of a troop charged with protecting a wagon train traveling from Independence to Santa Fe. In Santa Fe, he is directed to prevent white outlaw bands from taking the land that belongs to the early settlers and must also fight off renegade Apaches. A war is developing between the North and South, and he is concerned that it will destroy his father's families. A war is also brewing in the west and he does not want to be fighting against his own people. He is deeply torn about where his loyalties lie.