William Bassett is a land surveyor in the small Midwestern town of St. Elsewhere. While surveying along US Highway 40, he is struck by a car, inducing a deep coma. It is December of 1818 and Illinois just became a state. William is a US Deputy Surveyor in the new Capital city of Kaskaskia. He has been given the task of finding a more centralized location for the state's Capitol. He must form a survey party and be ready to embark on a journey through uncivilized territory. In the local tavern, he finds Duke and Montgomery Longhorn, brothers and buffalo hunters. Two French trappers, Martin St. Louis and Jacques Black join the adventure. Two surveyor's helpers, John and Wayne complete the crew. In his search, he finds more than he bargained for - a woman. The angelic vision of Mary Margaret Rose would capture William's heart. The journey is more than an adventure of a lifetime, it is two lives intertwined through time, but only one makes it to the end.