Puma Son of Mountain Lion

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.